GI FLY BIKE
Behold: a bicycle that won’t get your trousers dirty, trigger the sweats, or suffer a puncture, and one that’s easy to carry upstairs. It was created by three New York-based designers fed up with the traffic in their native Argentina. Funded through Kickstarter, it could change our cities forever in the most civilised ecostyle. The Gi Fly folds in one second in a single movement. It has normal-sized 26-inch wheels for comfortable travel. There’s a threespeed, 250-Watt electric motor that gives up to 60km of pedal-less riding, meaning you needn’t shy away from hills. There’s no need for a fiddly lock either, as it has an integrated locking system that immobilises the bicycle once you’ve stepped a few metres away. This can also be controlled manually via Gi Fly’s smartphone app, along with its LED lights. The app also allows you to share the bike remotely with friends and download usage statistics. The bike is maintenance-free, thanks to its carbon drive belt, which is strong, silent and dirt free, and solid tyres that won’t puncture. Finally, there’s a USB port so you can charge your mobile devices and a centrally located holster so you can Google Map your destination. And once you get there, you can wheel your bike along like rolling luggage. The 17kg Gi Fly takes all the strain out of cycling and reduces traffic congestion and air pollution in the process. Going for US$4,000 each, the Gi Fly starts shipping in June.