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1994 Trialtir Integrale:

Very unusual two wheel drive bike.  Not too sure that I can describe the action well enough to be understood but here it goes.  The handlebars go forwards and backwards using the pivots on the fork crown.  The stem has a forward bumper to limit the forward travel.  The lower end of the legs, attached to the bars, has a cable that attaches to a cog mounted to the back of the fork.  The cog has an internal wound spring to return the cog with the forward handlebar motion.  The fork mounted cog drives a single cog freewheel, that is attached to the front wheel, via a regular bike chain.  So basically, you pull back on the handlebars which pulls the cable on the end of the leg attached to the bars, the cable rotates the upper cog which drives the freewheel via the chain, pushing the bars forward allows the spring in the upper cog to return the cog to prepare for the next power stroke.  There is also an additional shifter on the handlebars which will lock the stem so it can be used as a conventional bike.

While it is all somewhat complicated, and uses pretty inexpensive parts, it actually doesn't work all that bad.  You definitely get a much better upper body workout and you can feel a little extra boost while pulling the bars back.  It would be pretty tricky to use off road and when the bars are in the rearward position, the controls are really awkward to reach.  If you don't understand the motion, stop by the shop and take it for a spin.

Click on thumbnails above for larger image.

 

 

Frame Steel
Fork Trialtir with hand drive mechanism
Rear Shock NA
Rims Columbo CS Alloy
Hubs Rear Shimano Acera X, front driven
Spokes Zinc
Tires Ryder 26 x 2.0
Pedals Alloy with toe clips
Crank Shimano Altus
Chain Shimano UG
Rear Cogs Shimano 7 speed cassette
Bottom Bracket Shimano cartridge
Front Derailleur Shimano Altus E plate
Rear Derailleur Shimano STX
Shifters Shimano Altus 7 speed Rapid Fire
Handlebars Trialtir Integrale
Stem Trialtir
Headset Steel
Brake set Dia Compe 980
Brake levers Shimano Altus, integrated shifters
Saddle Selle San Marco
Seat Post Alooy
Colors Green
Size 19" c-c
Serial #   900617


Parts marked with as * are known to be non-original parts.  Bikes were often customized at the time of purchase or were different as shown in the catalogs so exact specifications were subject to change.