Hydraulic bicycle
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A hydraulic bicycle is a chainless bicycle that transfers power to the pedals by means of a liquid.
Advantages include:
- Shifting though valves and displacement provides more steps or even continuously variable gearing.
- ABS braking
- Drive while pedaling forward and backward or both
- Drive doubles as hydraulic brake (eliminating brakes, their weight, cost and maintenance)
- Front or two wheel drive systems now possible
- Sealed systems maintain constant efficiency, upwards of 95%, in all conditions (chain and sprocket lose efficiency--from 97% in lab conditions down to less than 80%--in bad weather and dirt)
- Sealed systems require much less maintenance than open chain system.
Disadvantages include:
- Implementations to date are heavier than those of bicycle chain and sprocket designs. These comparisons, however, are based on prototypes. Production models of some designs would be comparable in weight to chain and sprocket designs.
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