About-face bike turns many heads

Is it a bike, a pedal car or a push-me pull-you? Motorists could be excused for not knowing exactly what Hastings couple Lisa and Verne Pavreal's latest experimental bike was, when they passed through Timaru yesterday.

It is, in fact, a Janus Quad, complete with back-to-back seating, dual pedal power, chilly-bin saddle bags and a solar panel roof.

Lisa and Verne had the bike built by The Electric Bike Company in Christchurch.

The couple are keen cyclists and have also toured the North Island on their unusual machine.

Verne, who is blind, gets the back seat, and his guide dog Zara gets to follow in the custom-built trailer.

"Sometimes I don't know where she (Lisa) takes me," laughs Verne. "We like to travel the back roads where it is quiet," he said.

For their southern adventure they had a solar panel fitted to power a small motor to assist on steep hills. MORE>>