Nimble tricycles as a platform for handbike

Spectacular novelty from HP Velotechnik: The highly innovative Hands-On-Cycle with its fully enclosed chain guide turns sporty trikes into an everyday handbike for people with disability / Off-road trike with small turning circle

Kriftel. HP Velotechnik presents a completely new development in the field of handbikes with the Hands-On-Cycle, at the Eurobike trade fair in Friedrichshafen. It is the world’s first handbike that features an extremely compact design with a fully enclosed chain guide and integrated cable pulls and impresses with other innovative technical solutions. Hands-On-Cycle will be on show at the Rehacare trade fair (September 14 to 17) at the booth of the German recumbent manufactory in hall 4 (booth G47).

Hands-On-Cycle fits selected trikes from HP Velotechnik. The drivetrain replaces the front boom of Scorpion fs 20 or Gekko fx 26. The only difference compared to the standard pedal drive is the connection of the steering by push rod. With Hands-On-Cycle, the sporty trikes become an everyday vehicle for people with disabilities. One aspect is particularly important to CEO Paul Hollants: „With Hands-On-Cycle, we are proud to introduce even more people to the fun world of recumbent trikes!“

In this context, the stable-tipping trikes from the German manufacturer expand the range of applications considerably: „The trikes from HP Velotechnik are significantly more capable of off-road use. This is in contrast to many other hand bikes.“ The main reason for this is the design of the vehicle with rear-wheel drive, a low center of gravity and two steered front wheels. Their operation is extremely intuitive, and riders always have the two front wheels in view. Steering is done by a combination of turning and pivoting and is based on a highly sophisticated mechanism. The result is a much smaller turning circle than on many other handbikes.

Fully encapsulated drive train

The Hands-On-Cycle incorporates several innovations. The innovative design allows for a fully encapsulated upper drivetrain. This approach adds to the overall safety of the trike: It eliminates the rotating chainrings in front of the rider which are more than a nuisance on common handbikes. In addition, the oily chain is also out of the picture. It runs in an aluminum tube.

Another safety feature is the optional lighting system which can be integrated into the new handdrive boom. Some moving parts and the optional lighting system are covered by temperature- and weather-resistant ABS plastic. These add to the clean look of the cockpit which offers enough space to mount useful accessories like a speedometer, smartphone, or bell.

Hands-On-Cycle is compatible with a variety of drivetrains: Riders can choose between a Neodrives Z20 e-drive system (pedal-assist up to 25 km/h) with the display mounted to the cockpit, a 24-speed TripleShift (integrated gear hub / derailleur combination), or a Rohloff Speedhub with 14 gears. In addition, they can also decide for different hydraulic or mechanic disk brakes from Shimano.

Versatility through customization

Hands-On-Cycle offers a variety of ways to allow for a perfect fit with the rider. One can adjust the front boom to accommodate for small persons, adjust the footrests to fit individual needs, shorten the crank arms within a range of 10 cm, and the handdrive boom can be adjusted in height. The handdrive boom can also be upturned to the front after opening a quick release to allow for more space when getting on and off the trike. These Hands-On-Cycle specific features are supplemented by HP Velotechnik’s interchangeable seat system: ErgoMesh Premium and ErgoMesh in either standard or XL size are availale for this setup.

HP Velotechnik worked together with wheelchair athletes and Darmstadt College for the development of Hands-On-Cycle. Daniel Pulvermüller, CEO and Head of R&D at HP Velotechnik, is extremely pleased about the result of these cooperations: „We are always in active exchange with regional universities. Hands-On-Cycle is by far the most extraordinary project in HP Velotechnik’s almost 30-year history. Combining innovative ideas from athletes, universities, and our long-term know-how in building the best trikes on the market allowed us to make Hands-On-Cycle ready for the market in no-time.“

Hands-On-Cycle is available as an option for selected HP Velotechnik trikes with a suggested retail price of 2,490 Euro ($2,890). Its color is Blue shade grey matt. On request, Hands-On-Cycle can also be equipped with the WingBling trike turn indicators developed by HP Velotechnik, but only in combination with electric motor.

******** Background HP Velotechnik ********

HP Velotechnik, founded in 1993 by Paul Hollants and Daniel Pulvermüller, manufactures approx. 2,000 recumbents per year in the factory in Kriftel near Frankfurt with 50 employees (including six trainees) and is thus market leader in Europe. The bikes are built individually by hand according to the customers wish and sold in specialist bicycle shops. All signs point to future growth: HP Velotechnik exports more and more bikes and trikes to more distant regions such as Australia, Japan, or South Africa. This successful business strategy was honored in 2017 with the “Hessian Export Prize”, which is jointly awarded by the State of Hesse and the Hessian Chambers of Crafts and Industry and Commerce. Most recently, the recumbent bike manufacturer received an award from the German Social Democratic Party (SPD): The grouping of the Working Group of the Self-employed in the Party presented the “AGS Award for Innovation 2019” for the “innovative mobility” of the bikes.

HP Velotechnik has developed 15 recumbent models that cover the entire range from everyday bikes to racing bikes. All models are available with powerful electric motors on request. Recently, the models from the Scorpion series caused a sensation, winning the renowned “Eurobike Award” design prize three times in a row. Most recently, in 2013 the trike Scorpion fs Enduro and in 2014 the Scorpion plus 20 as a therapy trike. The last time the Scorpion fs 26 S-Pedelec won this award at the world’s most important bicycle trade fair Eurobike was in 2018 as a vehicle in the fast class with pedal assistance up to 45 km/h.

Even as schoolchildren, the company founders Hollants and Pulvermüller became national winners of the JUTEC Youth and Technology competition of the Association of German Engineers – the foundation of the development from a garage laboratory to one of Germany’s most innovative bicycle companies. Since 2006 HP Velotechnik has been awarded as one of the three best bicycle manufacturers in Germany by the industry association VSF several times.

Nimble tricycles as a platform for handbike

Spectacular novelty from HP Velotechnik: The highly innovative Hands-On-Cycle with its fully enclosed chain guide turns sporty trikes into an everyday handbike for people with disability / Off-road trike with small turning circle

Fully encapsulated drive train

Versatility through customization

Delta tx: Serial Production Started