Dimitri Dutruv is regarded by some as a man who could have been one of the greatest inventors ever. In fact, as researcher, Dale Egret, said,
"Dutruv could very well be termed as "The Greatest Inventor Who Never Was." His work will never be fully understood, unfortunately, due to the circumstances of his death, but what we do know shows us a fascinating picture of an uncommon inventive mind, who could possibly have revolutionised modern engineering if he and his work had survived."
In October 1996, Dutruv was killed on his way to the patent office, when he was struck by a removal van, crossing the road. The removal van crashed and exploded, consuming Dutruv's portfolio of engineering designs, with the exceptions of a few conceptual drawings and documentary photographs, some of which will occasionally be chronicled here.
Figuring that there are reputed to be few animals more sure-footed than Mountain Goats, Dutruv was inspired to develop a mountain bike with hooves on wheels. Examination of Dutruv's accounts showed that he had spent 5 months contacting butchers around the world, aquiring and experimenting with the hooves of different animals.
A design photograph recoved from Dutruv's house, depicting a bicycle frame used for research purposes, using LEDs to pinpoint potential points of what Dutruv termed "hooval-augmentation." The photograph was passed onto design firm richardmasoner, to see if it could be used to recreate Dutruv's designs.
©2010 James Mathurin
