*** Shift Prototype Bike Named Top Inventions 2006 ****

Bike Biz -- 03/28/2006
The Shift prototype has two rear wheels that are spread
apart at slow speeds to provide stability, and as the rider
gains speed, the two rear wheels merge together to act as
one wheel until the rider reduces speed and consequently
returns the bicycle to the two wheel configuration.

It garnered many award last year, including in Taiwan,
and has now been named one of 25 best US inventions
in the Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge organised
by the History Channel and the National Inventors Hall of
Fame Foundation.

The other 24 semi-finalists in the Modern Marvels Invent
Now Challenge are an eclectic bunch, ranging from bladder
management devices to a product that stops you cutting your
cat's nails too close to the quick...

The challenge is named in part for Modern Marvels,
the History Channel's long-running series about US inventions.

4,300 submissions were entered.

"These semi-finalists represent the dreamers in America
who have the tenacity to pursue their ideas in order to make
an impact on the way all of us live-just like their predecessors,
Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison," said Judy Klein-Frimer,
co-creator of the Challenge for The History Channel.

The Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge will showcase
the inventions at an upcoming travelling expo. The exposition
will travel to the California Science Center in Los Angeles
(April 7-15th), the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago
(April 20-30th), the Museum of Science in Boston (May 5-14th)
and culminate at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal in
New York City (May 22-27th).

The winner along with the four other finalists will be announced
in May. The Challenge winner will have his or her idea named
the 2006 Modern Marvel of the Year and will receive a $25,000
grant.

The Shift trike-to-bike is a concept machine living mostly in the
computer memory of academics at Purdue University. Last year
it won the International Bicycle Design Competition at the Taipei
trade show, often a kiss of death for any product hoping to be
commercialised.

When it's a real product , Shift will help "children learn how
to ride a bike by gradually teaching them how to balance on
their own. With this concept, designers wanted to evolve beyond
traditional training wheels, which only serve to prevent a bike from
tipping. Shift provides more balance at lower speeds when stability
is most critical (starting and stopping). As the child builds forward
momentum, the bike's dual rear wheels shift inward, thus causing
the balance to gradually shift from the bicycle to the child. Designers
also wanted the bike's appearance to help build self-confidence.

The look evokes nothing of the generally
perceived childish training wheels."

Last year, Shift also won gold in the Design Explorations
category of IDEA's awards, a competition sponsored and
promoted by Business Week.

http://www.history.com/invent

Also See: - Gene`s BMX - Reviews!
http://www.genesbmx.com/reviews.html
( The Bike Called SHIFT - A Look Review )

Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
All Things Northwest in BMX!
***** Gene`s BMX *****
http://www.genesbmx.com