Renderings courtesy of Eric Whiting

Eric Whiting, of Saratoga Associates in Saratoga Springs, New York, thinks he can probably remember every brand of bicycle he has ever owned. And if all goes well, his next could be one of his own design.

Although, of course, it won’t technically be a bicycle. Whiting is working on a design for a trike, a three-wheel cycle that is ridden lying down. Recumbent cycles hold many of the speed records for human-powered vehicles, but they have been lacking in design.

“Trike design is really in its infancy,” Whiting says, “since the trike has only been in evolution since the 1980s. That fact alone warrants further design study. However, with few exceptions, current recumbent cycles in roduction seem overengineered and lacking any emotional design input.”

Whiting’s skill at 3D rendering made his work on the trike (bottom) easier than it would be with paper and pencil. He used the same techniques to design a three-wheeled car (top). Whiting began work on the car but sold what had been built for money to continue working on the trike. The current owner plans to continue developing the car to Whiting’s specifications.

Before he even sat down to start sketching his trike, Whiting sought input from riders around the world, and the result is a trike that he can be proud to present to the international community. And building his own project has taught him the value
of design efficiency.

But more than anything, Whiting has approached this project because he loves doing it.
“Trikes are cool,” he said. “They’re like comfortable, aerodynamic, leg-powered dragsters. Besides, I guess bicycles to me are like chairs to other designers: beautiful utilitarian objects. I can’t stop staring.”

By Kevin Lerner