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For Sport Relief 2010 aspiring Irish inventor Michael Killian comes to the Den with funny man Patrick Kielty to pitch an intriguing take on an old idea... it's a bicycle but re-engineered to work sideways.

The pitch amuses the Dragons but the product definitely confuses them and the mood soon changes from light hearted to heavy business once Patrick leaves to watch the proceedings downstairs with Evan.

Peter Jones fails to see the point of the invention and asks the fundamental question 'Why?'Ìý

Michael explains that, as an inventor, he spends a great deal of time in his shed struggling to create something that functions, as that's what an inventor does.

Theo continues to quiz Michael, asking why there are no gears and what happens if he's going uphill? In a quick come back Michael exclaims 'it's not going to win the Tour de France', which tickles the Dragons but Theo still sees a flaw with no gears.

In further defence Michael informs the Dragons that the original bike has been around for 200 years and its basic operation has never changed, this is the first new invention in 200 years but this history lesson is rudely interrupted by Theo and Peter getting up to try the bike for themselves.

With Peter in the saddle and Theo steering, the other Dragons look on in amusement.

James Caan brings the dealings back to business and discovers that, although bike was invented in 2001 and the patent was granted in 2003, its tached creator had only built two bikes and is yet to sell one.

Pressing the point, the Dragon proclaims that Michael has valued the business at £750,000 and pops the question what will he do in the next 12 months that he could not do in the last 6 years? Michael retaliates with 'I will build bikes and sell them'.

Downstairs, Patrick extols 'Good boy', punching the air.

Deborah Meaden then questions the proposed £200 cost of the bike and wonders why would someone switch from a regular bike to this? Michael tries to steer around the issue claiming that an American catalogue company has approached him about featuring the bike but Deborah is having none of it and presses him to answer the question.

With a little help from Peter, Deborah eventually concludes that it's not necessarily better than a normal bicycle... just more fun!

But Duncan has heard enough and Michael's claims that even the snowboard was banned initially cannot save the plucky inventor from the Scottish investor's red card.

James, Theo and Deborah soon follow suite advising it's a product for a niche market and not a business.

Peter is Michael's last hope for securing an investment. He remarks he has the opportunity to invest in something that might be the next best thing and is potentially a form that may catch on. Ìý

Patrick, still watching with Evan, looks hopeful.

However Peter is quick to pull back.Ìý £150,000 is too much for Peter and he too shows Michael the red card.

It's a bitter blow for the novel inventor and despite the shouted protests from Patrick downstairs; Michael leaves the Den empty handed.

The deal done in the Den:

No investment

Last updated: 16th March 2010