Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Trailer

30 Jan 2013 · *Bronwyn Potthoff, Resource Development/Community Relations Director*

      Mr. Sullivan's design is all bolt together. I can't lay my hands on my book
this second, but the main tube is bent in one piece. So then your dealing
with how much weight will it hold before the frame buckles. It comes down
to balancing trade-offs.
Ron
On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 11:41 PM, summitcyclingcenter@yahoo.com <
summitcyclingcenter@yahoo.com> wrote:
...
Mark, I've seen your work on the web.  I have respect for what you have
done.  Welding EMT will produce zinc gas; not healthy to breathe.  Welding
EMT can be done out of doors safely.  Better to use furniture tubing, if
possible.  One can do well with drill & bolt construction.
Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile
----- Reply message -----
From: "Mark Rehder" mark@re-cycles.ca
To: "The Think Tank" thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Bike Trailer
Date: Tue, Jan 29, 2013 17:04
EMT is great, but of course don't try to weld it!  A search through the
archives should show my posts on some of the no-weld trailers I've built.
 I found that even 3/4" conduit has its limits in terms of flex...
Mark
On 2013-01-29, at 4:55 PM, summitcyclingcenter@yahoo.com wrote:
EMT is inexpensive new and easy to bend.  Possibly can be sourced from
scrap yard or demo site.
Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile
----- Reply message -----
From: "Kevin Dwyer" kevidwyer@gmail.com
To: "The Think Tank" thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Bike Trailer
Date: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 07:23
I'd really like to see an open source cargo trailer developed. Single bed
frames would seem to be an ideal base, easy/free to come by and capable of
holding over 200lbs. Could be done as a workshop once or twice a year.
Kevin Dwyer
The Bicycle Collective
SLC, UT
On Sun, Jan 27, 2013 at 5:54 PM, Eric Montgomery emontgo1017@gmail.comwrote:
...
On Jan 27, 2013 1:50 PM, christopher@holisticcycles.com wrote:
...
I am using a tadpole trike with two wheels in front with disk brakes on
each front wheel. I am lucky to be in Chicago land of some of the flattest
earth on the planet. With lighter trailers I can use an upright bike with
wide slicks and low pressure to get as much rubber to the ground. I do not
go fast with over 400 pounds, a upright piano is about 500 pounds, I just
take it easy. If you go slow and do not worry about your pace it is much
easier to stop. If you get moving fast you are in trouble in so many ways.
It would be nice to design brakes for the trailer to use it in places like
St. Louis where down hills are part of life. I could figure out a system to
have four wheels on the trailer with rim or disk brakes.
My biggest problem was tongue weight and making the trailer balanced.
PS plastic wheels can not take the side loads that metal spoked wheels
can.
Christopher Wallace
Holistic Cycles
140 Harrison St
Oak Park, IL. 60304
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Insurance for youth welding programs
through bikes
From: John Brown johnsbrown@gmail.com
Date: Sat, January 26, 2013 7:42 am
To: The Think Tank thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
What kind of additional braking do you add to haul 350-1200lbs on a
trailer?
On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 9:16 AM, christopher@holisticcycles.com wrote:
...
I build trailers without welding at all, some handle up to 1200 pound.
I weld other trailers because I can. My thoughts are this, if I am teaching
kids to think about designing, engineering, constructing things; I want
them to be able to do it in the future with the tools they or their parents
may all ready have at home or tool they can buy inexpensively. Some kids
may have a welder at home, More kids will have a drill. I built my trailers
with a drill and a conduit bender. I normally haul 350 to 400 pounds of
gear with it. It can be made small to haul groceries or large to carry a
sofa.
We are currently making one to carry 12 bikes and the gear to teach a
mobile bicycle safety course at schools.
Christopher Wallace
Holistic Cycles
 140 Harrison St
Oak Park, IL. 60304
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Insurance for youth welding programs
through bikes
From: Nozomi Ikuta nozomi@affordablebikesrecyclery.com
Date: Wed, January 23, 2013 8:28 pm
To: The Think Tank thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
That was my thought exactly -- this is where our thoughts headed when
we thought about welding. Cargo trailers, that is!
On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 5:20 PM, christopher@holisticcycles.comwrote:
...
what about building trailers
Christopher Wallace
Holistic Cycles
140 Harrison St
Oak Park, IL. 60304
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Insurance for youth welding programs through
bikes
From: "Bronwyn Potthoff" bpotthoff@gwi.net
Date: Fri, January 18, 2013 8:55 am
To: thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
Hello, ****
We’ve been unsuccessfully trying to secure insurance to initiate a
welding/fabrication program through the Community Bicycle Center. Ideally,
we’re helping youth develop technical job skills through creating low-rider
and chopper bicycles --- but the point of the program is not about bikes,
it’s about learning the welding and fabrication skills necessary to create
a tricked-out ride. ****

The major obstacle we hear from insurance companies is that we’re
creating a high-risk “Frankenstein” product (or “functional art”) that is
extremely hard to insure. As soon as we chop a bike, the manufacturer’s
warranty is null and void (for good reason!) The actual welding with kids
is not a huge issue – it’s what happens if a weld breaks or a kid injures
him/herself going off jump with a bike that is not build to handle such
stressors. Waivers and disclaimers will only go so far and are not
bullet-proof. Because we’re a commercial entity, it’s obviously not covered
under any homeowner’s insurance policy (which would be what covers you if
you’re helping your nine year-old neighbor weld a sick mutant bike). Also,
vocational school insurance functions differently – I checked that too.

I may end up having to change the program so that our “product” is not
a bike, but something less risky such as a static sculpture. Regardless,
does anybody have any experience with securing insurance for commercial
(aka nonprofit) welding work with kids during which a “product” gets
fabricated? [Keep in mind, all programs are free AND the product
created is also free --- no bill of sale is involved] I’ve touched base
with other programs around the country that do similar work, but have not
heard back. ****

Thanks!! If it makes more sense to talk through this via phone, my
number is 207 282 9700. ****

*Bronwyn Potthoff, Resource Development/Community Relations Director*
Community Bicycle Center****
(mailing) P.O. Box 783****
(shop) 284 Hill Street****
 Biddeford, Maine 04005****
t: 207.282.9700     www.communitybike.net ****
     [image: Facebook Round]http://www.facebook.com/CommunityBicycleCenter

*Providing Opportunities for Youth to Grow*

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Trailer

Ron Kellis