Author: admin

  • BikeCAD 5.01

    BikeCAD 5.01

    BikeCAD 5.01 is now available. New features that are common to BikeCAD and BikeCAD Pro include:

    • The ability to change any colour on the bike including tires, rims, saddle, handlebars and stem
    • Two new paint schemes to highlight lugs
    • New XML file structure
    • A notes section to record customer info and additional comments about the design
    • Bullhorn handlebar option
    • Aerobars can be used in combination with any handlebar
    • Choose between traditional aerobars and S-bend style aerobars
    • Control pedal dimensions
    • Individually control the placement of dimensions on the screen.
    • Improved dimension style (New arrows. Text size is infinitely adjustable)
    • Selectively read in elements from BCAD files.
    • Decal display is no longer tied to paint schemes.  Decals can be displayed on any of the three main frame tubes through simple checkboxes.

    New features that are available in BikeCAD Pro include:

  • NAHBS 2007

    I’ve just returned from the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in San Jose, California. It was great to finally meet so many BikeCAD users in person after having corresponded over e-mail or by phone for so many years. The Bicycle Forest booth was set up right next to the legendary Bruce Gordon and just across the corner from Don Ferris and his display of Anvil jigs.

    Bicycle Forest Booth at NAHBS

    Bruce Gordon won Best in Show for this lugged road bike with custom titanium racks, brakes and seatpost.

    Best in Show at NAHBS

    I was pretty much stuck at my booth for the whole show.  Not that I minded. I got a really encouraging response from the numerous people I spoke to about BikeCAD.  When I did manage to break away for a quick lap of the show, I snapped the following collection of photos.  There was some amazing stuff out there!

    Bicycle Forest Booth at NAHBS My Booth Neighbor Charles Lathe from Coho Bicycles My Booth Neighbor two doors down from Banjo Bicycles Bruce Gordon Roarke Vanilla Vanilla Vanilla Vanilla Steve Rex Richard Sachs Don Walker Engin Engin Dave Bohm's Orange Crush Bohemian Bohemian Tandem Bohemian Tandem Close-up Titus Henry James Jig Henry James Jig Independent Fabrication Track Bike Independent Fabrication Road Bike Sadilah Dolce Cycles Naked Bicycles Naked Bicycles Naked Bicycles Calfee Bamboo Frame Calfee Bamboo with Bullhorns Calfee Spider Bike Calfee Spider Bike Vicious Cycles Sycip Sycip Tony Pereira Tony Pereira's Prize Winning Bike Pereira Cycles Old Man Mountain Steve Potts Easy Racers Ruegamer Tandem Jonny Cycles ANT Grognard Crumpton Bilenky Rock Lobster Co-motion Tandem Desalvo Cycles Desalvo Cycles Desalvo Penny Farthing Don Ferris and the Anvil Jig Bruce Gordon with Best in Show Award

  • Treadmill Bike on German TV

    The Treadmill Bike was just featured on the German TV show Galileo. My German is not so good, but I swear I can hear him making repeated use of the phrase “selling like hotcakes”.

    Finally, someone who understands the true genius of this revolutionary fitness product!

  • Tree Huggers in Santa Claus Parade

    Yesterday, several environmental groups from around the region joined together to enter a float in the KW Santa Claus Parade. The Bicycle Forest contributed most of the bikes.  Although the forecast was looking grim, the rain held off and it ended up being a pretty good day.  Our parade entry was a big hit with the crowds. Check out this video and photos from the day.

    Rhoades Car in Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Couchbike in Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Couchbike in Santa Claus Parade Rhoades Car in Santa Claus Parade Couchbike in Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Rowingbike in Santa Claus Parade Couchbike in Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Mini125 in Santa Claus Parade Couchbike in Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus Parade Kickbike in Santa Claus Parade
  • Mugged by a Moose

     
    The story of my couchbike adventure has been published in a book called Mugged by a Moose: True Tales to make you Laugh, Chortle, Snicker and Feel Inspired. The book is edited by Matt Jackson. Matt is on a cross Canada tour right now promoting the book. He’ll be at the Burlington Library from 7-9pm on Monday, November 13th for a book reading. I’ll be out as well. Maybe I’ll see some of you there.
    Mugged by a Moose
  • Finally Finished Pimping My Rhoades Car

    Well this project has certainly drawn on long enough. I have finally finished pimping my Rhoades Car. I am now one with my Stanley MR100CG Heavy Duty Riveter. I also have a new appreciation for that magical mucilage known as Bondo. Here’s a 360° view of the completed pickup truck. The first major excursion for this new bike will likely be the Santa Claus Parade on November 19th.

    Until then…

    360 degree view of Pickup truck bike
  • Treadmill Bike on Japanese TV

     
    The Treadmill Bike was just featured on the Japanese TV show Mankan Zenseki. In case you can make out the words that Natasha is saying at the end, I should clarify that we did not write that script!

    Looks like we better start ramping up production. Demand from Asia could be immense.

     
  • Visit to M5

    On the Friday before the Rowingbike Championships, I visited Bram and Ronald at M5 Ligfietsen (M5 Recumbents) in Middelburg.  The M5 headquarters is in a beautiful building with a large display area out front. Many of their legendary designs are either hanging on the wall or standing on display tables. Below is the M5 Carbon Low Racer, owner of 8 world records. Details of these records are found here.

    Carbon Low Racer

    Below is a fully faired Low Racer.

    Fully faired low racer

    M5 had some interesting statistics about these bikes. Pedaling at 250 Watts, one could expect to achieve the following speeds using these various setups:

    • 32 km/h Racing bike (upright)
    • 35 km/h Racing bike (in the drops)
    • 37 km/h Time trial bike (aerobars)
    • 43 km/h Low Racer
    • 47 km/h Low Racer (with tail fairing)
    • 54 km/h Low Racer (with full carbon fairing)

    Also on display was this carbon tandem called the Double D. Bram Moens and Björn Frank rode this bike 52.3 km in one hour at the 2004 Cycle Vision and World Championships event in Lelystad, the Netherlands.

    Double D Tandem

    M5 also produces bicycle components for recumbents and conventional bikes. These M5 brakes are CNC cut from 7075-T6 aluminium. Without brake shoes, they weigh 72 grams. The hubs are also very innovative. By using straight pull spokes, they have entirely done away with the flange.

    M5 Brake   M5 Hub

    I was so impressed with everything I saw at M5 that I arranged to bring back one of their used Cromoly Low Racers for the Bicycle Forest rental collection. You can try it yourself here.

    Thanks to Ronald for meeting up with me Sunday night to box up the bike. It made it home safe and sound!

  • Visit to the Button Factory

    Today, Mohrgan and I loaded up the couchbike with the yellow hulabike and one of the Mini125’s and headed for the Button Factory in uptown Waterloo. We were asked to speak to the kids at the summer art camp about reusing materials and the creative process involved in building bikes. The kids got a chance to try some of the bikes out in the back alley. A good time was had by all.

    Couchbike at the Button Factory

  • Outdoor Music & Movie Night

    Tonight, Mohrgan and I rode the couchbike out to Waterloo Park for the Outdoor Music and Movie Night. We ran into Andy from the cycling club while we were there.

    Mohrgan and Andy on the Couchbike

    The evening started with a performance by the Water Street Blues Band and was followed at dusk with a screening of The Blues Brothers movie. As the movie started playing, the bugs started to come out in droves. We tried covering ourselves in the tarp we’d brought for rain protection, but found it was no use against the swarms of mosquitos. Eventually, we decided to pack it in. As soon as we were back on the road, the bugs left us alone.

    Mohrgan and Andy on the Couchbike