Year of Plenty

Thu., Oct. 11, 2012

Bike of the Future? Chainless, Electric, and Foldable

Instead of pedaling to turn a chain and wheel hub, these pedals power an alternator that charges the battery that motors the bike. And it folds up. Pretty cool.

Not sure why no one is wearing a helmet in the video. Maybe the battery also creates a force field that keeps people from hitting the pavement when they crash.

I was in bike-crazy Portland last week and more than half the people I saw riding downtown were on a fixed-gear bike. I'm really intrigued by the simplicity of not having gears but wondering how the heck you get up those steep hills. Everyone I saw seemed to have them geared up pretty high. Anyone seen any fixed-gear fanatics in Spokane?

Posted Oct. 11, 2012, 9:59 a.m.

The Year of Plenty blog was created by Craig Goodwin in the winter of 2008 to chronicle the experiences of his family as they sought to consume everything local, used, homegrown or homemade. That journey was a wonderful introduction to people and movements in the Spokane area who are seeking the welfare of the community through local foods, farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable transportation, and more fulfilling and just patterns of consumption. In 2009 and beyond the blog will continue to report on these relationships and practices, all through the eyes of a family with young children. Craig manages the Millwood Farmers' Market, is a Master Food Preserver and Pastor at Millwood Presbyterian Church. Craig can be reached at goody2230@gmail.com