AUG 10

Apple has been throwing down the cool patents lately, but this newest one isn't a handheld gadget like a smart phone or smart tablet -- this is a smart bike.

The as-yet-unnamed smart bike (iPedal would keep the "p" theme going) will allow you to either sync your iPhone or iPod Touch with the bike or use a provided detachable display to access some cool features like monitoring and sharing your course, health and performance stats with other cyclists.

According to the patent, the bike will have sensors that communicate with sensors in the iPhone enabling it to measure and display real-time data like speed, distance, time, altitude, elevation, incline, decline, heart rate, power, derailleur setting, cadence, wind speed, path completed, expected future path, heart rate, power and pace.

It sounds a lot like what the Nike + iPod set up or RunKeeper app provides for running, but with much greater data options.  I'm sure there are other impressive features in the works that would make cyclists willing to shell out money for it.  It will be interesting to see if this smart bike will have the power to revolutionize cycling the way Apple products have changed how we do so many other things.

via Wired

Comments (6)

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Sounds like a top end bike computer ...
written by BruceMcF, August 10, 2010

... be interesting to see what they add that is any different from a top end GPS equipped bike computer like a Garmin.

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written by Jim Spencer, August 10, 2010

Let's see how it holds up after 3000 miles of upstate New York back country roads...

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What is the point?
written by mike, August 11, 2010

Seriously, who needs this garbage? A bicycle is a means of getting from A to B efficiently. The less gadgets there are on the bike, the less there is get broken or stolen.

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iPedal :-)
written by Ben, August 11, 2010

I can't wait to see that new product reach the shores of french speaking countries....Pedal is a slang word for a male gay person over there...good luck with that :-)

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Broken US Patent System
written by Jim, August 11, 2010

There is a single original thought here, too general. Prior art everywhere.

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I like some gadgets on my bike
written by Wouter, August 12, 2010

@mike I consider a hub dynamo (naafdynamo in Dutch) as a gadget. I like it a lot; if you compare it to a bottle dynamo; less friction and harder to vandalise.

So there are gadgets on my bike that make it more durable than the plain machanical version.

If the sensors of Apple will be built in to one of the wheel hubs or handlebars / hand grips (like transmissions have nowadays), they will have a save closure that will protect it from rough environments (sand, water) and vandalism.

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