Electra Bicycle Company Granted US Patent for
Innovative Flat Foot Technology®Bicycle Design
Patented Technology Available on Electra Townie®, Cruiser and Amsterdam® Models
August 17, 2010 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time
VISTA, Calif.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Electra Bicycle Company, the bicycling industry’s top-selling
brand in the lifestyle and leisure category, has been awarded US Patent #7740262 for inventing a completely new
type of bike that provides an improved level of comfort and control and allows riders to place their feet flat on the
ground while still sitting in the saddle. The innovative forward-pedaling design, developed in 2003, was first featured
in Electra Townie® and 20” Kids’ bicycles and was named Flat Foot Technology®. Over the years, this industry
innovation has been integrated to varying degrees into the Electra Cruiser and Amsterdam® collections.
“Around the year 2000 most bike companies were simply repurposing their common mountain bike frames with
higher reaching handlebars and suspension seat posts and calling them comfort bikes. We were not impressed and
knew this wasn’t satisfying all the needs of casual everyday riders. We took out a blank piece of paper, ignored the
sacred bicycle frame rules and designed a new type of bike with improved comfort and control,“ says Benno
Baenziger, Electra Co-founder/Inventor of Flat Foot Technology®. “The Townie showcases our technology in its
purest form. We then enhanced cruiser and Dutch city bikes with the essence of the technology to improve the ride
and create an Electra point of difference.”
Flat Foot Technology®’s unique design starts at the heart of the bicycle by moving the crank forward of the seat
tube creating a forward pedaling ride position. The technology allows riders to sit comfortably upright in the saddle
with proper leg extension for pedaling. This upright position helps reduce tension in the back, neck, shoulders, arms
and wrists, and opens up a wider view of the road. Riders are able to mor