Strange bike designs and the experience of cycling

In the past my mind has wandered onto alternative types of bike design particularly in the context of expeditions. Would a four wheeled 'quad' bike be feasible. Perhaps it would offer the ability to carry more luggage or be more suitable for certain types of terrain. Perhaps two people could ride the same quad - a quad tandem...  The two wheeled bike is the most popular design for a reason - it is tried and tested!

However, Tom joked when we were in Mongolia of a cycle powered bus! Joke he may, but someone already beat him to the idea. Looks like a lot of fun!



Picture from http://jagadees.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/busycle-a-zero-emission-vehicle/

With bicycle use on the increase, I find myself thinking often of the possible ways to completely transition from fuel-powered vehicles to either fully human powered/wind powered or electric battery & pedal hybrid machines. Such vehicles could exist as taxis similar to the image above. Not only would they be environmentally friendly but they would also make the population fitter. On another note, imagine attempting some sort of expedition on such a thing as the above vehicle. At the very least if you took it across Europe, it would be one heck of a party! On the topic of strange bikes, I am reminded of world record holding Georgian cyclist Jumbar Lezhava. He holds the record for the most countries visited on a bike. Tom and I met him when we first arrived in Tbilisi in spring 2008. He told us of his latest expedition which was to ride solo to the South pole on a quad bicycle. Read the blog post I wrote about meeting him.

Some other strange bike designs:-







See more here at Atomic Zombine - Extreme Machines

I love the idea of alternative bike designs because it brings into question the idea of the 'experience' of cycling, which Sheldon Brown mentions when he is talking about Singlespeeds on his website:

If you're riding for sheer pleasure, or for exercise, you don't necessarily place that high a premium on output results, as measured in speed, distance or vertical climb. Instead, you may care more about the actual experience of riding your bike. In this case, you may be a candidate for a singlespeed bike.

Riding a singlespeed can help bring back the unfettered joy you experienced riding your bike as a child. You don't realize how much mental energy you devote to shifting until you relinquish your derailers, and discover that a whole corner of your brain that was formerly wondering when to shift is now free to enjoy your surroundings and sensations.

Paradoxically, a singlespeed is, in another sense more efficient than a multispeed bike! While the single gear ratio will not be the "perfect" gear ratio for all conditions, in the conditions which fit the single gear, it is considerably more efficient mechanically than the drive train of a derailer bike.

The experience of cycling links in well with the experience of bike touring and our recent trip to Mongolia when we decided to venture away from the daily grind of riding across miles of open Mongolian steppe and instead headed to ride near impossible singletrack (with a loaded bike) around Lake Huvsgul in the mountains- challenging but satisfying. The more effort you put in, the more satisfying the outcome!