Hot concept: ThisWay recumbent bike

Recumbent bikes have long been the ugly siblings of racers and mountain bikes, but not this new concept. The 'ThisWay' is the winner of a competition on Bicycle Design that set out to find a new 'commuter bike for the masses', and we're rather impressed.

According to the designer Torkel Dohmer its roof and seating have been included to attract non-cyclists and offer protection from rain (though we imagine a sideways squall to the face is still a possibility).

If manufactured it would be constructed from carbon or flax fibre and hydroformed aluminium to make it very lightweight, while handy extras include LED lights (powered by solar panels on the roof, natch) and a luggage connector on the back to stash your sarnies.

via Bicycle Design