In many city centres and some large urban areas, access restrictions are imposed on trucks and vans. On the other hand, the number of e-commerce packages to be delivered daily is increasing rapidly, and service companies of all kinds also have to serve their customers in these areas. The use of cargo bikes is seen as a possible solution. The direct reason for this research is the observation that there is still room for a new type of cargo bike that meets the needs of the outlined target groups. This article summarises how the quality function deployment (QFD) method has been used for the systematic development of an electric cargo tricycle that meets these needs. The developed tricycle distinguishes itself from existing cargo bikes mainly by its loading capacity, stability and manoeuvrability. The prototype tests performed by professional couriers were so positive that a pilot series was built.

Traditional instrumented seat posts determine context-induced seat loads to analyze damping properties. This paper presents an enhanced instrumented seat post able to measure all six load components to resolve user-induced seat loads. User-induced cycling loads consist of all loads the user applies to the bicycle during cycling and is measured at the steer stem, the seat post, and the pedals. Seat loads are essentially uncharted territory, as most studies only address pedal loading to study cycling technique. In this paper, a conventional seat post is redesigned by equipping it with a u-shaped component and strain gauges. The instrumented seat post is straightforward thanks to (i) the simple design, (ii) the gravitational calibration method, and (iii) the permitted clearance on the strain gauge alignment. Analyzing mean seat loading in function of the pedal cycle can provide extra insights into cycling technique and the related injuries. It is an interesting addition to the universally adopted method of utilizing singular pedal loads.

Measuring lower extremity joint angles during cycling is interesting to derive joint loading from contact forces at the pedals and to determine the cause of cycling injuries. Traditionally, joint angles are determined in a stationary setup with high-resolution cameras that track marker movement in a lab environment. Alternatively, joint angles can be estimated mathematically in-situ: the lower extremities, bicycle frame and pedal arms are presented as a 5 bar linkage system which is fully defined by the lower extremity segment lengths, seat height and pedal position. As most instrumented pedals for power measurements include pedal orientation measurements, the bar linkage system demands no special equipment to derive joint loadings from pedal loads. The aim of this study is to validate the bar linkage system for joint angle estimation in the sagittal plane during in-situ cycling. Ten subjects cycled on a stationary bike while the hip, knee and ankle angles were measured with a Vicon optoelectronic motion capture system and simultaneously calculated with the bar linkage system. The results were averaged to subject-specific and method-specific ensemble average curves in the function of the phase in the pedal cycle and compared by a correlation analysis, Bland Altman plot, and Spm1D paired T-test. The hip and knee angle estimation of the bar linkage system showed no statistically significant difference from the optoelectronic system. Moreover, the ankle showed a statistically significant difference in the last half of the recovery phase of the pedal cycle. As the difference was maximally 3°, it has no clinical significance when deriving joint loading from contact forces at the pedal.

The present article describes the methodology used to design and calibrate a 6-component balance. This balance is utilized in an instrumented bike measuring the forces applied on the handlebars. This instrumentation bike maps all riders induced loads. In the designing process, Finite Element Analysis was used. Calibrating the balance was done using the Least Square Regression Method which allows combining multiple loads during calibration and thus requires less samples. The balance operates with a maximum full scale error of 0.53%.

Bicycles with electrically powered pedal assistance (PA) show great potential as ecological alternatives for engine-based vehicles. There is plenty of research available about the influence of various bicycle parameters on cycling technique. Though, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is none about the influence of PA. In this study, a recreational bicycle is equipped with PA and unique instrumentation to measure the user-induced loads on seat, steer and pedals. Joint loading is derived in the sagittal plane from inverse dynamics and muscle activity of the lower limbs is recorded with an electromyography system integrated in cycling pants. An experiment is set up, in which volunteers cycle on an athletics track, with a varying level of PA and a varying seat height. An ANOVA is conducted to determine significant differences due to the level of PA and seat height and to analyze the interaction effect. No interaction effect was found and only differences due to the level of PA were significant. Knowledge about the influence of PA provides insights into (i) electric bicycle design; (ii) the usage of electric bicycle for physically challenged people; (iii) the usage of electric bicycles as a rehabilitation tool.

A new tilting delta tricycle is developed as a last-mile vehicle. This vehicle has a hinge between the front driver module and the rear cargo module to allow the driver to tilt while maneuvering. The driver module resembles a conventional bicycle without a rear wheel and the cargo module consists of a cargo area between two propelled rear wheels. The concept vehicle ensures proper handling qualities independent of the cargo. However, the driver module can still tip over when parked. Multiple solutions are being considered to improve the ergonomics of this vehicle. A metal-elastomer torsion spring with an integrated angle limit has the most advantages as this prevents the driver module from tipping over without requiring it to enable a mechanism while stepping off. Furthermore, the torsion system dampens vibrations while cycling and influences tilting while turning. These improvements are tested using the concept vehicle. The influence of this torsion system is calculated and validated with measurements. The influences of different torsion curves aimed to improve the low-speed stability are calculated.