Hiking is an excellent way to disconnect and enjoy nature at a leisurely pace. In mountain areas, unevenness is the order of the day, so trekking fans must get used to facing slopes of all kinds. Sometimes an ascent can lead to panoramic views that leave you speechless, clearly justifying the effort to reach that place.
There are very curious options for those looking for an additional point of fun after covering those demanding ascents. One of them is the Bergmönch, a really peculiar proposal that surprises with its level of versatility. And it is that it is a kind of folding bicycle and convertible into a backpack, designed to shorten the time of mountain descents and have a great time at the same time.
When thinking about developing this particular vehicle, the most important objective was that it should be easy to transport on the climbs, quick to assemble to enjoy the descents and, of course, capable of supporting the weight of the hiker turned cyclist. . As we have commented, it is a "species" of bicycle, since it is not officially considered as such.
The reason is simple. And it is that, to reduce its weight and its size to the minimum (something that is very welcome when walking uphill), the vehicle does not integrate a seat, transmission or pedals. That's why it's not technically a conventional bike, but more of a downhill companion. To move on it, it is necessary to travel in an upright position similar to that of trial motorcycle riders.
The fact of not having pedals that can transmit the movement of the legs to the rear wheel by means of a chain is what makes it suitable only for descents. On the contrary, yes, this vehicle of Austrian origin has two side footrests to be able to place the feet while riding and an area to support the knees when descending at not very high speeds.
The vehicle weighs 9kg and, when converted into a backpack (made of ultra-durable waterproof fabric), offers easy access to a storage compartment of up to 12 liters to store, for example, a bottle of water, some food and equipment of reduced size. To this is added a network to house a helmet.
Among other things to note is that the rear wheel is noticeably smaller than the front to reduce effective downhill slope and thus create a more comfortable ride. Not to be overlooked is its suspension system, its Schwalbe Mow Joe tires and its hydraulic braking system.
To see how the Bergmönch transitions from its configuration as a backpack to become a vehicle for descent (an operation that takes just a minute), you only have to take a look at the video that accompanies this article.
