Hiker Sit-Down Tricycle
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.19.07
Hidden among the ATV's at the Sportsmans Show was an actual human powered device. Mechanical Engineer Stephen Coates thought that traditional bikes have limitations when it came to balance, comfort, storage and joint-friendly leg action. He has developed the hiker, and says that he " has done away with the inefficiencies of both traditional bicycles and recumbent bicycles/tricycles. For starters, the seat is at standard chair height and does not require a complicated movement to get onto and off of. The revolutionary tangent lever design abolishes circular pedal travel in favor of a simple leg extension for forward movement. Due to the versatility of this design, all that is required is a simple internal 3-speed hub to ensure optimal gearing with minimal changes. As for steering, all that’s required is an intuitive lean, thanks to the new center-pivot steering ."
I found the "tangent lever design" to be the most intriguing feature; like in rowing, the large muscles of the thighs are directly applied without the circular motion of a normal bike. I have also been on adult tricycles which are almost impossible to turn, and loved the center-pivot steering. I look forward to a road test! Hiker from ::BetterMotionGroup
This sit down tricycle looks fascinating. It sounds very well engineered for human use, and looks highly optimised for long-ish distance use without the problems of fatigue and back soreness.
I'm not so sure about parking though :)
I posted this link to a friend, a bicycle expert. He wrote back:
"its pretty raw, the leg extension principle has been applied before and is available in a refined unit from Taiwan. I wouldn't say the leg extension model is particularly ergonomic the foot actually travels in a kind of flat circle when you walk with very little extension and ergnomics is about matching up with natural movements. The steering principle is well established in other trikes, but is fundamentally flawed, in that lean and steer have a fixed relationship. This works well at a fixed speed ...
There are some really good trikes available for that price, and some genuinely novel front wheel drive bikes available for half that. :)
I'm sure there is a market for it, its a pretty big world out there. I do think the claims are grandiose, still, that's what marketing seems to be about. "
I'm a little concerned that the BMG site resorted to a poor photochop in order to show its use on roads.
http://www.bettermotiongroup.com/index.php?option=com_easygallery&act=photos&cid=6&Itemid=63
At a max speed of 12.5MPH, I wouldn't be taking it out on highways.
"inefficiencies of ... bicycles" -- it's kind of hard to beat the 98% efficiency provided by a simple chain drive on a bicycle.