Quadricycle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Quadricycle is a four-wheeled human-powered vehicle. It is also referred to as a quadracycle, quadcycle, quadrocycle or as a four-wheel bicycle.
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[edit] History
The earliest recorded pedal-powered quadricycle was exhibited 1853 at the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations World's Fair held in New York [1]. This was about the same time that two-wheeled bicycles started to become popular. Quadricycles were one solution to the problem of low-speed stability in early cycles and were typically multi-seat models (as seen in the picture). Both tandem (in line, as depicted) and sociable (side-by-side) seating configurations were used.
Historically the most common layout was with the wheels placed at the corners of a rectangle. An alternative layout was when wheels were placed at the angles of a rhombus (or, more generally, at the angles of a geometric kite). The rhombus layout was not very convenient, because such vehicles were less stable and left three tracks instead of two.
The first experimental steam cars were sometimes called steam quadricycles. The Ford Quadricycle was one of the few very early internal combustion cars called motor quadricycles. The terms automobile and car rapidly became universal, supplanting this usage.
[edit] Modern quadricycles
Quadricycle use diminished in the late 1800s as a result of improvements in bicycle technology that made their four wheel cousins largely obsolete, although small numbers were manufactured through the 1950s for rental use in tourist areas. During the 1970s and 1980s there was a resurgence of interest in these vehicles as personal transportation, driven by the 1973 oil crisis, environmental concerns about automobiles and the search for emission-free alternatives [2].
Modern quadricycles can be generally placed in five categories.
[edit] Tourist destination rental quadricycles
One common place to find quadricycles is at tourist attractions where these are available to rent by the hour or day. Modern tourist quadricycles usually feature open seating for two or more riders in a sociable configuration. These vehicles are often designed to look like early 20th century automobiles with a bench seat, rack-and-pinion steering and canopy top. These are commonly referred to as surreys, due to their resemblance to horse-drawn wagons of similar appearance and the same name.
Examples of this type include:
- International Surrey Company Surrey [3]
- Quadricycle International Quad-3 [4]
- Quadricycle International Quad-6 [5]
- Rhoades Car 4W4P [6]
[edit] Pedal taxi quadricycles
Similar to the surrey are pedal taxis or pedal cabs. These tend to be four or even six seaters and are used as taxis, pedalled by professional drivers. Like the rental surreys, they are often found at tourist attractions and in the downtown areas of tourist destination cities.
Also like the rental surreys, pedal taxis are often constructed to resemble early 20th century cars and often feature awning coverings for sun protection.
Examples of this type include:
- International Surrey Limousine [7]
- Momentum Quadracycles MQ4 Cabbie [8]
- Quadracycle Inc QuadraCab [9]
- Rhoades Car 4W4P [10]
[edit] Touring quadricycles
Touring quadricycles are constructed specifically for the personal ownership market and are built to be lighter and faster than rental surreys. Typically they seat one person or two people in side-by-side seating and feature independent pedaling and gear selection. They can have up to 192 gears, giving them remarkable hill-climbing capabilities[11]. These touring quadricycles are used for long distance travel as well as local use; some are used for cycle-commuting to work[12].
Compared to touring or hybrid bicycles, touring quadricycles are more comfortable to ride, can navigate steeper hills more easily, deal with crosswinds better and can carry a much heavier load than a bicycle. Touring quadrcycles have disadvantages compared to bicycles including that they are heavier, require more storage space, typically have slower cruise speeds, are more complex to maintain and have a larger turning circle. [13]
Examples of this type of vehicle include:
- International Surrey Road Runner [14]
- Lightfoot Duo [15]
- Lightfoot MicroCar [16]
- Momentum Quadracycles MQ2 Leisure [17]
- Quadracycle International Little Deuce Coupe [18]
- Quadracycle Inc QuadraSprint single-seater [19]
- Quadracycle Inc QuadraSport two-seater [20]
- Rhoades Car 4W1P single-seater [21]
- Rhoades Car 4W2PCP two-seater coupe [22]
- Ultimate Quadracycle CC-Sportster [23]
- Ultimate Quadracycle CC-Grand Sport [24]
- Ultimate Quadracycle CC-Elite [25]
There are also plans available as well as some amateur-designed touring quadricycles made by combining two bicycles. These designs have had varying degrees of success. [26] An example of a plans built quadricycle is:
- Skeldon Bike Co. Granny Bike [27]
[edit] Mountain quadricycles
Some quadricycles are designed to be the four-wheel counterparts of mountain bicycles and are optimised for strength and the ability to deal with steep and rough terrain. These quadricycles are all single seat designs.
An example of this type is:
- Crank-It Mountain Quad [28]
[edit] Industrial use
There are quadricycles designed for local delivery of goods, such as spare parts in a factory environment or laundry at spread-out hotel complexes. These quadricycles may have two seats and a pickup box or flat bed to allow loads to be transported. They are also capable of pulling small trailers.
Some quadricycles in this category have also been designed for military applications, such as light logistics transport.
Examples of this type of quadricycle include:
[edit] Quadricyles in popular culture
The popular British children's television show Chucklevision, features a quadricycle, driven by the two Chuckle Brothers, Barry and Paul.
[edit] Legalities
Quadricycles are classified as "bicycles" in many parts of North America and must be operated by the same rules as bicycles. One jurisdication that classifies them as bicycles is Ontario.[32]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- International Surrey Company, offering surreys designed specifically for the rental industry
- Rhoades Car
- Champiot, Rowed quadracycles with linkage drive train
- Rowbike, The maker of the 420 Crewzer
- Momentum Quadracycles of Saskatoon accessed 19 Nov 2006
- Quadracycle International of Saskatoon accessed 19 Nov 2006
- Quadricycle International of Montreal accessed 19 Nov 2006
- Quadracycle Inc of Hamilton, Indiana accessed 19 Nov 2006
- Ultimate Quadracycle of Calgary accessed 19 Nov 2006
- List of Manufacturers accessed 19 Nov 2006
- Touring Quadricycle use in Chicago accessed 20 Nov 2006
- Don Boring's Quadracycle page accessed 25 Nov 2006
- Discussion of touring quadracycles on BikeForums.net accessed 24 Nov 2006
- Essay analyzing Rhoades Car 4W1P by David King Accessed 23 Nov 2006
- Mountain quadricycle Accessed 23 Nov 2006
- Granny Bike - Plans built conversion to combine two bicyles into a quadricycle Accessed 29 Nov 2006
- American speedster - Build your own four wheel bike plans and kits Accessed 22 Mar 2007
- Account of constructing an amateur-built quadricycle Accessed 29 Nov 2006
- The Lightfoot Duo Quadracycle Accessed 02 Dec 2006
- The Lightfoot MicroCar Quadracycle Accessed 03 Dec 2006
- Quadracycling in Ottawa accessed 18 Dec 2006
[edit] External links
- Eric Staller's Conference Bike is a seven-seater quadricycle (two wheels are mounted close together at the rear)
- The Couchbike a modern quadricycle built around a living room sofa
- Henry Fords Quadricycle - History & Photos
- History of 19th Century Quadracycles
