Tilting Fast FWD

Cyclevision 2004

Aiming to c ombine the best of bicycle and tricycle was this three-wheeler from Bram Smit - who also makes the FastFwd range recumbent bikes and trikes, some for children (www.fastfwd.nl). The two rear wheels are linked together so that the bike chassis can tilt just as it would on a two-wheeler - and the steering at the front is again just like a normal bicycle recumbent. Indeed, it uses the front end of the FastFwd seperable low racer. The intention is that while retaining the dynamics of a bike, you gain the extra safety benefits of an extra wheel on slippery surfaces, for example.

I must admit I didn't find it an easy machine to ride, but then I'm not really used to low-rider recumbent bikes anyway. Other onlookers had more succes when they had a go, and came back with smiles.

One other noteworthy feature on this bike is that the rear wheels are constructed using disks of Nomex composite - this sandwiches a honeycomb structure between two stiff skins to form a very lightweight and strong plate. 

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