Also’s New E-Bike Separates Pedals from Wheels
▼ Summary
– Traditional e-bikes have altered the direct mechanical link between pedaling and wheel movement through features like throttles and mid-drive motors.
– The startup Also is developing an e-bike that completely severs the physical connection between the pedals and the wheels.
– In Also’s design, pedaling turns a generator, and the resulting power is sent to a separate motor that drives the wheels.
– The riding experience, including crank resistance and motor response, is entirely controlled by software.
– The software aims to simulate a normal bicycle feel but can also modify the experience for what it deems a better ride.
The fundamental experience of riding a bicycle has been transformed by electric power. Modern e-bikes often decouple the rider’s physical effort from the machine’s motion, using throttles or mid-drive systems that blend human and motor power through complex gearing. A new startup named Also is pushing this concept to its logical extreme by designing a bike that completely severs the mechanical link between the pedals and the wheels.
In the Also bike, pedaling does not directly turn the rear wheel. Instead, it spins a pedal-driven generator. The energy created by the rider, supplemented by a battery, is sent to a separate hub motor that propels the bicycle forward. This radical mechanical decoupling means the entire riding sensation is dictated by software. The system’s algorithms manage crank resistance and translate the force a rider applies into corresponding motor output, crafting the feel of the ride through code.
The company asserts that its software-defined riding experience will typically mimic the natural feedback of a traditional bicycle. However, the true innovation lies in the moments when it deliberately does not. The platform can intentionally alter the dynamics to provide what it deems a superior experience, whether that means reducing effort on a steep hill or offering a uniquely smooth cruise. This approach places virtualized pedal feel at the core of the design, making the physical connection optional and programmable.
(Source: Ars Technica)
