Bicycles

Varibike gears up for road racing

Varibike gears up for road racing
Varibike aims to raise the road racing credentials of its arm- and leg-powered bike
Varibike aims to raise the road racing credentials of its arm- and leg-powered bike
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The unique handlebars of the Varibike
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The unique handlebars of the Varibike
The new fast touring Varibike rear view
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The new fast touring Varibike rear view
The new fast touring Varibike with the standard FR3 model in the background
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The new fast touring Varibike with the standard FR3 model in the background
The new road racing tires and aerodynamic on the Varibike
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The new road racing tires and aerodynamic on the Varibike
The new wheels feature aerodynamic rims
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The new wheels feature aerodynamic rims
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The upgraded Varibike FR3 goes from a 10-speed to an 11-speed
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The upgraded Varibike FR3 goes from a 10-speed to an 11-speed
Varibike aims to raise the road racing credentials of its arm- and leg-powered bike
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Varibike aims to raise the road racing credentials of its arm- and leg-powered bike
The new fast touring Varibike in black
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The new fast touring Varibike in black
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Speaking to Gizmag at Eurobike 2013, Varibike managing director Martin Kraiss has revealed a couple of tweaks to the arm- and leg-propelled bicycle that are aimed at raising its road touring credentials.

The first change is the addition of new road racing tires fitted on aerodynamic rims. The second change takes the Varibike from a 10-speed to an 11-speed, with Kraiss saying the low maintenance gears boast a 410 percent gear ratio. This is in comparison to the 320 percent gear ratio seen in the standard 10-speed model.

The new wheels and gears will add an extra €350 (US$460) to the €4,499 (US$5,945) price of a standard FR3 Varibike (which will still be available). Although it isn’t yet on the Varibike website, Kraiss says the fast touring Varibike is available now in black or white.

Source: Varibike

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5 comments
5 comments
Larry English
ok let's see it win something would it even be legal in sanctioned events? wle
Paulinator
I've built an arm-assist bicycle (as well as several "pure" hand-cycles and recumbents) and can attest that no race with a duration exceeding 30 seconds will ever be won against a conventional bike. The benefit comes at too great a penalty against aerobic endurance.
wle
race it and see wle
Larry English
has it won anything yet:?
unklmurray
YES , it has won ''The Most Expensive Piece of Junk Award'' you would have to win lotsa races just to pay for the initial cost of this Hunk-oJunk'........I personally find it a waste of time,energy,& money!!