Cycle America
Been fully consumed with our Mayors' Ride
http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2004 and will be getting
back to matters Bent soon, but this important update fell within my
traffic pattern. It's now at our Bent News as:
http://www.bikeroute.com/Recumbents/News/Archives/000057.html
========================================
Went over to Bicycle Innovator, Tom Kabat's laboratory, also
called Boyland for the reasons described in the news article
cited below and wow has he been busy. He is learning how to
weld, the reason for my visit, and as such the possibilities
for what he foresees now have no limits.
He showed me a notebook chock full off new bicycles
innovations that armed with a welder, a metal saw, tools and
a backyard full of other people's discards will soon become
mobility devices of the highest order.
Here for example is the Ski Bike he built around an
abandoned snow ski .
http://www.bikeroute.com/BentImagesFolder/TomsSkiBike.jpg
The slight flex in the seat, makes the bike, tho sturdy,
feel very much alive. Beyond the comfort he has engineered
into the bike, it also has an incredible turning radius and
despite its small wheels, it is extremely stable.
So that he can experiment with such important considerations
as the best hand position, chain line and seat incline, he
utilizes his own CAD system. Called Cardboard Aided Design,
it consists of life-size cardboard cut outs of himself and
his daughter who he also builds bikes for. All of the joints
move! He lays it all out as per this picture:
http://www.bikeroute.com/BentImagesFolder/TomCADSystem.jpg
and then uses sticks of various lengths to start playing
with the new ideas he sees in his very active mind's eye!
Here's a picture of Tom, a coast-to-coast cycling veteran,
wearing the mask he made out a clear plastic soda bottle and
packing material:
http://www.bikeroute.com/BentImagesFolder/TomMask.jpg
WoW!! Keep an eye on this guy!!
Palo Alto Weekly story entitled:"In the garden of bikes and
garbage" http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/2004/2-
004_06_16.bike16.shtml
=========6/26/03 Post================
Tom Kabat's driftwood recumbent: <img
src="http://www.bikeroute.com/TomDriftwoodBent.jpg">
Is there a wood recumbent in your future? Better yet, how
about a driftwood bent? Made from recycled children's bikes
parts? Tom Kabat, an engineer for the city of Palo Alto, has
created a handful of fascinating such designs that he rides
about town including a tandem and one with a four inch razor
scooter front wheel.
Nor is any welding involved. And believe it or not the
ride is actually quite sublime. Performance, handling and
comfort are all much compromised but if you want to be
able to say you built your own designer bent for pennies
on the dollar, a wood bike might just be the answer.
Before you begin, however, you might want to consult with
Tom. All of his creations are very clever indeed and he
may be able to save you many hours and much frustration.
As well, he has many ideas for how these machines can be
made long distance worthy...
Tom can be reached at: tomkabat@aol.com
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
On 10/30/03 Tom replied with this:
I have since replaced the cranks and bottom bracket (to a
more solid one piece), added another chain idler (for
quietness) and put 3 inches of foam and a Hawaiian motif
seat cover on the seat and back (for ass-thetics). My wife
wants me to glue sand and shells to the plywood and I need
to work on a kelp covered cable (or just an old boat rope
with shackles). I'm commuting on the driftwood bike and just
winterized 3 others with a coat of deck sealer.
I wonder about the protective effects of deck sealer on bike
chain. :-)
Tom Kabat
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2004 and will be getting
back to matters Bent soon, but this important update fell within my
traffic pattern. It's now at our Bent News as:
http://www.bikeroute.com/Recumbents/News/Archives/000057.html
========================================
Went over to Bicycle Innovator, Tom Kabat's laboratory, also
called Boyland for the reasons described in the news article
cited below and wow has he been busy. He is learning how to
weld, the reason for my visit, and as such the possibilities
for what he foresees now have no limits.
He showed me a notebook chock full off new bicycles
innovations that armed with a welder, a metal saw, tools and
a backyard full of other people's discards will soon become
mobility devices of the highest order.
Here for example is the Ski Bike he built around an
abandoned snow ski .
http://www.bikeroute.com/BentImagesFolder/TomsSkiBike.jpg
The slight flex in the seat, makes the bike, tho sturdy,
feel very much alive. Beyond the comfort he has engineered
into the bike, it also has an incredible turning radius and
despite its small wheels, it is extremely stable.
So that he can experiment with such important considerations
as the best hand position, chain line and seat incline, he
utilizes his own CAD system. Called Cardboard Aided Design,
it consists of life-size cardboard cut outs of himself and
his daughter who he also builds bikes for. All of the joints
move! He lays it all out as per this picture:
http://www.bikeroute.com/BentImagesFolder/TomCADSystem.jpg
and then uses sticks of various lengths to start playing
with the new ideas he sees in his very active mind's eye!
Here's a picture of Tom, a coast-to-coast cycling veteran,
wearing the mask he made out a clear plastic soda bottle and
packing material:
http://www.bikeroute.com/BentImagesFolder/TomMask.jpg
WoW!! Keep an eye on this guy!!
Palo Alto Weekly story entitled:"In the garden of bikes and
garbage" http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/2004/2-
004_06_16.bike16.shtml
=========6/26/03 Post================
Tom Kabat's driftwood recumbent: <img
src="http://www.bikeroute.com/TomDriftwoodBent.jpg">
Is there a wood recumbent in your future? Better yet, how
about a driftwood bent? Made from recycled children's bikes
parts? Tom Kabat, an engineer for the city of Palo Alto, has
created a handful of fascinating such designs that he rides
about town including a tandem and one with a four inch razor
scooter front wheel.
Nor is any welding involved. And believe it or not the
ride is actually quite sublime. Performance, handling and
comfort are all much compromised but if you want to be
able to say you built your own designer bent for pennies
on the dollar, a wood bike might just be the answer.
Before you begin, however, you might want to consult with
Tom. All of his creations are very clever indeed and he
may be able to save you many hours and much frustration.
As well, he has many ideas for how these machines can be
made long distance worthy...
Tom can be reached at: tomkabat@aol.com
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
On 10/30/03 Tom replied with this:
I have since replaced the cranks and bottom bracket (to a
more solid one piece), added another chain idler (for
quietness) and put 3 inches of foam and a Hawaiian motif
seat cover on the seat and back (for ass-thetics). My wife
wants me to glue sand and shells to the plywood and I need
to work on a kelp covered cable (or just an old boat rope
with shackles). I'm commuting on the driftwood bike and just
winterized 3 others with a coat of deck sealer.
I wonder about the protective effects of deck sealer on bike
chain. :-)
Tom Kabat
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
