Chris Magoon
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Building a wooden three wheeled recumbent bike

Independent Project, Winter 2010 - Spring 2011
Skills
Woodworking
Wood lamination
Google Sketch Up
Ergonomics, human factors
After making a few longboards in the Dartmouth student woodshop my freshman year, I wanted to try something more elaborate. Making a wooden frame and seat let me combine a functional design with the simple fabrication and artistic potential of wood. After starting with a scale model, I drew up full size plans and started building the frame. In addition to making the frame, I had to machine some custom  aluminum and steel parts to bridge the gap between the wood frame and traditional bike components. The front wheels and steering linkage were purchased but the rest of the bike components were salvaged from old bikes. 
 
Everyone wants to ride this thing. How many times do you get to ride a wooden tricycle?
Dustin tests the trike out in some light snow
Richard takes if for a spin on its first day riding
Some pictures of the build process. Fitting all this work in between classes, it took over a year to finish the trike.
Picture
A plywood model to get a feel for the form
Picture
Clamping the main spare core
Picture
The wedges and side plates added to the spar
Picture
Testing the fit of the cross beam
Picture
Stainless steel steering knuckle brackets
Picture
Setting up the chain routing
Picture
Laying out my full size hand drawn plans to cut the main spar
Picture
Speed holes added to the main spar core
Picture
Clamping up the curved cross beam support
Picture
Fitting the rear wheel into the aluminum mounts I machined
Picture
First day on three wheels
Picture
Riding around the engineering school
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  • Home
    • Engineering >
      • Fikst Product Development
      • Solar Ballast Mount
      • The TibFinder
      • Bridge Testing Jig
      • Diwheel
      • Drawing Machine
      • Camera Jibs
      • Adjustable Longboard Trucks
      • The HillBreaker
      • Nordic Skis
      • The Trike
      • Trash Shed
      • Machine Design
      • Transportation Puzzle
      • Lewin House
    • Longboards >
      • Lemon Shark
      • Prophecy
      • Harbinger
      • Longboard Basics
    • Art >
      • Installation
      • Ceramic
      • Sculpture
      • Drawing
      • Intaglio
    • Videography
  • Resume
  • About
  • Contact