Up-Close Look at Apocalypse Bike, the Steel Machine Built to Outride Collapse

Jonathan Thompson took his son’s old fat bike and a load of 4130 chromoly tubing, and in two weeks, he had weld, brazed, and bolted together a machine that looked like it had been recovered from a scrapheap in some post-apocalyptic wasteland. He took that bike to the 2025 Bespoked Handmade Bike Show apocalyptic build-off in Manchester and finished second. To this day, the bike draws a crowd since every feature of it has a purpose in the event that society fails.

Thompson gave his creation a simple name, the Apocalypse Bike. He maintained the tall riding position that was already on the donor bike, allowing the rider to scan the horizon for potential threats or safe paths. He installed fat tires on both the front and rear wheels (which seemed like a smart idea at the time). They provide the bike with excellent float over sand, grip on loose gravel, and allow you to continue riding long after the pavement has given up on you.

Cargo space is limited, so he installed a removable rack in the center of the bike, between the wheels. This allows you to store heavy stuff near to the ground while also preventing the bike from tipping over when laden with water, food, or tools. Straps are almost everywhere on the frame, allowing owners to lash down whatever items they find on the road.


The real kicker comes in the back, where a custom trailing link swings off the main frame and transports two powered wheels side by side. Then, a second chain emerges from the crankset and connects to a cassette on the back assembly. So when one wheel loses grip in the mud or snow, the electricity remains on. To be honest, he added a basic shock to the connection right before finishing it. That manner, it may absorb some of the bumps while keeping the wheels securely on the ground. The entire thing bolts together with off-the-shelf parts, allowing anyone with a simple set of tools to tear it apart and replace out components as needed.


He also connected a third wheel outboard to the same trailing link, which was a brilliant touch. At the time, he considered it an afterthought (he reasoned that adding some redundancy would earn him some more credit in the contest). He loaded a large load of spare parts onto it, including a spare tire, rim, cassette, rotor, derailleur, and skewer, all ready to replace a damaged part on the way. It also converts the bike into a short-range trailer if needed; simply detach the extra wheel and roll your supplies separately while keeping the primary bike swift and light.


Thompson attaches a McLeod tool to his rig, the kind that firefighters and backwoods trail crews use when battling bush or building down fire breaks. With a single flick of the release, it transforms into an effective instrument for carving a passage or constructing a makeshift shelter. Every major joint has a coupler installed, so you can simply break the whole thing down into little sections that will fit in a small vehicle if the necessity arises to make a quick getaway by car.


People who have ridden the finished bike have reported similar mixed sentiments. When you add the third wheel and the link, everything feels awkward and wide in tight turns, but take it all off and the thing comes alive; ground clearance increases enough to cycle right through deep water or over a log or two. The lengthy wheelbase keeps the bike stable on the way down, and the fat tyres provide just enough extra flotation to push through soft sand without becoming trapped. Finally, the high seat allows you to see far ahead of you, which you wouldn’t be able to do on a regular bike, while the cargo’s low center of gravity keeps you stable.
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