Building a custom bicycle creation

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:49 pm

To anyone who desires to build a custom bicycle creation, I highly recommend attending one of the KSR (kinetic sculpture racing) seminars. I attending one last year and it was invaluable in my creation (BioTrak - http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=11769).

Here is info on an upcoming seminar (I have no stake in this, and I assure you they make no money on putting these on - the cost is minimal and the materials they provide are enormous)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fellow racers and wanna-be's:

The kinetic vehicle construction class has been scheduled for weekend
of October 21-22. Registration is being handled by Corvallis Parks
and Recreation and it opens today (8/28). Call them at 541-766-6918
for registration materials. They have a web site (Ci.Corvallis.OR.US
from there navigate to Parks and Rec), but the info about the class
isn't up there yet. They publish a booklet of classes that is widely
available here in town, the class is listed on pg 21.

In addition to the vehicle construction class, we will also be
offering a class (again thru Parks and Rec) in building the giant
puppets that accompanied Whirled Cup at this years race. That's set
for Nov 4.

Please pass this on to anyone that is interested.

--
-Bob D.
Builder and Pilot of Kinetic Sculpture Vehicle "Killer Tomato"
Visit my web site (http://www.simpleorganicsolutions.com/tomato.html)
for pictures and additional info.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:09 pm

Is that a nationwide organization? If so, do they have a website where people can locate local chapters?

B.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:29 am

there is some similar race done around denver with a combo water challenge, and if there is some affiliation and have classes around here, am all over that.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:37 am

I don't know if there is a main KSR association, but here is a link to the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (they have links to clubs on the east coast);

http://www.ihpva.org/

here is a link to Bob Durst's KSR webpage (the gentleman who provided invaluable assistance to me in making BioTrak)

http://fst.orst.edu/bob_durst/tomato.html

The KSR races seem to be mainly a west-coast phenomona, but there are probably some on the east coast.

If you cannot attend the class, you can probably get a copy of the class materials for a fee (contact the class organizers for details). The materials are extensive and well organized, and answered all my questions when I was starting BioTrak....

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:03 pm

oh coolness, thanks. i would buy the edu materials if they could answer some questions during the build process. there is not a course like that local to me.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:09 pm

I have a bunch of vidio tape of the Corvallis kenetic art form races. Some ofthe working parts.

The race is over city street, a sand trap, cross country(rough cow pasture), mud(man made), river run and back to stret and finish.

Port townson Wa. has a racw also. Lookup: Kentic races or Kenetic Art Form.

There were a bunch of kenetic racers at Burning Man this year. The act the same way at the races as BM. Be carful how you smart off to em, They are known to carry water canons.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:40 pm

This might be covered in those kinetic racer classes but I for one have had a devil of a time getting raw bottom bracket shells for the big "American" type press-in bottom bracket bearing assemblies...

...until now! Just discovered that Nova Cycle Supply sells them as well as other frame building stuff, under 4 bucks each but a 50 buck minimum order so I got a bunch. PM me, I can gift some : ) Way easier than machining my own like last time for trike#1.

The thing with these is you can weld them into whatever steel you want. They are good for the one-piece cranks or the bmx style 3-piece cranks using "American" bb bearings (as opposed to English/French/Spanish/Italian threaded bb shells which ironically are easier to find)

yeah I could cut up old frames for the part but having a nice new unpainted weldable piece just the right size and shape is priceless : )

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:30 am

http://www.personalpropulsion.com/

Get your ducted-fan propelled bicycle here.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:27 pm

That ought to be fun with the playa dust!

B.

p.s.: How could I build something without welding...? I've only welded once in my lifetime, and that was last century in Junior High School!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:30 am

BAS wrote:That ought to be fun with the playa dust!

B.

p.s.: How could I build something without welding...? I've only welded once in my lifetime, and that was last century in Junior High School!

I talked to the guy yesterday..He is the inventer and producer.. A unit to move me cost a grand.. The I told him about BM and that 35000 arist and engineers go.. He will be a burner..

p.s. I was a rivit butter for awhile.. I learned that there are all sort of conecters and couplers. My welding was for tacking in fabrication only. So I stay with the above.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:10 am

Yeehah! Just found this thread. What a way to wake up in the morning!

I make my own bottom brackets for one piece cranks out of muffler pipe.
Take a bearing cup to a local muffler shop and find a pipe that is just a
bit too tight. Then press the cups into the pipe with a big vice. The pipe
will stretch to fit. If the pipe is too tight for that, the shop can stretch it for
you with a mighty hydraulic machine. Bicycle shops have a tool (which
you can also buy, of course) for pressing the cups in, but if the pipe is cut
square, a vice will do.

Stand by for more KSR info!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:32 am

My musical moop mobil is on a very old bike frame.. It would destroy the theme if I change it. The crank is grinding bad.. Could I get away with niylon inserts?

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:38 am

Here we go:

There is indeed a great deal of overlap between BM and Kinetic Sculpture
Racing. In fact, I learned about BM thru KSR friends. If one week of
Mutant Bicycles is not enough for you, then you are ready for KSR! Yes,
I’m considering a KSR Theme Camp.

There is no nationwide KSR organization (yet). The closest we have is an
e-mail list that is centered around the Corvallis, Oregon, race (by
invitation; contact me). Mostly, the races have their own web sites. Here
are the ones I know of, listed in calendar order (at least SOME of these
sites should work -- I’m not quite komputor literate yet!):

Baltimore, Maryland, first weekend of May.
www.kineticbaltimore.com

Boulder, Colorado, also first weekend of May.
www.kbco.com/kinetics

Arcata to Ferndale, Humboldt County, Northern California. Memorial
Weekend (last weekend of May) This is the Grand Championship -- THE
BIG RACE. 40 miles over three days -- Arcata-Eureka-Ferndale. Big
camp-out with BM style bonfire.
www.kineticsculpturerace.org

Klamath Falls, Oregon. June.
www.klamathkinetic.org

Corvallis, Oregon. Third weekend of July.
http://www.davinci-days.org/kinetic_sculpture_race.php

Prescott Valley, Arizona. September? Small race launched in 2006.
http://www.pvksr.org

Port Townsend, Washington (near Seattle) First weekend of October.
http://www.ptkineticrace.org/

Ventura, Southern California. Date varies. October 28 in 2006.
www.kineticrace.com

A number of racers have their own sites; google Kinetic Sculpture Race
and similar phrases.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:52 am

.
Here is a web site with some cool mutant bicycles -- some of which you
may have seen at BM.
http://whymcycles.home.comcast.net/

There is a great book that explains a lot about how to build "mutant"
bicycles. I don't have it in front of me, but it is called something like
Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:32 am

Eillot, I do Convally almost every year.. Even have some footage of the coast guard being rescued from the fast water. I showed it to them the next year.. They drown me with water guns..

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:05 pm

Unjonharley:
Cool! Which team are you with? I raced "Captain Ahab Goes Surfing" in
Corvallis this year (a variation of "Henry Ford Goes Surfing"), and "The
Pear County Chopper" is also mine. Will I see you in Port Townsend this
weekend?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:22 pm

Elliot wrote:Unjonharley:
Cool! Which team are you with? I raced "Captain Ahab Goes Surfing" in
Corvallis this year (a variation of "Henry Ford Goes Surfing"), and "The
Pear County Chopper" is also mine. Will I see you in Port Townsend this
weekend?

I wont make Port Townsen this year.. The guys with the Yellow Sub from a couple years ago may be there.. They do BM very year.. I'll pm him and tell him to look out for you..
I plan to be a the kenetic classes oct21 in cornvally..

I'm panting the parts the will drive my art form for BM 07. Could have used a few more warm days..

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:33 pm

http://www.novacycles.com/

Tiahaar, your post and that reference helped me find something that nobody seemed to carry here in the midwest. It's also going to let me resurrect a childhood dream too, now that I've got funds to buy some stuff and a space to build what I've had in mind. THANK YOU for mentioning Nova Cycle Supply!

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:40 pm

.
Unjonharley:
Oh yes, I know Captain Chuck of the USS Yellow Submarine! And also
Marek and Tom of Drum Roll. Good bunch.

Gotta get back out in the garage!

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:11 pm

http://novacycles.com/catalog/
You're welcome Kinetic, yep that's the place, took me four years to turn them up (oh and they do small orders too its just an extra 5 dollar fee if the order is under 50) The bmx shells I got are strong 3/32" wall steel, nice end finish and debur too. I'm impressed! I never thought to try exhaust pipe, Elliot...very clever

Elliot and Unjon you are getting me enthused about the kinetic races, I might get down to Ventura CA and check that one out this year. Alas all my things are WAY needing modification to do the water part (maybe maybe though heheh)

Building a custom bicycle creation

Building a custom bicycle creation

bmx bottom bracket shell source

BM / KSR crossover