Recumbent

Handlebars seem about as important as wheels in bike design, but Swiss inventor Yvan Forclaz has done away with them in favor of a joystick. The Joystick Bike has been tweaked and refined since we first saw it a few years ago, and now it’s almost ready for tinkerers to get their hands on it.

​Why power your bike with just your legs, if your arms can be put to work too? That's the thinking behind the Varibike, an arm- and leg-powered bicycle. Two-wheelers aren't for everyone, though. It's with that in mind that the recumbent Varibike Trike is now being introduced.

Odyssey Trikes' Mark 5 Super claims a range of 300 miles (480 km) on a single charge, while also boasting a top speed of 60 mph (96 km/h).

​Recumbent bicycles may offer a more comfortable riding position, but they typically also have pretty long chains. Marc Le Borgne, however, has created an alternative. His KerVelo recumbent has an 18-speed gearhub transmission built into the front wheel.​

The annual World Human Powered Speed Challenge draws cyclists from around the world seeking to push the limits of pedal-powered motion, but it was Canadian Todd Reichart who left the competition in his wake to clock a top speed of 85.71 mph (137.9 km/h).

We've already seen a few bicycles that attempt to provide riders with more exercise by having them pedal with their legs and arms. Ruder-Rad, however, believes that a two-wheeler is too unstable a platform for that kind of locomotion. That's why it's introducing the Ruder Trike.

While they come in various forms, handlebars are a vital component on virtually every type of bike. The Joystick Bike replaces the ubiquitous bars with a right-hand joystick, delivering precise control that feels more like an aircraft or video game.

A lot of other people shy away from recumbents, as they have concerns about visibility. That's why Australian manufacturer Hiele has created the Trivek. It's a semi-recumbent delta tricycle that lets its rider sit back in a comfy seat while still sitting tall.

The four-wheeled Velove Armadillo supports a big, ol' cargo box or semi-trailer on the rear, making the typical two-wheel grocery getter look downright undersized. The pedaled quad is so cargo hungry, Velove believes it can replace the cargo van when transporting smaller loads over short distances.

While inclement weather and exertion are certainly factors, one of the big reasons that many people don't commute by bike is the fear of getting hit by cars. London-based Crispin Sinclair Innovation has set about addressing that fact, with its new Babel Bike.

Last December, British adventurer Maria Leijerstam became the first person to cycle from the edge of the Antarctic continent to the South Pole. She did so on a custom-built recumbent fat-tired tricycle. Inspired Cycle Engineering is now offering a commercial version of it, known as the Full Fat.

AeroVelo aims to take September's World Human-Powered Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain, Nevada, with an ultra-efficient high speed bicycle named Eta.