Above is the logo designed for the University of Illinois Bicycle Research Project many years back. We selected the Penny-Farthing (high-wheeler) design, so as to not be confused with people who bicycle race.

• The inverted pendulum bike, a bike that is pushed off and where an inverted pendulum leans so as to replicate rider lean action.
• The experiment of seeing what happens when a bike is weighted to one side and pushed.
• The experiment of determining how the fore-to-aft shifting or positioning of the rider’s mass influences critical velocity. In this experiment we confirmed that beginning riders should be positioned mid-way to slightly forward on the bicycle for ease in learning, and never on stylish banana seats that provide poor support and place the rider’s mass too far to the rear.
• The experiment of designing and building a robotic bicycle – that is, a riderless bicycle capable of riding around based on radio command. Yes, UIUC students built and successfully demonstrated a riderless robotic bicycle.
• The challenge of designing and building what we called the Stable Single Track Trailer (SSTT). This challenge amounted to designing and building a passive trailer bike that could be towed behind a lead bike, where the trailer bike would balance, steer, and follow the lead bike. By passive we mean without recourse to active devices such as computers, servos, and batteries.
• A wind tunnel study of techniques for stabilizing a bike with a full disk front wheel cover. Bicyclists in racing often cover rear wheels but the front wheel is seldom equipped with a full cover because of induced aerodynamic instability risks. The center of aerodynamic pressure is ahead of the steer axis thus causing instability tendencies. We solved the problem.
• Design and construction of a fire truck bike, a tandem bicycle where the rear stoker rider had the capacity to steer the rear wheel. This bike became a crowd pleaser and was lots of fun.
• Design of a dual tandem trainer for working with children with disabilities. This is a phenomenal bike design with incredible potential when it comes to motivating and instructing children with disabilities.

  

  

• Mental or thought experiments related to what would happen if we were to ride a bike in a lunar environment, an environment with a fraction of the gravitation constant as compared to Earth’s. In short, if an astronaut would attempt to ride a conventionally designed bicycle in a lunar environment, all sorts of surprises would be in store.

  

  Don't expect to see astronauts like this using bikes on the moon, as this is only an artist's skectch above. The artist was a former student, and we say "thanks." The consequences of an attempted lunar bike trek would be a real introduction into reality!

• Numerous experiments with the concept of two-wheel drive propulsion systems.
• A variable geometry bike to permit testing of trail, rake, and head angle variations.
• Design of an intuitive bike, where the bike will go in the direction steered as opposed to opposite as is presently the case.
• Experiments involved the construction of an anti-wind bike. In short, we successfully designed and built a bike that captured the wind’s energy and then propelled the bike forward against the wind – without need for rider pedaling or exertion. No, this is not a violation of the Second Law of Thermodynamics as some of our colleagues were quick to challenge us on when the design was first proposed on paper. In keeping with our experiences, the critics quickly became mute when the experimental bike worked as claimed in front of them. This bike, actually a tricycle, moved against a headwind and with no rider pedaling or exertion required.