If you want to make the most of your tailwind on long days in the saddle, these US Entrepreneurs may just have the thing for you… it’s a sail that attaches to the rear of your bike controlled by two handlebar-mounted buttons, dubbed the CycleWing and now crowdfunding on Kickstarter to bring the working prototype into full production.
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Attaching to almost any bike like a rear rack, the sail and mast are covered and packed when not in use (above) and when you want to boot up the sail you simply turn it on via the buttons on the handlebar-mounted head unit. The screen displays the angle that the sail is set at, and you can adjust it according to conditions. It can give you a boost from a wide range of wind directions, with about 35° to 45° on either side unable to generate any power (bad luck if you’re riding into a full-on headwind).
The engineers who developed it say the CycleWing was made for long distance touring along country roads, as using it in crowded cities would have fairly obvious shortfalls.
The CycleWing is currently a working prototype and fully made in the USA, and if/when it goes into production the finished product could weigh less than 7kg if made from light materials such as carbon. They say it’s arguably the greenest form of powered cycling, and to bring it to life CycleWing are looking for almost £60,000 worth of crowdfunded investment. A $500 pledge will get you one at an earlybird discount of up to 40%, with various other items offered for lower amounts. Head over to the CycleWing Kickstarter page here for more info.
20 thoughts on “The CycleWing, a sail for your bike, is now crowdfunding on Kickstarter”
April 1st has come early this
April 1st has come early this year.
nortonp wrote:
Beat me to it.
I have to sign up for this
I have to sign up for this one. This is going to be bigger then the Internet
I have to sign up for this
I have to sign up for this one. This is going to be bigger then the Internet
I have to sign up for this
I have to sign up for this one. This is going to be bigger then the Internet
If a pair of Zipp 404s can
If a pair of Zipp 404s can push me sideways with a heavy gust of wind, what is this monstrosity going to do? What’s the best way to fit a keel to a carbon frame?
simonmb wrote:
More pies, lots more pies!
Or burgers if in the USA
Come on haven’t you all wet
Come on haven’t you all wet blankets never sailed? I think that should be fun. Not useful, fun!
jerome wrote:
I’ve sailed, and I’ve landsailed (on a beach, and on a disused runway), and it was fun. In neither case did I think “You know what else would be fun? Putting a sail like this on a two wheeled land vehicle that doesn’t have a wide open flat space to use it in”.
Wonder what will happen when
Wonder what will happen when a high-sided vehicle close-passes you at speed…
I have a sail of a similar
I have a sail of a similar size on my kayak, which is fun. It folds down when not in use and stows on the deck. However I’m not convinced by this bike version.
The prototype video only shows it flapping idly, not providing any propulsion. If you are running with the wind behind, then you will benefit only up to the wind speed – maybe 20km/h. To go faster you would have to be on a tighter tack, so leaning off the side of the bike to keep it upright and straight.
The sail looks like it is just a flat sheet, so it won’t ever be particularly effective. I’m out.
Cycling will be plain sailing
Cycling will be plain sailing from here on out
taberesc wrote:
Cycling would be pain-sailing, from there on down (to the tarmac)
Anyway, they have it all wrong. What’s required is a large spinnaker; or perhaps the ‘chute from a para-sailing rig. With the right design, the cyclist may take orf over obstructions such as the white van attempting a frightening-swerve, or a group of potterers on the new Isla bikes for pensioners, blocking the climb up Barbondale.
I provide my own “tail wind”
I provide my own “tail wind”
I think I’d rather have a
I think I’d rather have a sail on a recumbent trike, like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whike or http://rinox.es/
Still going to be a fairly limited range of trips that it’s both safe and useful.
Another solution to a problem
Another solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. I’m all for progress. This is not progress. At best, useful maybe 10% of the time due to not being able to use it in cities, wrong wind directions etc. At worst, a liability (how much does it weigh?) and possibly even dangerous as already cited – passing lorries, sudden gusts.
Bikes are only safe in so far as they’re controllable. Better brakes, tyres, components, helmets, clothing et al are good because they add to that. This probably detracts from it. Hard pass from me.
It’s so niche that surely those mostly crowdfunding it cannot be cyclists. They’re probably just investors hoping it’s the next big cycling fad. Even a serious tourer or round-the-world adventurer that could benefit from this would prefer to say they did it under their own steam? If not, then just get an electric bike and keep charging it up – far neater, way more aesthetically pleasing.
Crazy times- ‘new’ doesn’t automatically equate to ‘improved.’
Nothing new under the sun.
Nothing new under the sun.
Mungecrundle wrote:
And, from earlier, the Charvolant, a kite propelled carriage:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Pocock_(inventor)
I’d like a go on that Whike.
I’d like a go on that Whike. Smaller than a full-on land yacht, but looks scary fast. They recommend a smaller sail for a Force 6!
I can’t think of too many places to use it in the UK, but crossing some continental desert plain would be cool.
It’ll never take-off.
It’ll never take-off.