Extreme! 4-Wheel Pedal Bike
September 27, 2011, 2:58 pm / Categories: Biking
Walking the hall at this year’s Interbike trade show in Las Vegas, something I’d never seen before stopped me in my tracks — a pedal-powered “racing quad” from Portland-based Contes Engineering. The four-wheel Athos was “inspired by BMX, freestyle, downhill and motocross,” the company touts, and it is said to marry the “intense stability” and handling characteristics of a four-wheel vehicle with the flexibility of a bike. In a nutshell? It was designed for pure fun!
This odd human-powered vehicle uses more than 8 inches of travel spread between its four-wheel setup. Both rear wheels receive power from a differential for traction, and disc brakes all around guarantee a quick stop.
Company literature encourages the “defiance of gravity” and states that the Athos “enjoys drifting, rock hopping and passing.” Need more attention at the local dirt jumps? We suggest rolling up on one of these suckers.
Beginning in spring of 2012, the Athos will be for sale in BMX, downhill, or cross-country models. Weight of the four-wheel bikes ranges from 48 to 56 pounds. The BMX model will be single-speed; the other two will offer gearing choices.
Pricing to be announced in November. As a nice bonus, all Athos bikes are designed, tested and produced in the USA.
Though certainly not as versatile as your standard mountain bike, I’d be fibbing if I told you I didn’t want to hoist a leg over this thing and throw down at the nearest pump track. Sign me up to ride!
Shop the GearJunkie Store
Wonder from where the idea came… I have been contemplating the exact same concept since 2002, and I hope and pray that this “rip-off” of my original design will constitute a franchise agreement with me as beneficiary in the near future. Or at least that I get creditted for the initial design propossal as shown in this picture-link:
https://plus.google.com/#photos/113813377042179902657/albums/5733026705309239089/5733026741045178418
Related Content
Biking
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
Rev your Engine? ATV, Snowmobile Giant Stakes claim with E-Bikes
@TheGearJunkie - / GearJunkie.com is regarded as a top source for product reviews and news in the outdoors world.
- Weekly E-Newsletter
Sign up for our e-news for a weekly update on new gear, adventure travel, and prize giveaways.
- Latest Articles
- Stomping Grounds: Photo Shoot and Shoe Test in 'Urban Outdoors'
- 'Golden Axe' award at GoPro Mountain Games
- Video: Three Weeks of Pristine Climbing in Greenland (in three minutes)
- Glacier Trek, Waterfalls, 'Blue Lagoon' highlights of Iceland Trip
- Seeking 'Mountain Bike Action' in photo contest with The North Face
- Up and Down the World's Highest Mountain in 36 Hours (that's the goal)
- 12yr.-old Kids kayak off waterfalls, Beat Adults in Comps
- Call from Anywhere. SPOT launches Satellite Phone for Outdoors
- Icy Surf Shot, New Zealand Summit image win photo contest
- 50 Miles in Flip-Flops? Luna sells sandals to ultra-running market
- Popular Articles
- Workout Wear
- 'Fat Bike' Trend: Overrated or For Real?
- World's 10 Most Dangerous Mountains
- Survival Gear: 10 Items To Survive
- Stomping Grounds: Photo Shoot and Shoe Test in 'Urban Outdoors'
- Camping Gear Reviews | Gear Reviews
- Climber makes couch out of old rope (and 9 other odd uses)
- Fat Bike trend Dead? Walmart sells 'Beast' bike for $199
- Video: Three Weeks of Pristine Climbing in Greenland (in three minutes)
- Call from Anywhere. SPOT launches Satellite Phone for Outdoors
- Chimney Stove: Boil Water with Sticks and Grass
- 10 Rules: Running with your Dog
- First Look: Suunto 'Ambit 2' for multisport market
- 50 Miles in Flip-Flops? Luna sells sandals to ultra-running market
- SylvanSport GO Camper Trailer Review
- Up and Down the World's Highest Mountain in 36 Hours (that's the goal)
- Speed Racer: Giro Bike Helmet Reduces Drag, Slices through Air
- Glacier Trek, Waterfalls, 'Blue Lagoon' highlights of Iceland Trip
- 10 Knives You can (soon) bring on a Plane
- First Look: Bear Grylls unveils line of Camping gear
- Friends of Gear Junkie
- Monopoint Media
- The Goat
- Alpinist
- Adventure Blog
- YogaSlackers
- Checkpoint Tracker
- Outdoorzy
- Get Outdoors
- Gear Flogger
- Feed The Habit
- Gear.com
- Adventure Journal
- SuperTopo
- Trailspace
- Outside Online
- iRunFar.com
- UpADowna
- About Adventure Travel
- Cold Splinters
- UpNorthica
- Sender Films
- Venture There
- Wend Magazine
- No Boundaries
- Breathe Magazine
- Elevation Outdoors
- Rock and Ice Magazine
- Trail Runner Magazine
- REI Blog
Nice. Four chances to get your shock PSI wrong! :-)