Last month, VBike received an email from a guy announcing that he was in the process of designing and building a cargo bike made out of local wood. We just have to say that most folks that tell us something like this our reaction is a sort of "wait and see." We try not to pass judgement, but we’ve heard plenty of things that just haven’t come to fruition, or even remotely close. How about an electric bike that can haul 500 lbs and made out of discarded pistachio shells. Seriously folks.
However this is different - this is Ward Ogden. Ward is a master woodworker and carpenter and has put his enthusiasm and mind to the idea of wood and bicycles. To date he has to his credit a badass gravel grinding bike he made out of, yes, wood. Just check this out. This bike rocks, if that could be said of a bike frame mostly made from tree-based material.
The thing we especially like about Ward is that he has a nicely balanced and refreshing vision of bikes. He believes that bicycles can not only be great fun, but that they can also be profoundly useful, serious, yet joyful transportation. And so it's time for us to move beyond the bike as only recreational and start looking at replacing as many car trips as possible. Being in the world, engaging our bodies and connecting with the terrain is so much more "Vermont" than confining ourselves as well as our experience of our great state and our blessed communities inside an automobile. That’s the message that VBike has been working to bring to Vermont in introducing new bike designs and technologies to our state. We're changing the landscape of the bike!
So, Ward is now not only designing a cargo bike with a frame mostly composed of wood, but he is going to electrify it. Where he lives in Putney there's a bit of climbing to do to get home from jobs or errands downtown, so Dave Cohen at VBike had the pleasure to sit down with him to discuss e-assist options for the bike. We have to tell you, Ward is on fire about the whole process of designing and making this, but he is not just thinking about this one prototype. He is eyeing the idea that he may even develop this into a small business. With the fast growing popularity of electric cargo bikes on the market, Ward believes he might find a niche here. This is the sort of thing that we at VBike love to see grow in Vermont.
However, from here on we'll leave it to Ward to describe some pics he sent to us. Some of what follows is a bit technical, but we thought you might like to hear from him in his own words.
We can’t wait to see how this will turn out!
The thing we especially like about Ward is that he has a nicely balanced and refreshing vision of bikes. He believes that bicycles can not only be great fun, but that they can also be profoundly useful, serious, yet joyful transportation. And so it's time for us to move beyond the bike as only recreational and start looking at replacing as many car trips as possible. Being in the world, engaging our bodies and connecting with the terrain is so much more "Vermont" than confining ourselves as well as our experience of our great state and our blessed communities inside an automobile. That’s the message that VBike has been working to bring to Vermont in introducing new bike designs and technologies to our state. We're changing the landscape of the bike!
So, Ward is now not only designing a cargo bike with a frame mostly composed of wood, but he is going to electrify it. Where he lives in Putney there's a bit of climbing to do to get home from jobs or errands downtown, so Dave Cohen at VBike had the pleasure to sit down with him to discuss e-assist options for the bike. We have to tell you, Ward is on fire about the whole process of designing and making this, but he is not just thinking about this one prototype. He is eyeing the idea that he may even develop this into a small business. With the fast growing popularity of electric cargo bikes on the market, Ward believes he might find a niche here. This is the sort of thing that we at VBike love to see grow in Vermont.
However, from here on we'll leave it to Ward to describe some pics he sent to us. Some of what follows is a bit technical, but we thought you might like to hear from him in his own words.
We can’t wait to see how this will turn out!
Evidently, Winter isn't over because this weekend I started designing a wood e-assist cargo bike for Maria and I. The idea is to do more of our errands fossil fuel free, and since our PV panels generate WAY more power than we use, an electric Bakfiet style cargo bike looks like the ticket. We have 3 miles of climbing getting back to our house, with an average grade of 5.5%, and the last half mile being closer to 8%, so e-assist will be necessary. The frame will (may?) be constructed out of four main bent wood structures, plus seat and chain stays. For a motor drive, a Bafang BBSHD looks like the affordable option, and I'll need to build the 52v, 20ah battery myself from individual 3500 mah cells. Of course as I learn more, this may all change!
After spending a week away riding in NC, I am back to chipping away at the cargo bike. This morning I pulled out the rear module from the forms and put the second rear half in. Here you can see the mocked up top half. There will be an equally thick component that will run continuously underneath these pieces. The resultant "beam" will be 3x3 inches, which will be rounded over and routed out. The wood is ash, cherry and walnut and is courtesy of Mark Tarmy at Vermont Plank Flooring (www.vtpf.com)
In other news, I have decided on the electric drive unit, Bafang BBSHD mid-drive that has pedal assist. It will require a bit of fussing in the BB area, since there are clearance issues, but it shouldn't be too hard to adapt and offers all the power and features I am looking for.
In other news, I have decided on the electric drive unit, Bafang BBSHD mid-drive that has pedal assist. It will require a bit of fussing in the BB area, since there are clearance issues, but it shouldn't be too hard to adapt and offers all the power and features I am looking for.
This morning I pulled half of the bakfiet frame out of the form with all three main components epoxied together. I have had concerns about how vertically rigid the frame would be, so wanted to conduct a VERY rudimentary static test. I placed the frame on two 44mm tall blocks, clamped one end to keep it from tipping over and then proceeded to place 320 pounds of tractor suitcase weights on it. I was stoked to see that there was virtually zero deflection. I am sure that a micrometer would have picked up plenty, but for my purposes, the number is zero. The moment arms at both ends will be greater once the chain and seat stays, along with the forks come into play, but this gives me confidence it will be strong enough. The beam will be 3x3 inches, routed out and rounded over once done. At this point, there is no carbon fiber reinforcement, but I will likely add some to the bottom bracket area later on.
VBike will be keeping tabs on this project and we'll be back with more as Ward's amazing project develops!
VBike will be keeping tabs on this project and we'll be back with more as Ward's amazing project develops!
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