sherer tlt torgue lever

[JCB]

Can anyone tell me about the above trike? Is this a gimmick or the real thing?

[ppc]

I don't know anything about this trike. However, what I do know is this: an efficient rider will pedal "squarely", i.e. won't just push downward on the pedals like beginners do (or forward, on bents). To do, you push the pedal on the downward stroke, pull it backward another quarter turn, pull it up another quarter turn (clipless pedals necessary of course), then push it forward on the last quarter turn. When you pedal like that, you basically put out 4 times as much energy to the rear wheel as with the dud pedaling style (and you tire very fast too. No free lunch :-)

So, unless you only plan on leisurely riding around on the flat, I'd say it's a gimmick. All manners of levers and linear-to-circular motion devices have been invented and/or discussed, but the reality is that the circular crank motion is always the most efficient and the lightest solution. Extensive analysis of alternative to cranks have been posted on the bicycle science mailing list and rec.bicycles.science, and it's one of the most enduring recurring theme on these lists, along with continuously-variable transmissions and chain cleaning :-)

[JCB]

sorry for the multiple posts. My computer went nuts and I couldn't tell if it had posted. Once again, sorry.


Thanks for the info.