Industrial Design lecturer Mark Richardson used off the shelf parts and salvaged items (like a weed whacker, shower stool, wheelchair and an old road bike) plus a few 3D printed parts to assemble the Fabvelo velomobile.
The design was made to be both safe and easy to replicate and hack. Richardson built it tall and stable, so it’d be easy to see by car drivers and able to easily move along with normal traffic. The covered design allows use in any weather. Richardson wanted to make it easy to build from standard parts, and eventually will probably have open source plans for anyone looking to make their own.
Check out some of the bits, and lots more, below…
Just a few of the items chopped up to make the Fabvelo. Full story and gallery over at Gizmag.
If a Velomobile won’t carry enough stuff, you could always build your own trailer. That’s what artist Barry Howard did to transport his studio to where the action is. Or, at least, wherever his free spirit takes him. Built using 80% repurposed materials, the 12 square foot space folds down to less than half this height for easier rolling. And it’s not just for making art. There’s a sink, stove, bed and sitting area all tucked inside. More at Inhabitat.com.
And if you just wanna walk into a bike shop and roll out on a ready made cargo bike, the 2014 Yuba Boda Boda has a number of updates that make it an all ’round better bicycle. The Bread Basket mounts are improved for easier installation and removal, disc brake tabs are added to the rear, new Freedom Cruz Cream tires come stock, it gets shapelier handlebars and more streamlined saddles, and removable Love Handle side load platforms for easier shipping. As a current Yuba owner, all of these are welcome improvements. Oh, and this lovely Stepover Red color is new, too, with white and green still available. Retail’s just $999.
Extracycle’s Edgerunner features a low-load platform with just a 20″ back wheel. Designed for freight, baby seat, or passenger seat, the Edgerunner can also be purchased with electric assist (shown above) and a power supplying dynamo. Pricing starts at $1499 for the base model.
Bell Bike Helmets and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) have announced the 12 finalists for the 2014 Bell Built Grants: $100,000 in technical assistance money put up by Bell for three bike projects to be built in 2014 by IMBA Trail Solutions. Public voting to choose the winners begins April 7 and ends May 18, with winners announced May 19. There are four finalists representing three regions of the US.
Check out the full list and vote for your favorite on either IMBA or Bell’s Facebook page. It only takes a sec, and it could mean thousands of dollars in new trail work funded for your area! Note the voting dates above, but go ahead and “Like” both pages to keep up to date.
You can also help by nabbing one of these sweet Titanium Red limited edition Bell Super mountain bike helmets. Proceeds go to the Bell Built fund. Check with your local shop or head to Bell’s website on April 1.
Hate putting your dirty, muddy, sweaty, stinky gear directly on your car seat or in your duffel? Weevil Outdoor’s Yuksak gives you something to stuff it all into for the trip to the laundry room. Then just flip it inside out to shake all the dirt out easily – the rounded bottom corners don’t leave crud anywhere to get stuck. It cinches shut to keep odors and dirt from spilling out. It’s your call if you want to wear socks with flip-flops while using it.
While you can stuff your dirty clothes into a bag, a dirty bike needs somewhere else to go. The UK’s Rock Guardz’s new BikeStandz is a lightweight, highly portable teepee stand for you and your team’s bikes. And it’s only £129.
