In just about every human endeavor, there are those who have to be the first on their block to have the newest and latest, and others who--whether they quote it or not--seem to be guided by Ecclesiastes: "There is nothing new under the sun."
I guess I fall mostly, but not wholly, into the latter camp. I ride steel frames, but I use threadless headsets and sealed-bearing hubs and bottom brackets. And, while I ride dual pivot brakes and modern cassette hubs, I perch myself on Brooks saddles and slide, not snap, into my pedals.
I used to live with the hope that some completely ridiculous ideas that used to surface every decade or two would finally die off. Alas, I have given up such hope that I will never see an electronic shifting system again.
I have even less reason for such hope after reading about a "smart bike" prototype Samsung has developed:
Now, a curved frame that would absorb the impact of potholes and such, I can understand, even if I wouldn't ride it myself. But a rearview camera and a smartphone on the front? And what do they mean by "laser beams that create an individual bike lane"? That's a bad translation, I hope.
I have to admit, though, that I wouldn't mind seeing one of those bikes in person. Still, I wonder what would happen if everyone rode one and had his or her individual bike lane.
The bike looks like it has a Brooks B-66 or -67 saddle. I guess it can't be all bad.
I guess I fall mostly, but not wholly, into the latter camp. I ride steel frames, but I use threadless headsets and sealed-bearing hubs and bottom brackets. And, while I ride dual pivot brakes and modern cassette hubs, I perch myself on Brooks saddles and slide, not snap, into my pedals.
I used to live with the hope that some completely ridiculous ideas that used to surface every decade or two would finally die off. Alas, I have given up such hope that I will never see an electronic shifting system again.
I have even less reason for such hope after reading about a "smart bike" prototype Samsung has developed:
Now, a curved frame that would absorb the impact of potholes and such, I can understand, even if I wouldn't ride it myself. But a rearview camera and a smartphone on the front? And what do they mean by "laser beams that create an individual bike lane"? That's a bad translation, I hope.
I have to admit, though, that I wouldn't mind seeing one of those bikes in person. Still, I wonder what would happen if everyone rode one and had his or her individual bike lane.
The bike looks like it has a Brooks B-66 or -67 saddle. I guess it can't be all bad.
