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The Bicymple Play - We Swear It’s a Real Bike That You Can Even Buy

Bike design seem to be getting weirder and weirder. But if we look behind us, we’d notice that it has always been this way. Somewhere, someone is putting together the next weird bike or vehicle. For now, however, we’ve got this chainless bike to worry about.
Bicymple Play 10 photos
Photo: Bicymple
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That’s right people, a chainless bicycle does exist, and no it’s not just some concept. This particular project was, at some point, successfully funded on Kickstarter. And today, you can pick up a Bicymple Play for just $800. But, before you go dishing out that kind of cash for a bike that doesn’t come with a chain of even a fixed frame for that matter, let's find out if it’s worth it.

First of all, what the heck are we looking at? Well, it truly is a chainless bike that doesn’t even include a traditional frame as we have come to know it. Now, if you’ve never seen such a bike design, or anything like this in action, I invite you to check out the video below. Once you’ve had a look, come back to the text if you feel like getting to know this invention a bit more.

Bicymple Play
Photo: Bicymple
Let’s start off with the basics. We’ve got two wheels. So far so good. Then we’ve got a set of handlebars and a seat. But that’s as far as the normal bike stuff goes. All of these components are held together with a frame that consists of only a top tube. OK, fine, rather two top tubes that run parallel to one another, so the traditional triangle of a frame is nowhere to be seen. This frame and possibly the rider are the only things that the front wheel and back wheel have in common.

The reason I say this is because the bikes construction allows the front and back wheel to turn independently of one another. I know what you’re thinking. That’s got to be one heck of a challenge to maneuver. Oh, it is. If you watched the video below, imagine how much torso and hip strength is necessary to maneuver this thing around. You have to constantly keep the back lined up to the front otherwise you’ll just ride off a cliff or something.

But, and there is a huge but, once you get the hang of it, this bike looks like one of the coolest things to ride around town. Its ability to maneuver each wheel freely allows the bike to maneuver in some very tight spots and on a level I've never seen before, except maybe on unicycles.

Bicymple Play
Photo: Bicymple
Now, the whole thing is set-up as a single-speed bike, so you’ll have a pretty difficult time uphill. However, coming down should be a blast. The crank set is found on the rear wheel and positions the rider as naturally as possible for this sort of design. Just imagine sliding around almost sideways as you descend a 500-yard (457m) hill.

To make sure you can stop when you get to the bottom, a pair of hydraulic Tektro brakes are found on both the front and back wheel. And that’s it. Simple.

Oh, hey, now I get where the name also comes from. But to ride this will be anything but simple, at first anyway. I don't' know about you folks, but it’s the kind of something I'd like to own.
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About the author: Cristian Curmei
Cristian Curmei profile photo

A bit of a nomad at heart (being born in Europe and raised in several places in the USA), Cristian is enamored with travel trailers, campers and bikes. He also tests and writes about urban means of transportation like scooters, mopeds and e-bikes (when he's not busy hosting our video stories and guides).
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