You know those daredevils that livetheir lives by always pushing the edge? People like to call them adrenaline junkies. Well, one of the sports they love to practice is what they call downhill mountain biking. The problem is there are a lot of these extreme sports enthusiasts who are looking for ways to practice it winter too. Project Avalanche is dedicated to them, and if successful it may be a game changer.
Riding down a mountain is both dangerous, as it is speed worthy. To practice it you need some heavier and stronger bikes than other mountain bikes. They feature front and rear suspension with over 8 inches (20 cm) of travel, to glide quickly over rocks and tree roots. Sure, these we all know.
But what happens if you use these two-wheelers on snowy mountains? No good will come out of that, we can tell you this much. Here’s where the Avalanche Project kicks in.
Designed by a group of students at Quebec’s University of Sherbrooke, this futuristic looking tracked bike is attending to reproduce as closely as possible the feelings given by a regular mountain bike to the addicts of the sport who want to extend their season during the winter.
The key to its success apparently has something to do with its rear track drive and front ski setup, which allows it to get the best out of its hybrid design. Stopping it is done via its V-shaped braking mechanism that works just like in any regular skier’s case.
Since we’re talking about a university project, the materials, utilities and funds are reduced, which is why the students are looking for any sponsorship available.
December is the deadline, and that’s also when the world will find out if the concept is viable. If successful, the Avalanche bike may revolutionize winters sports so it’s quite a deal.
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