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One morning several years ago, Kent Comfort awoke from a dream that had clear imagery for the design of a unique type of commuter bicycle. He immediately got up and wrote down all the details before they faded from post-awakening memory, as dreams commonly do.
That is the genesis of this bicycle design concept. As work has continued on the development of this new commuter vehicle, various aspects of the features from the dream have given way to engineering realities, and will continue to do so. But the original concept and the purpose behind it have remained constant throughout the design refinement process.
As you navigate through the pages and links on this website, you will discover an evolution in bicycle design technology is in process. Since the bicycle was originally invented, it has advanced through what might be regarded as continuous evolutionary refinement. And because of advancements during the existence of the bicycle, it is certainly more efficient and effective as a mode of transportation today than ever before in its history.
One early design consisted of a very large front wheel with the pedal attached directly to the hub, and comparatively small rear wheel. There was no brake, and unless you were very tall, it would be necessary to stand on an elevated platform to mount the seat and push off for a ride. Dismounting would consist of simply leaping off the seat and letting the bicycle fall over on its own.
And even before that version, the very first design ever actually built and used had no pedal function at all, and was essentially a two-wheeled coaster. A disciple of Michelangelo actually drew a chain driven rear wheel design, but it was not built in his day.
Since those early iterations, there have been significant breakthroughs in technology such as rear chain drive through a centrally mounted pedal crank, rear coaster brake and hand gripped front and rear caliper brakes, and multiple speed gearing of various configurations. More recent design innovations include a recumbent seating position, and models that fold up, as well as models designed for specific terrains, and a variety of materials such as carbon fiber used for frame construction. There are models that use electric motors for both supplemental and primary power. All of these versions still amount to variations on a primary original theme of a free-rolling front wheel and a chain and gear driven rear wheel.
So what might cause a bicycle to be considered truly revolutionary? What ever else might change, if it still fits the definition of a bicycle, it will consist of two wheels configured so a rider can mount and travel safely and comfortably to an intended destination. To be of truly innovative design by contemporary standards, a bicycle would have to have capability and functionality that has yet to be implemented in a two-wheeled, primarily human powered vehicle. It should also serve a broader range of needs than bicycles have traditionally managed to fulfill. Is it asking too much for a bicycle to actually have a significant social impact?