The design of the bicycles has remained similar for decades, including their shock absorbers that use springs and hydraulic oil to alleviate bumps and bumps on the road, guaranteeing more comfortable trips for their users. But is that the only design to consider? That is a question that the British inventor (and YouTuber) Colin Furze by creating a bicycle whose suspension consists entirely of magnets.
It is a project that has been compiled in a YouTube video that has already exceeded three million views in which he shows how he modified an everyday bicycle to become the type of invention that one expects to see more in a Hollywood movie, making the upper part of the vehicle connected only by the repulsion of two powerful pairs of magnets separated by the same physical distance thanks to the repulsion caused by their identical poles.
And we are talking about powerful magnets, since after finding regular magnets sufficient, Furze had to order some specialized magnets capable of generating around 500 kg of force for his invention.
The result is a bicycle that is surprisingly stable when riding on paved roads, although one that also shows its limitations when facing very pronounced undulations, such as those experienced by BMX cycling where the hulk of the bicycle cannot cope with the forces to which it is subjected.
Despite this setback, Furze was quite satisfied with the project, ensuring that what failed in his prototype was not the magnets, but the structure of the bicycle, which he admitted moved away from practicality to be more visually impressive and attract views on YouTube. In that way, he promised that there will be an improved version in the future.