No, no it is not, but that dose not stop us from working on bicycle transportation related projects. As spring draw closer we are starting to prepare for warmer days full of bike classes and workshops. Some of the things we have been working on are bike trailers, bike fenders and DIY repair stands for future bicycle mechanic classes.
My personal favorite bike accessory we have been working on, is a new and cheep way to make a bike trailer. The platform and wheels are not that hard, but finding a reliable and cheep way to make a universal join for the trailer hitch is were the challenge lies.
I have been using our most resent design for some time now, and can report that is works amazingly! It works by using quick-disconnect 1/4″ pneumatic hose connectors and some old gas pipe. The quick-disconnect is very sturdy and makes it very easy to get the trailer on and off of the bike. Its biggest load so far has been a 60″ penny farthing that needed to be rebuilt.
One other problom we have been working on, is how to make an affordable and sturdy bicycle repair stand.
This is a stand that we have been using for some time and it works well. However the clamp is not very easy to use, and it still costs about $65 to make. We are currently working with ways to use “Vise-Grips” as the clamps and old steel car wheels as a cheep (free in most of Detroit) bases.
We have also been working with new ways to “winterize” your bike. One of the first, and most important, things you need for winter riding is good reliable fenders. Below are some we have made by ironing old plastic shopping bags into a flexible sheet, then forming them, hot, over a wooden form.
This method of re-using plastic bags has resulted in a wonderful range of things that can be made out of a fabric like material. We are currently working on ways to sew the material together to make new reusable bags and other handy objects for better day to day life.