A strike is the combination of a mountain bike, a skateboard and a stroller. It doesn't have any steering wheel. To turn, its rider simply leans in the desired direction. The unbalanced wheels, mounted at the back on a skateboard truck, will align themselves in the opposite direction, effectively turning in the direction the rider wants to go to. This strike is almost entirely made of recycled parts. The front wheel, the fork and the pedals come from an old mountain bike, the seat and the truck come from a kiddie skateboard and the back wheels were bought on eBay from a stroller repair shop. Most of the work was spent welding bearings on the fork and getting them to align properly. This was my first experience welding with a MIG. Ada lent me her MIG and showed me the basics and after spending a 1/2 hour rigging the strike, I was welding away. Another notable feature of the strike is the ability to adjust the seat angle and its distance from the pedals. It simply uses a system of hinges and tube fittings that can slide up and down the frame. It is quite difficult to make sharp turns at slow speeds on a strike without falling on one side. One potential solution would be to add steering capabilities on the front wheel much like recumbents do. This, combined with the ability to lean, would definitely be a serious improvement on traditional trikes, allowing the rider to make very sharp turns while reducing the risk of losing balance. This prototype was built for Burning Man 2005. I used it extensively in the Nevada desert for seven straight days and had very few adjustments to make. |
