Cross strike - Tricycle for summer sky trails

• What’s the project story?

Leonardo and I are working are mechanical engineers, working part-time in a company and part-time as freelance makers for diverse clients. We were born and raised in the region of Buenos Aires and we moved to Bariloche to enjoy outdoor sports all the time of the year, not only during holidays. However, we noticed that the ski trails were empty during the summer and the only options left for inhabitants were hiking or climbing. We knew that tricycling, which enables to descend the ski slope during the summer, existed in Europe it was offered in the country. As a consequence, one year and a half ago, we decided to build our own tricycle for our use and eventually to sell it into the local market.

• How the workshop was useful?

As mechanical engineers and freelance, as soon as we discovered the concept of Fablab on Internet, we always dreamt to have one in the city. Together, with Mariano and Peter members of the Fablab team, we shared this idea and made the proposal to the city. Since its creation, we are working here every week so when the idea of the tricycle popped up, we have no doubt to be able to make it real, thanks to the team and the machines. Mariano and Peter, as industrial designers, helped us with the design the product, especially to make the seat ergonomics, we use the space to work and the machines to produce many pieces of our prototype.

• What’s the project’s greatest success so far?

After a break of 6 months, we took over the project started a year ago and we succeeded to make a first prototype functional. We were very proud and satisfied by our first trial and the feedback of our friends and family confirmed us the potential of this project.

• What’s your greatest failure(s)& lesson(s) so far?

As mechanical engineers, we had no experience in marketing or business model to launch a new product. Moreover, the local market is difficult to enter so he had to adapt our strategy to reality.

• What’s your vision for the project & next steps?

The product is ready to be built in a commercialized version. Now we are in discussion with local and foreign actors interested by the project to go further.

• How anyone interested can contribute to the project?

We are open to any kind of contribution either to improve the tricycle, to help us with the communication and marketing or just to share it around you!