A lock, in particular a bicycle lock, includes a lock body, a locking element located outside the lock body, and a locking mechanism located outside the lock body for receiving and locking the locking element. The locking mechanism is connected to the lock body by a first rope section and the locking element is connected to the lock body by a second rope section. A length of a part of at least one of the rope sections extending outside the lock body is variable.

The present disclosure describes a controller for a light electric vehicle. The controller may include a user interface that includes one or more visual indicators and selectable buttons. The visual indicators may be used to convey various status indicators and/or alerts to an individual that is riding the light electric vehicle. The selectable buttons may be used to alter an operating state of the light electric vehicle and/or to provide operating status information about the light electric vehicle.

A vehicle station system includes a dock having a latch configured to secure a bicycle to the dock and release the bicycle from the dock. The dock also includes a computing system that includes a processor and an interface operatively coupled to the processor and configured to receive authentication information from a user. The processor is configured to authenticate the user based on the authentication information, and, responsive to authentication of the user, cause the latch to transition from a locked configuration to an open configuration such that the user can remove the bicycle from the dock. The computing system also includes a transceiver operatively coupled to the processor and configured to maintain a communication connection between the dock and a remote server. The transceiver is also configured to transmit a user identification corresponding to the user and a bicycle identification corresponding to the bicycle to the remote server.

An integrated rack and lock station for a bicycle includes a front wheel well adapted to receive at least a portion of the front wheel of the bicycle and a lock bar assembly which can be extended to lock the rear wheel and frame of the bicycle to the station.

The field of the invention relates to bicycle systems, especially to bicycle systems adapted for use with smartphones, to smartphones configured for use with bicycle systems, and to methods and to computer software for use with such bicycle systems or smartphones, and to servers configured to communicate with such bicycle systems or smartphones. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle system including a bicycle, the bicycle system including a processor integral to the bicycle, the bicycle system further including a battery integral to the bicycle, wherein the processor is powerable by the battery, the bicycle system including a smartphone holder configurable to receive a smartphone and to connect the smartphone to the processor, wherein in use the smartphone holder is attachable to, and detachable from, the smartphone. Advantages include that the smartphone can be charged by the battery, the smartphone can communicate with the processor so as to receive various information such as maintenance-related information of the bicycle system, the bicycle system can investigate the smartphone identity to check for unauthorized use of the bicycle system, the smartphone is held during bicycle system travel which reduces the risk of damage to the smartphone, and the bicycle system shape is more aerodynamic than that of a bicycle to which a processor and/or a battery has merely been bolted-on.

The field of the invention relates to bicycle systems, especially to bicycle systems adapted for use with smartphones, to smartphones configured for use with bicycle systems, and to methods and to computer software for use with such bicycle systems or smartphones, and to servers configured to communicate with such bicycle systems or smartphones. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle system including a bicycle, the bicycle system including a processor integral to the bicycle, the bicycle system further including a battery integral to the bicycle, wherein the processor is powerable by the battery, the bicycle system including a smartphone holder configurable to receive a smartphone and to connect the smartphone to the processor, wherein in use the smartphone holder is attachable to, and detachable from, the smartphone. Advantages include that the smartphone can be charged by the battery, the smartphone can communicate with the processor so as to receive various information such as maintenance-related information of the bicycle system, the bicycle system can investigate the smartphone identity to check for unauthorized use of the bicycle system, the smartphone is held during bicycle system travel which reduces the risk of damage to the smartphone, and the bicycle system shape is more aerodynamic than that of a bicycle to which a processor and/or a battery has merely been bolted-on.

A smart lock of a bicycle includes a bicycle locking apparatus and a dock locking apparatus. The bicycle locking apparatus works with a key to lock the bicycle without dock, and the dock locking apparatus works with a dock to lock the bicycle to the dock. The bicycle locking apparatus includes a gear, a locking member, and a driving module. The locking member has a locking tooth portion, the driving module moves the locking member to engage and disengage the locking tooth portion of the locking member with an engaging portion of the key. The dock locking apparatus has a locking latch and a stop member. The driving module moves the locking member to let the stop member against or away from the locking latch to lock or unlock the bicycle to the dock.

A smart lock of a bicycle includes a bicycle locking apparatus and a dock locking apparatus. The bicycle locking apparatus works with a key to lock the bicycle without dock, and the dock locking apparatus works with a dock to lock the bicycle to the dock. The bicycle locking apparatus includes a gear, a locking member, and a driving module. The locking member has a locking tooth portion, the driving module moves the locking member to engage and disengage the locking tooth portion of the locking member with an engaging portion of the key. The dock locking apparatus has a locking latch and a stop member. The driving module moves the locking member to let the stop member against or away from the locking latch to lock or unlock the bicycle to the dock.

There is provided a chain apparatus made at least in part by additive manufacturing. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced-apart annular members. The apparatus includes an elongate member coupled to and extending between the annular members. At least one of the members comprises one or more self-draining internal chambers to allow for removal of residual material therefrom.

Provided is a sharing system for a plurality of users to share an electric moving body. The electric moving body comprises a second holder which detachably holds a user battery owned by a user who has rented the electric moving body. The sharing system comprises an authentication unit which acquires a battery ID from the user battery mounted to the second holder and determines whether or not the acquired battery ID and a registered ID registered in advance match each other to thereby authenticate the user who uses the electric moving body.