Michael Jenkins from Adelaide, Australia has spent the past three years developing the best possible solution to mount large wheels to your legs while not looking completely ridiculous… ok, mildly ridiculous. They’re called Chariot Skates and 4 months ago Michael tested his first production model. Check it out.
At first, these totally gave me the fright, as I was reminded of the Wheelers on the last trip I took to Oz. Run, Dorothy, Run!!! BEWARE THE WHEELERS! NOOOO!! Don’t pound me with your hubs while cackling like that!
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Michael wasn’t pulling any fancy aerials, but man did he get his weave on. I’d be putting those wheels to the test – hitting the ledges, the handrails, getting them and myself around lightpoles… fun stuff like that.
Carbon Composite Design
These are likely more fun the less they weigh. Each skate uses 5.5 lbs of carbon fiber. For comparison, a typical road bike frame can weigh anywhere from 2 – 6 lbs.
Your foot is mounted to a type of swing arm that puts the weight at the bottom of the wheel, for best stability… obviously. Your shin is pretty much encased in a carbon fiber shroud, so you’re protected from any dead animals that may be laying in the paths you traverse.
You can see a strut-like tension rod that extends out over the foot that seems to keep you lined up with the wheel centers and off the pavement. I’m not sure what smaller wheel is doing besides adding a bit of balance for the less stable – a sort of training wheel. Hopefully, it’s removable.
You’ll notice there are no brakes. Who needs them when you’re trying to impress with these wheels. They’re working on a hand brake to go along, but there are always more stylish and impressive ways to stop than with a wee hand brake.
Via Gadget Lab
