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Grocery Getter Conversion

Just had this link emailed to me.  It is a beautiful restoration of a folding bike which was also turned into a cargo bike.  The workmanship on this is just superb.  Additionally, it looks like the cargo section joins at the point where the original bike folded so it can be removed and the bike function as it did originally.  Way cool!

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Fixed Gear Gallery :: Grogery Getter Contest Submission..

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10 DIY Projects for Cyclists

I really enjoy getting my hands dirty and working on my bikes.  Lately I’ve been attempting to do more and more of my own work (with good success so far).  Aside from maintenance, there are lots of cool projects to enhance your bike.

Many times you can build devices much cheaper than you could buy them commercially.  So here are 10 cool projects which would be a great way to spend a weekend

1. Simple Bike Trailer – When the panniers just aren’t enough, sometimes a trailer is just right.  There are lots of plans for trailers, some simple, some quite elaborate. This one is simple, easy to build, and cheap.
2. Mini Bike Light – Lights just arent a good idea, in most places they are required by law if you are going to be riding after night.  This mini light makes you much more visible after the sun goes down.
3. Mini Tool Kit – I’ve covered bike tools before, but if you have an assortment of hand tools already, you might be able to collect them into a bike tool kit small enough to carry with you.  This one fits in an Altoids tin, small enough to even fit in your pocket if you have no bags on your bike.
4. Panniers from Canvas Surplus Bags - I rank my panniers as one of the best things I’ve ever purchased for my bike.  Finally being free of a backpack made riding in traffic much better, not to mention allowing me to go on longer trips and carry cargo.  They tend to be on the pricey side however, and these plans show you how to make a high-quality set for less.
5. Protect your Top Tube – Thanks to locks, drops, oversized cargo and more, the top tube of your bike seems to take a lot of abuse.  This guide shows you how to protect the TT from scratches using an old tube.
6. Mount a flashlight as a headlight – You can find headlights at stores like WalMart, they tend to not work so well.  By spending more, you will get a much better light, but with quality comes a much higher price tag.  This guide shows you a dead-simple way to mount a flashlight on your bike to get a high quality light for much less.
7. Sew your own cycling cap – Some people (like me) love the short brimmed cycling caps, some people (like my wife) hate them.  They are simple in construction, and with these patterns, you can make one out of whatever material you wish.
8. Repaint a bike – A new paint-job can make all the difference in the appearance of a bike. Instead of paying a shop, you can get a high quality job in the comfort of your own garage.
9. Build a contactless dynamo - Getting on the more complicated side of things, this project will net you a dynamo capable of generating electricity for lights, charging your phone, or anything else that will work with the voltage it provides.  You need to be familiar with electricity and have some old hard drives to scavenge.
10. String Christmas Lights on your Bike – It’s the holiday season, and just maybe drivers are feeling a little less like running you off the road these days.  What better way to celebrate than to put lights on your bike.  You’ll be festive and safer to boot!

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DIY Cargo Bike?

Existing cargo bikes too rich for your blood?  This tutorial on Instructables shows how to combine an old mountain bike with a shopping cart to add lots of carrying capacity.  The author claims it doesn’t handle so well, but it’s an interesting idea, and would certainly be a head turner in the streets… if you were brave enough to ride it in traffic.