Pop-Sci Core77 Design Challenge S p e e d - 1/20/03

Description of Design

Imagine racing downhill on an empty road, just inches from the pavement with nothing but streaks of highway passing before your eyes. While traveling at the speed of 70 mph, the roaring sounds of bearings pierce your eardrums while the imperfect surface rattles your entire body. Riding face first in a laid down position you feel like a plane about to take flight. Welcome to the extreme world of skeleton street luge and the newly designed ‘Wailer’ luge sled. The ‘Wailer’ sled is named after the term wailing, used by street luge pilots for going wicked or very fast. Make no mistake about it; this product is for only the extreme downhill racer with a serious need for speed. The wailer’s ergonomic design provides for a face first thrill ride like no other. With nothing in front of you but open pavement, a luge pilot can reach speeds in excess of 70 mph. The Wailer street sled foretells the future of downhill racing. Influenced by such products as the BMW Street Carver, Karim Rashid’s ‘Oh’ chair, and of course, downhill racing sports in general, the Wailer’s design is well thought for the user. Thanks to its pivoting frame, a rider shifts his or her weight slightly from side to side to turn. Two front rim-riding, hubless wheels with bicycle v-brakes provide ultimate stopping power. The polypropylene pan incorporates rubber padding for comfort and cutouts for mounting and carrying the sled. The foot and elbow rests can be adjusted to accommodate various different size users, while urethane wheels help keep you rolling at top speeds. Because of its pivoting frame, the ‘Wailer’ sled’s most unique feature is its ability to fold almost completely in half assisting the user in carrying and moving it. This smaller size makes it easier for storage when not in use. This characteristic is a factor commonly overlooked in the design of most downhill racing devices. Unlike most street luge sleds, which are very cumbersome, the Wailer sled can be easily stored in most sport utility vehicles and truck beds. Also, the polypropylene pan’s rear cut out serves as a handle for lifting the sled. The Wailer sled’s design incorporates the latest concept of hubless wheels adding to its functionality and usefulness. The pivoting frames design not only allows for turning of the sled, but looks further into the usability of the product by taking into account moving and storage when not in action. The sleds radical design fullfills any downhill racers' need for a thrill ride like no other.