Hasta La Gadget!

In June, we took a look at David Parott’s TrimTab 3×3, which I described as a “recumbent trike for scary bearded children,” giving this rationale:

Trikes are for kids and recumbents are for, well, Gore-Tex-clad hippies with too much facial hair. So the nightmarish rider of this machine, called the Trimtab, would be a bearded child with a taste for real-ale. Shiver.

Back then, the Trimtab existed on-screen as a concept design, its lean-steered body powered by electrically-assisted rear-wheels or a pedal-powered front-wheel. Now it is real, and David has taken the thing out onto the road for a test drive. Far from being a hippy-mobile for a hirsute stunt-child from The Shining, the Trimtab looks frankly awesome, like something out of a sci-fi movie. Think Tron, only with sensible, breathable outerwear, and you have the right idea:

According to David (and to the speedometer of the pursuit-car), the 3×3 hit 19-mph without pedaling, or even really trying. It also looks very stable in corners, thanks to the lean-in steering and off-vertical rear-wheels. I’d totally take it out for a spin.

Which brings me to my new theory of recumbent beard-wearing. I used to think that the joys of horizontal cycling were uniquely attractive to the fuzz-faced, but now I’m not so sure. Recumbents are of course still mortifyingly embarrassing, but clearly a lot of fun. What better way to hide your shame while taking one out for a spin than to don a false beard?

Trimtab 3X3 on the road [YouTube via Losantiville and @seanchon]

See Also:

• 3X3 Recumbent Trike for Scary Bearded Children
• Beardos
• Recumbent Trike is Less Portland, More Tron
• Modded Recumbent Bikes Rip Through NASA Ames
• Bike Hack: Recumbent Trailer Made From Walking Frames
• Bike With a Roof Wins Commuter Design Contest
• World's Fastest Cyclist Hits 82.3 MPH