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Is This The Answer To Winter Commuting?

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Is This The Answer To Winter Commuting?

Old 11-25-08, 08:32 PM
  #1  
EnigManiac
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Is This The Answer To Winter Commuting?

Last year, we had the 3rd worst winter on record and it wasn't far off the very worst we've ever had. I don't recall ever seeing as much snow in Toronto as I did during February and March, in particular. I had to leave my commuter locked up as I ride a semi-recumbent with 16" and 20" road wheels, clearly inappropriate for the kind of conditions we had. Yet I watched a number of intrepid commuters making their way through blizzards on mountain bikes. And then last night I was watching a program we have up her called 'Dragon's Den' where budding entrepreneurs bring their ideas, products, businesses or whatever to a panel of millionaires with hopes of having the millionaires invest in their enterprise. All the Dragon's, save one, were interested in this product, but they wanted 50% of the company or more before they would part with $300,000. The young inventor turned them all down.

What do you think of this? I know it's meant for mountain biking, but hey, it can be adapted pretty easily to roads.

https://www.ktrakcycle.com/index.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dom5kfEhuw
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Old 11-25-08, 08:36 PM
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I dunno. Are you in an area that's snowbound for days/weeks/months at a time?
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Old 11-25-08, 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Doohickie
I dunno. Are you in an area that's snowbound for days/weeks/months at a time?
We have pretty prompt snow-clearing in Toronto, but one can be riding to or coming home from work with several inches on the ground when the plows haven't been by yet. There can also be ice and drifts.
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Old 11-25-08, 11:03 PM
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I actually didn't miss a workday commute on regular mountain bike studded tires last winter. Some rides were slow, but far faster than trying to drive.

Although I like the idea of floating the bike up in deep snow, replacing wheels with skiis is a non-starter. There's always bare pavement, and lots of it, even during snowstorms in the city. And of course I have to ride the same equipment home after eight hours of plowing and salting.

I'd go with a pugsly if I was going to put money towards deep-snow mobility. Maybe if someone wins a major winter cycling event on a ski-and-track bike, I'll take another look.
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Old 11-25-08, 11:22 PM
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Looks fun as a recreational/sport type device. As a commuter? Maybe in the bush.

Other youtube videos show people taking them downhill, and using a chairlift to get back up hill. I'd like to see someone ascending the hill just using the ktrack....

Having said that, it might be a viable business idea. If it's fun, people will buy it!
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Old 11-25-08, 11:44 PM
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Fun but not practical.
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Old 11-26-08, 04:51 AM
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Keep in mind, you don't have to use the ski in front. In the demo they did on Dragon's Den, they rode around the studio with the Ktrak in back and a knobby in front. Seems that would be ideal for those stormy or just-after-we-had-snow and the roads haven't been plowed yet or when the plows leave all that crap in the bike lane.
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Old 11-26-08, 06:02 AM
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What the...

Im from florida so this is oddly strange.. yet interesting.
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Old 11-26-08, 06:24 AM
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Originally Posted by chris_farley
Looks fun as a recreational/sport type device. As a commuter? Maybe in the bush.

Other youtube videos show people taking them downhill, and using a chairlift to get back up hill. I'd like to see someone ascending the hill just using the ktrack....

Having said that, it might be a viable business idea. If it's fun, people will buy it!
what he said.........

I am a tele skier and have seen bike type stuff people used at the resorts to replicate skiing downhill. This is the first where you can pedal.............

Also since the Ktrak is really rear wheel drive/traction don't think you can stand up and peddle.......

My guess, though it is ONLY a guess, is that a mtn bike with studded tires would work just as well for city conditions with tons of snow.........

I'd rather ski frankly
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Old 11-26-08, 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by chris_farley
Other youtube videos show people taking them downhill, and using a chairlift to get back up hill. I'd like to see someone ascending the hill just using the ktrack....
Yes, I notice the same thing. There are plenty of packed, snowmobile trails and backroads where I live, where one could conceivably ride a Ktrack. The thing is, I have yet to see a video of someone just riding along on level ground with any amount of control for an extended distance.
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Old 11-26-08, 07:46 AM
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I havn't road in the snow yet but how would you stop that thing with no breaks.
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Old 11-26-08, 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by chris_farley
Other youtube videos show people taking them downhill, and using a chairlift to get back up hill. I'd like to see someone ascending the hill just using the ktrack....
But why? I don't see anyone on a downhill bike riding back to the top of the mountain.
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Old 11-26-08, 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by jdom
I havn't road in the snow yet but how would you stop that thing with no breaks.
Well, unless you removed the rear brake you wouldn't have to worry about that.
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Old 11-26-08, 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by EnigManiac
Last year, we had the 3rd worst winter on record and it wasn't far off the very worst we've ever had. I don't recall ever seeing as much snow in Toronto as I did during February and March, in particular.
Friggin' global warming. Looks like I'm gonna have to get the hummer out of storage.
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Old 11-26-08, 09:20 AM
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The thing looks like a great fun, but the ice-bikers in Alaska still roll big fat tires. Still, if you've got nothin' but snow, it seems like something fun to try on a cheap, used hard-tail.

Edit: And you stop this thing how? Tail slide into a snow drift?
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Old 11-26-08, 09:25 AM
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I'd already seen that ages ago at this site called notcot.org with loads of other interesting things (not bike related things) SHould of posted it then!
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Old 11-26-08, 12:04 PM
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Gut reaction: "f'cking awesome"
Sober reflection: "hmmm, seems toyish"
Although i could probably cut my 20km commute to around 14km cutting across fields with one of those.
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Old 11-26-08, 01:01 PM
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I sent this to my Canuckian friends up North.

Looks like it would be kewl for a fun filled weekend!
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Old 11-26-08, 01:18 PM
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No use for it here in Texas, but I'm impressed with the ingenuity.
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Old 11-26-08, 01:37 PM
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KISS.

You'd be better off with studded tires and some snow practice
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Old 11-26-08, 02:01 PM
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Looks like fun, but not too practical for Toronto's winter street conditions which aren't that much different from Detroit or Windsor from what I recall. Well they probably have prompter snow removal than perpetually cash strapped Detroit. The real solution to winter commuting is probably something like what some Scandinavian locales have, good separated cycling facilities which get priority in snow removal. Time to organize!
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Old 11-26-08, 02:10 PM
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We just have too much bare pavement here in CT in anything but the absolute worst storms. That ski would get demolished. In the absolute worst storms, where the road is packed snow for a couple hours, it could be seriously fun. And on an unpaved MUP it would rock!

But for everyday commuting, I'll take an MTB.
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Old 11-26-08, 07:36 PM
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It would be great when you ride into work in the snow, not so great when you have to get the thing back home in the evening with the streets plowed.
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Old 11-27-08, 01:12 AM
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Originally Posted by apricissimus
It would be great when you ride into work in the snow, not so great when you have to get the thing back home in the evening with the streets plowed.
Carry the front tire with you and switch it before the commute home?
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Old 11-27-08, 04:50 AM
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What actually is the question here regarding winter commutes? If I had to commute in deep snow, muscle powered, absolutely no plowing, I'd ski. If the issue is inadequate/sporadic plowing (and hence shallower snow), ice etc, studded tyres FTW.

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