People say you can’t reinvent the wheel, but that did not stop the YouTube channel The Q. On May 23, 2023, the channel posted a video showcasing a triangle-wheeled bike. Believe it or not, it is a bicycle that uses three-sided wheels instead of round ones. The most astounding part is that it truly works!
Experiments like this weird vehicle may seem unnecessary, but it shows how people push their creativity. It is an example of our potential if we go beyond conventional norms. Also, seeing such a strange device functioning in real life is fun.
This article will discuss how the triangle-wheeled bike works. Then, I will explain why it is an interesting yet impractical invention. I will also elaborate on how conventional bikes work to highlight the triangle-wheeled bicycle’s limitations further.
How does the triangle-wheeled bike work?
The YouTube channel The Q has an anonymous host. I will refer to him as “Q” in this article to refer to him more conveniently. He created a bicycle with three-sided wheels.
You ride it like any other bike, pedaling to move the vehicle forward while balancing. At first, a triangle-wheeled bike seems like it wouldn’t work.
You may also like: Cyclists Emit 84% Less Carbon Emissions
It would be difficult to rotate triangle wheels because they have flat sides. Consequently, Q shared the solution in his five-minute demo video. I listed how he did it below:
- He crafted triangle-shaped wooden rims for the wheels. They have rounded sides, enabling them to roll like ordinary wheels.
- Next, Q disassembled gears from regular bicycle wheels and attached them to the three-sided wheels.
- He painted the rims orange.
- Then, he segmented ordinary wheels into three parts that would fit the rounded triangle sides.
- Q stapled the rubber covers onto the wooden rims.
- Next, he repainted a bike frame red and attached the triangle wheels and other parts.
- The YouTuber attached pseudo-bike treads on top of the three-sided wheels. They have metal rollers that help the irregularly-shaped wheels spin.
Afterward, Q rode his quirky invention at a nearby park. Believe it or not, the bike moves! See the YouTube video to see it for yourself. At the time of writing, it had 448,000 views.
What are the problems with the triangle-wheeled bicycle?
Photo Credit: laughingsquid.com
The bike with strange wheels is an interesting invention but has numerous problems. The most apparent problem is the irregularly-shaped wheels. Q demonstrated his bicycle on a flat asphalt road.
However, it would likely be cumbersome on uneven terrain like grasslands or mountains. The triangle-wheeled bike could “climb” over small obstacles by pulling with its triangle points. However, that would require the rider to pedal harder to hurdle minor bumps.
Also, the three-sided wheels limit the bicycle’s speed. The awkward shape would make it awkward to maintain momentum. Moreover, the solid wooden rims increase air resistance, significantly reducing vehicle speed.
You may also like: Cohesion CEO Builds The Office Of The Future
The triangle wheels roll by falling on their sharp edges, so pedaling will have an awkward pattern. You would likely feel like you will topple over the front of your bike. Lastly, it must be uncomfortable to ride the triangle-wheeled bike as the sides bang on the road.
Regular bikes are superior because the wheels facilitate smooth movement. Also, the net-like spokes make the bicycle aerodynamic and lightweight.
Did The Q make other strange bicycles?
The Q created a stranger bike than the triangle-wheeled one last month. The YouTuber created a bicycle with square wheels. Even better, its online video gained 8.8 million views.
At first, it seems even more implausible than the triangle-wheeled bike. It looks significantly more difficult to roll wheels with that strange shape.
You may also like: Verizon To Offload AOL And Yahoo
The wheels are almost as large as the bike’s frame. How does the square-wheeled bicycle work? It turns the square rims into makeshift tank treads.
The rubber moves while the rims remain stationary, so the wheels don’t spin. It moves on flat surfaces but seems more unusable on uneven terrain.
Conclusion
YouTuber The Q created a triangle-wheeled bike, and it surprisingly works. However, it remains a fun experiment because it is impractical in real life.
These quirky projects highlight the versatility of human creativity. Also, it helps us appreciate conventional bicycles’ elegant yet sophisticated design.
Do you want to see more interesting tech projects? Check out Inquirer Tech for the latest trends in artificial intelligence, gadgets, apps, social media, and more.