Bike Hugger 

Ugh. Although as you say, at least it isn’t just a CAD drawing. Or is that even worse? Actual materials and labour were used to make this thing. Ah well. I guess the deep human need for hubless wheels can’t be stopped… although I just don’t get it.

What’s wrong with Hubs and spokes I wonder. [Spokeless](http://bikehugger.com/2010/05/spokeless-bicycle.html) and Reverse P-Far should race each other or [Eric could show up](http://links.bikehugger.com/2010/09/skeleton-bike.html) with his fully-spoked, skeleton bike and scare the crap out of them.

Byron

i think this bike is kinda clever in the idea of placing the crank axis inside the the rear wheel perimeter, but i’m ok with it because this is a art piece and NOT supposedly the “FUTURE OF CYCLING”. 

also Byron, currently both your links in the entry’s 2nd paragraph go to the small-wheel-in-front bike, which is less of a “reverse penny-farthing” and more of a VERY short wheelbase and somewhat upright recumbent….the crucial difference is that the archetypal penny-farthing (aka high-wheeler) didn’t have a chain.

i think one of the links was supposed to be to the YikeBike entry :
http://bikehugger.com/2009/09/eurobike-electric-penny-farthi.html

however, i think you are mistaken in assuming all these bikes suffer from the small bump=faceplant malady that the traditional high-wheelers supposedly suffered from.  the lunartic bike is no more prone than the millions of Dahon and similar small-wheeled bikes.  the YikeBike, while having a penny-farthing configuration, has a much lower center-of-gravity than traditional examples, and crucially the handlebar is BEHIND the legs rather than right above the thighs like a traditional example.  thus, the rider of a YikeBike simple extends his feet forward to catch himself if the bike starts to endo… a trick that even the modern “safety bike” doesn’t allow. the reason why high-wheelers were so dangerous in an endo was because the handlebar atop the thighs entangled the rider’s lower body as the bike pivoted forward so that arc of the fall inescapably slammed his head and upper body into the ground.

the recumbent from Japan, which you call a reverse penny-farthing, might be even more stable in a potential endo situtation since the rider’s c’g is further aft and low while his legs are still unencumbered by the handlebar.  granted, lateral stability may be more of a problem, but i cannot see a reason why it should be anymore so than most other recumbents.

actually, i REALLY like the Japanese recumbent…i think it would be the ultimate lunch bike for the Pike Place Market…because you could ride AND KICK FORWARD simultaneously….perfect for clearing oblivious tourists out of your way.  a safe bike…for ME NOT YOU!

oh, wait, after actually watching the video, i guess the inventor does suggest it as a “bike of the future” possibility, but i still like this bike tons more than this one:

http://bikehugger.com/2010/08/design-the-difference-between.html

the Victor bike is journeyman metal art without engineering…all slathered with a marketing-speak glaze. the Lunartic bike is a design exploration of a variety of engineering concepts.  whether or not the most striking feature, the hubless wheel, has production potential is still very much murky, but by putting the crank inside the wheel perimeter, it is the first design that i can recall seeing that utilizes the interior space of the wheel rather than just having a poorly supported rim hanging out there to dramatically say “hey, look at me popular mechanics magazine! no spokes!”

Good catch on the links. You’re right on the YikeBike.