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Pedal Technology

Pedal Technology is all about extending the reach of the modern day bike. We are continually experimenting with building better bike trailers, 3 and 4 wheel bikes for balance and stability, long johns for load-carrying and anything else we can all dream up.

Come visit the shop to talk with us about bike building projects.

In the pictures and captions below, you will find some of the creations that have come out of Pedal Technology...

 

Bike Trailer from Recycled Parts- No Weld

Here's Emily, showing the no-weld bike trailer she made from all bike parts and a couple plumbing fixtures.

 

Simple Bike Trailer- from bike parts

Chuck made this design (the underside is shown) that many people have copied and improved upon at Free Cycles.

 

This is the arm and hitch of a simple bike trailer made from recycled bike parts and with no welding

Here's the hitch for the recycled bike part trailer (no-weld)- a piece of bike tire that wraps around the (non-drive side) chainstay. Be sure to leave the metal tire bead in the tire piece for strength. You can use a wing nut or seat post quick release to secure the tire hitch to itself (after the piece of tire is wrapped around the chainstay).

 


 Bicycle Trailer from Bike Parts

Another view of the no-weld, all bike parts bicycle trailer....  try modifying the design and send us pictures (to mist  @  strans.  org)

 

 

A basic cad drawing for bike trailer from volunteer Kurt

A cad drawing by Kurt to get the mind flowing.

 

 

A bike trailer for kayaks made from crutches

Kevin built this trailer out of crutches and explains the inner workings... So if you sprain or break a leg- hold onto the crutches to make a trailer after you are healed, or donate them to your local community bicycle shop.

 

 

Bicycle Parking Rack made from Old Frames

Why throw away or recycle old and/or broken bike frames when you can turn them into bicycle parking racks? 

Get a piece of steel tubing, slide on the stems, install bike frame upside down by inserting stem into the seat tube.  Use more frames or handle bars to lift the steel tubing off the ground a foot or so.  These make great racks because a bike locks up really well to another bike frame.  In addition, we sometimes leave some of the parts on the frame, so that not only is the function a parking rack, but also a parts depo....   Need a pedal at midnight?  Grab one from the parking rack!

Update:  We may have an even better design- slide an open bottom bracket through a thicker piece of steel tubing.  click here for picture and instructions.

By the way, the best spacing between frames seems to be about 32".  So an 8' piece of tubing would take 4 frames- one on each end, one at 32" and one at 64".

 

 

Bike trailer with sculpture of wheels made by kids

Our 4-wheel bike pulling a cart with a wheel sculpture made by school kids...

 

 

Our giant haywagon bike trailer in action

This is the biggest bike trailer to come out of Free Cycles creativity- a converted haywagon that's carrying a band in a parade.

 

 

 The 4-wheel bike with 2 seats

The dual seater four wheeler up close.  More info as pedal powered sweeper

 

 

This is how MUD transports coffee grinds- by bike!

The Missoula Urban Demonstration project (MUD) picks up coffee grounds by bike, to be composted in the local community gardens.

 

 

Overflow stock for making bikes out of bikes

To make stuff, you need to have stuff. This is one of the many community overflow yards we have operated.

 

 

Loading the bikes on the river crossing canoes

One of our fundraiser bike rides entailed a homemade bike ferry across a river.

 

 

Here's how we crossed a river with lots of cyclists

The bike ferry carried eight people and bikes at once.


 

Bicycle Side Car

A bicycle with a side car made back in the 70's and donated to Free Cycles.

 

 

Simon carts bikes 50 miles to a school in Ovando- by bike!

Another one of our fundraiser rides entailed a 100 mile roundtrip bike ride (overnight camping) up to Ovando. We carried six kids bikes on bike trailers to donate to a elementary school.


Another bike trailer click here


 

Even way back when they had bikes that pulled children

Bike trailers are nothing too new...