Freerider Skatecycle combines snowboard, skateboard and casterboard

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Freerider Skatecycle combines snowboard, skateboard and casterboard

08:29 July 15, 2010

The Freerider Skatecycle from Brooklyn Workshop

As devices such as the Pulse Kick ‘n’ Go Xcelerator and T-Board show, designers are always looking for new and interesting (and hopefully profitable) ways to provide kids with the various cuts and scrapes that are an essential part of growing up. The latest pretender to the throne still occupied by bikes, skateboards and scooters is the Freerider Skatecycle – a two wheeled recreational vehicle that allegedly combines the “foot control of snowboarding, the balanced turning of skateboarding, and the nimble, undulating movements of casterboarding.”

Receiving a bronze in the 2010 International Design Excellence Awards, the Skatecycle’s frame is made of solid aluminum with body parts made of a durable composite. It features two slip-resistant footboards sitting inside the two 9-inch, polyurethane, hubless wheels that are connected by a double-jointed, twisting axle. This axle enables the rider to twist their body, moving their feet inwards and outwards, to propel the device.

Although, judging by the video below showing some trendy young things riding the device, it might take a bit of getting used to and could take some effort to achieve some decent speeds. But the device’s designers say the more experienced you get, the less energy you have to exert to gain and maintain momentum on flat ground.

Made by Brooklyn Workshop, the Freerider Skatecycle measures 32 x 6.5 x 8.5-inches (LxWxH), weighs 7.25 lbs and is available now for US$149.

the design blog via ubergizmo

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User Comments (23)

Hello broken ankles?

Elder Jared Forsyth - July 15, 2010 @ 09:20 am PDT

Three words.

WANT

ONE

Facebook User - July 15, 2010 @ 11:35 am PDT

could they not get anybody who *knows* how to ride a skateboard to do the demo video?

Ed - July 15, 2010 @ 04:08 pm PDT

no brakes

Eric Greene - July 15, 2010 @ 06:56 pm PDT

That video is a bit outdated. That was the riders first and second day on the Skatecycle. This is a video of their third. They got better

BW - July 16, 2010 @ 10:02 am PDT

CAn I get one with a battery and a motor?

Paul Anthony - July 16, 2010 @ 12:11 pm PDT

hey it takes w while to get used to it but once you get the hang of it its fun as heck i would definitely tell everyone to get one.

Facebook User - July 16, 2010 @ 05:59 pm PDT

Great design. Congratulations on the IDEA award!

qtvk - July 20, 2010 @ 05:28 am PDT

I could see this on the X -games, seems very versatile.

DHen - July 20, 2010 @ 09:16 am PDT

This looks like a blast, if these videos are from the 3rd day of riding I can only imagine what can be done with it.

Alina - July 20, 2010 @ 09:30 am PDT

Tried it last week in Union Square for 15 minutes and almost got the hang of it. Gonna add this to my quiver.

NYCLongboarder - July 24, 2010 @ 03:37 pm PDT

AKIRA!!!

CANT

STOP

DROOLING

Moscowonthehudson - July 27, 2010 @ 03:18 pm PDT

Ok. Stopped drooling. Will buy one now.

Moscowonthehudson - July 27, 2010 @ 03:19 pm PDT

Looks like Ripstik has a cooler older brother. I see possibilities.

j8tub - July 28, 2010 @ 08:33 pm PDT

THAT'S SWEET!!! Saw the other videos! props man!

Lilo - July 30, 2010 @ 05:28 pm PDT

Love the hubless wheels.

ExTech - August 1, 2010 @ 09:02 pm PDT

I have the below Gizmag "Related Articles" Items of - "Snowboarding on the Street" and "Skateboard folds to the size of a laptop", sort of a 4" fat laptop.

Regretably, I won't be having a Freerider Skatecycle, here's why:

Per their web page, http://www.brooklynworkshop.com

"Terms and Conditions

... Risk of Loss

All items purchased from Brooklyn Workshop are made pursuant to a shipment contract. This means that the risk of loss and title for such items pass to you upon our delivery to the carrier. ..."

They did not respond to my email request for the identity of the carrier which I presumed from thier condition to be UPS, who's "service" has been a total nightmare in my long experience. I buy items such as the Freerider Skatecycle to enjoy them, hard to do if it's "delivered" by United Parcel Service. I'll wait untill they are sold localy or just do without.

Dave B13 - August 12, 2010 @ 06:43 am PDT

@Dave B13- I love the dude in the last post who gets upset that they use UPS. Lucky for me I had a bad experience with FEDEX and boycotted them instead. so I can by a Skatecycle. I don't blame them for not responding to your crazy talk. Chill out and just call them.

j8tub - August 15, 2010 @ 05:42 am PDT

"Looks like Ripstik has a cooler older brother. I see possibilities.

j8tub - July 28, 2010 @ 08:07 pm PDT ...

I did not say Brooklyn Workshop uses UPS, and since they have not replied I don't know who they use. You boycott Fedex for "a bad experience" Vs my years of routine bad experince with UPS.

Dave B13 - August 17, 2010 @ 01:04 pm PDT

@Dave B13 - Dave, meet sarcasm. Sarcasm, Dave. Now that you have been formally introduced, please re-read my last post.

Alon Karpman - August 18, 2010 @ 09:48 am PDT

Looks like my post didn't post. I will re-post:

@DaveB13 - Yes, we use UPS. So far we have not had any lost or damaged packages. I don't anticipate changing carriers any time soon. But I hope that your grievances with UPS won't be used against us. Nothing personal, just the most cost efficient and technically feasible way for us to ship at the moment.

Alon Karpman - August 19, 2010 @ 06:00 pm PDT

I tested something that looked a lot like this thing nearly 20 years ago, and it had a motor, about the size of a chainsaw motor. I rode it until I broke it, and I never did see it advertised for sale.It was hard to get started moving, and tough to steer, because both ends moved.

kellory - September 23, 2011 @ 02:59 pm PDT

You could get some awesome summer flat-ground trick practice for snowboarding when winter rolls back around.

Mark Johnson - January 18, 2012 @ 12:54 pm PST