Design
Polygon Bike Has Integrated iPod Charger
Posted by Jesus Diaz at 1:30 AM on September 6, 2008
I don't know what to say about the Polygon Bike, a concept that has an iPod-compatible charger powered by yourself. On one side, the bike-dock combo is just way too much. On the other, it may be actually useful for those days that you forget to charge it at home. The bike also has other useful features.
• I like the fact that you can see the screen of the player at a glance.
• The controls are located on the handle, so you don't have to fiddle with any remote or touch the device.
• The earphones plug is also conveniently located in a position that won't interfere with your handling and cycling.
• And finally, the integrated locking mechanism is a good addition.
What do you think? Would you buy a bike with an integrated dock? [Tuvie]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Emma
Posted September 8, 2008 1:33 PM
yeah actually I really would. Could ride to uni in style and audio comfort oh yeah. So are you going to give me one?
jibbly
Posted 1:54 AM 6/9/08
Looks uncomfortable too with very little seatpost sticking out. Ass? Meet Pain. Have a nice 150 mile tour together!
jibbly
Jasontrainer
Posted 1:53 AM 6/9/08
Yup I would ride it fer sure. With no fear of bodily or perceived image harm. Years ago when I was a NYC bike messenger I would listen to Howard Stern all morning as I made deliveries so the listen-as-you-ride thing is cool with me. But I would need to know:
- How much does it weigh?
- Does it have gears?
- Does it have clips?
- Can I adjust it easily?
etc...
PS If you are balky at what looks like a challenging ride then you probably won't need that special seat that helps protect your sack 'cause obviously yours is already gone.
Jasontrainer
GizMadone
Posted 1:46 AM 6/9/08
The handlebar width, combined with the awkward hand position, would make it very unstable and frustrating to ride.
The crankarms look far too short.
The taillights look very cool.
I don't think any drivetrain exists that could fit into the current frame dimensions.
The top tube length (distance from saddle to handlebar) is very extreme. This length, combined with the ridiculously narrow and strange handlebar would make the bike very difficult to control.
GizMadone
rst531
Posted 1:45 AM 6/9/08
might as well add 2 lil speakers too. so you dont need to use headphones.
rst531
mildretard
Posted 1:45 AM 6/9/08
The best thing about this bike is that, after pasting yourself on the hood of the oncoming car while changing songs, you'll have enough guitar picks from the leftover pieces to last you the rest of your life. Too bad you're a quadriplegic and can't play anymore.
mildretard
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Posted 1:42 AM 6/9/08
@TR3-A: Same, especially around where I live. Block out the noise, then the last thing you may hear ever again is your favorite playlist. Cuz you'd be dizzead.
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
nailscars
Posted 1:42 AM 6/9/08
I would like an ipod doc on a "real" bike, but I'm not cool enough to ride that thing around my small town.
nailscars
mariathephan
Posted 1:41 AM 6/9/08
damn. i just bought a new bike less than two months ago, wish i had gotten one of these instead. except i'm sure it's way out of my student-at-college budget
mariathephan
TR3-A
Posted 1:40 AM 6/9/08
Personally, I prefer the wind in my ears while riding. I don't listen to music or anything else while pedalling so this is not for me... unless it offers some performance and/or comfort improvements over regular bikes.
TR3-A
oxcar17
Posted 1:39 AM 6/9/08
I'd be so scared of scratching this bike.
oxcar17
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
Posted 1:38 AM 6/9/08
Interesting concept, but I steer clear of electronics beyond the lights when it comes to biking. Though, I wouldn't mind something that charged a gizmo as I rode it, since it would be a cheap power source while I make my self-powered commute.
Kaiser-Machead on the Edge
lldsandsll
Posted 1:35 AM 6/9/08
excuse me ****they're****
lldsandsll
lldsandsll
Posted 1:34 AM 6/9/08
so these are the asshole bikers on the side of the road in the world of tron. damnit, their friggin everywhere.
lldsandsll
kosai
Posted 1:33 AM 6/9/08
I def. would buy one of these. It is a pain in the butt if you want to change songs when you are biking. They would need to put some kind of screen though, dont want to get my sweaty paws all over my iPod.
kosai
kenleewrites
Posted 2:18 AM 6/9/08
nice. like the idea of charging while you're cycling. why can't they just design a little unit that can be easily attached to any bike. isn't that more "adoptable"?
kenleewrites
ps61318
Posted 2:18 AM 6/9/08
"• I like the fact that you can see the screen of the player at a glance."
Yeah, that's really important, because I want to be watching a video on my iPod while I'm cycling.
Don't you dolts read the papers? In Northeast Ohio ALONE there have been two car-vs-bike-car-wins-guy-dies accidents in the last couple of months. Why make a bad thing worse? Anything that might distract a cyclist (who shares the road with cars) is bad. Period.
ps61318
lldsandsll
Posted 2:12 AM 6/9/08
people will call u gay
lldsandsll
cschmitz
Posted 2:44 AM 6/9/08
Having headphones on while riding on the road is like putting a video screen in the car while driving, its too distracting and ultimately dangerous for both the driver and everyone else on the road. When you have to hear cars coming its dangerous to have headphones in. This would be cool on a stationary bike though.
cschmitz
gdville
Posted 2:39 AM 6/9/08
"The bike also has other useful features."
Like being made out of plywood?
gdville
gdville
Posted 2:37 AM 6/9/08
Unless they build in a pedal powered subwoofer so I can hear it over the guy in the ghetto car next to me, the whole concept is ridiculous.
That, and this bike is screaming, "Steal me!"
gdville
Slartibartfast
Posted 2:27 AM 6/9/08
@kenleewrites:
I've got a little unit. I don't use it much, but I'm not attaching it to any bike.
Slartibartfast
thechansen
Posted 2:54 AM 6/9/08
@gdville: if you live in a city, any bike left outside screams steal me. And any thing that distracts you from hearing traffic screams roadkill.
If you really need tunes: [www.ihomeaudio.com]
If you want a bike that you will never need to lock up: [www.bikefriday.com]
The speakers are nice (I only use them on lonely bike trails as to not bother my fellow cyclist) and the Bike Friday was my main mode of transport in Philadelphia and while folded, I was never denied entry to any establishment.
thechansen
phor11
Posted 3:51 AM 6/9/08
Disregarding the electronics integration (which isn't a bad idea...), I'm not the only one that thinks that bike looks like a dump on wheels right?
phor11
ps61318
Posted 4:22 AM 6/9/08
@phor11: Not like one of mine. Mine are much less artistic...
ps61318
Lev_Astov
Posted 4:12 AM 6/9/08
I wouldn't shop for a bike with an integrated dock, but I'd buy a bike that looks like that in a heartbeat!
Lev_Astov
treetrunk
Posted 4:34 AM 6/9/08
This is a terrible idea. Anything which encourages people to wear headphones while cycling is simply stupid.
treetrunk
Con Seannery
Posted 5:01 AM 6/9/08
Don't bike with headphones, you might get hit by a helicopter!
Con Seannery
Somadis
Posted 6:48 AM 6/9/08
Steal a polygon get an iPod free!!!
Somadis
cowpop
Posted 6:14 AM 6/9/08
Do you guys really have to report every ipod charger? Seriously. The bike looks cool though.
cowpop
noobtard
Posted 3:14 PM 6/9/08
a sad day indeed..
noobtard
mergedwarrior
Posted 12:39 PM 7/9/08
I'd buy it if I could plug something else besides an iPod into it.
mergedwarrior
NoelMagoon
Posted 2:49 AM 6/9/08
This is the kind of stuff that gives designers a bad name. First: -When is it ever a good idea to listen to music while riding a bike? I don't necessarily like the sound of a cars horn...but it has saved my life while riding more times then not. Second: -I hope that this is not an attempt to actually take design cues from the I-pod. This device is senselessly garish and abstract! I don't like to publicly flex by design muscle but: Being a professional bike designer (and design educator) I can tell that no thought was given to the ride characteristics, materials, or fabrication methods. It's nice to draw pretty pictures, but if you are going to pass something off as a "product concept", you had better have some real vision - and validate that the thought process behind the concept has merit. This isn't product design. This is a nice picture of a nonworking, un-manufacturable, poor handing bad idea. This kind of work is what makes people think designers can do nothing but try to make things look pretty and different for no real reason.
NoelMagoon
elfneedsfoodbadly
Posted 2:41 AM 6/9/08
@Kaiser-Machead on the Edge:
(also @ TR3-A): right there with you. frankly think it's not a good idea to be promoting listening to music as you cycle and absolute insanity to be building in a device so it holds the screen in view. that for watching movies while you weave in and out of the traffic?
sounds SUPER safe.
elfneedsfoodbadly