Modular workstations

I've always liked the concept of modular, movable workstations. I'd love something like this in my shop. Drill press, metal shear, vise, welding table, lighting, storage, computer, etc.. All linked to a massive hinge bolted to the ground or better yet on lockable rollers. Each section could be immobilized, of course. I'd like three of these. Oh, and everything could be controlled with my thoughts. That, too.

Todd Barricklow

I moved away from home at a young age.  In my early years traveling, I befriended a group of art students at Sonoma State University (Northern California).  I was a fresh-faced kid learning how to live on my own, and they sort of welcomed me into their grown-up crowd.  I rented a room in a house and discovered metal work, welding, painting, making, breaking, and fixing.  I was the youngest of the group and happy to tag along to college parties and things like that.

I was lucky to know Todd Barricklow.  He was the first person I knew that could artfully destroy things and rebuild the pieces into new and useful (and often frightening) creations.  He was a ceramics major but also a welder.  He had an admirable work ethic and he was hilarious.

Years later, we fell out of touch.

At some point, while just learning about cargo bikes in Oregon, I submitted pictures of a bike I'd built to a German bike website.  A few days later, I looked at the site to find a recent picture of Todd who'd built a similar bike.  I was stunned to see Todd had also been making cargo bikes and had submitted his pictures to the same site.  The website owner published our pictures on the same day. It was a funny way to learn of an old friend's new whereabouts and work.  Strange coincidence.

A few months ago, my wife and I traveled to visit Todd and his wife and kids.  It had been almost twenty years since we'd talked.  It was a swell reunion.

Todd is still very prolific, making incredible machines and ceramic sculpture.  He's a contributor to many cool things, including this year's Maker Faire, happening in the Bay Area in May.

Here's a video of Todd preparing his pedal-powered Figure 8 Race car, which he'll debut in a race at the Maker Faire.

Shop Mags

Mags in my shop right now. This sort of balance is beneficial to my mental well-being. It's a healthy contrast.

As a bike-maker and idea guy, the content in the mag on the left offers much more pure inspiration and food for my imagination. Looking at too much overtly commercial bicycle stuff spoils my creativity to a certain degree. I know it's good to stay in touch with what's happening in the contemporary bicycle industry, but I find non-bicycle stuff to be equally valuable for ideas and inspiration.

Giggling Local Newbie

This is the newest CETMA Cargo bike, a complete Largo with box for a local customer. He and his daughter visited my shop this morning to pick it up. We talked for a while, then separated the frame to fit into his vehicle. I'm very happy with this particular bike, and was proud to be present for their inaugural ride. The smile on the kid's face was priceless, giggling the whole way! I have a LOT of pics of this bike, which I'm editing now. I'll post soon.


Later:   More pictures of this bike HERE:  http://flic.kr/s/aHsjyVRpde

Better Box Tabs

NEWER AND BETTER:  I improved the box-mounting tabs on my cargo bikes.  It's a minor modification, but a pretty significant benefit.  These tabs used to be a single hole which didn't allow for any wiggle room.  New tabs now have a curved slot which allows the bracket to move slightly up or down, forward or back.  This is great for fine-tuning the box orientation/angles AND gives customers greater flexibility if they want to make their own box and use my pre-made brackets.

Minimal Cable Fiddlin'

Here's a photo I took yesterday while assembling the Margo floor model for Clever Cycles in Portland. This picture demonstrates how easy the frame separates without messing with the cables. 


The only cable that needs to be undone is the front brake cable, which disconnects at the lever. The rear brake cable and shifter cable remain intact since the handlebar stays with the rear during transit.

This is how a seven-foot cargo bike can fit into a small car and then reassemble in minutes. AND: clean hands, minimal tools, no fine tuning of anything.

A million times stronger. A zillion times better.

CETMA Racks are evolving in a few very special ways.
The universe shall benefit.


I've incorporated a few design improvements into new 3, 5, and 7-rail CETMA Racks. These changes dramatically improve their structure, assembly, strength, lifespan, and versatility. I am proud of these improvements.



Improvement #1:  Bolt-on stays.

All CETMA Racks' stays will bolt directly to the rack, ensuring a solid, immovable connection. They'll attach to a tab with various positioning options. This will make the rack not only stronger, but about as universal as you can get.

Improvement #2:  Better handlebar brackets, compatible with oversized bars.

All CETMA Racks will use a new style handlebar bracket available in two sizes for standard AND oversized handlebars.  As an added benefit, they're built as one piece, they're lighter weight, and have shorter reach than their predecessor.

Improvement #3:  Stainless, metric, hex-head hardware.

All CETMA Racks will be fitted with stainless, metric (6mm), hex-head hardware.  Predecessors came with Imperial hardware.  Note: the photos on this page show the old style Imperial hardware.  New photos coming soon.









As always, your input is welcome.   Chime in.

Urban Farm Magazine

Urban Farm magazine published a five-page review of cargo bikes, including mine. They not only gave my Margo a positive review, but granted me a full page 1 photo. Very nice. This issue is now available at many local grocery stores.

See a bigger version of this review HERE

Presto!!!

YO!  CETMA Cargo website CLICK HERE

OS bars?  This should appeal to you.

I've finally found a satisfactory alternative to the Wald handlebar clamps I've been using for years.  For those with oversized handlebars, this is a welcome development.  Keep reading.

These clamps were recently brought to my attention by my friend Christophe, a messenger in SF.  He says he's been using these clamps  for five years and claims they work great.  I believe him.  Christophe has probably used my racks daily more than anyone in the world.  

Since my duties have more to do lately with welding and sitting on my ass answering emails, I rely on feedback from guys like Christophe for thumbs up or down.

If you didn't know, the handlebar hardware normally included with my racks is only manufactured in one size.  This has been a problem for people with oversized handlebars.  These new clamps are a solution.

I like these a lot.  Not only are they more versatile than my current Wald setup, but they're built as one piece of metal, not a two-piece assembly like Wald's.  Nice.

Additionally, they offer shorter reach between the handlebars and rack.  This may or may not be preferable, although I suppose one could install a spacer between the clamps as a remedy.

Downside?  The metal is thinner, so they're slightly more flexible than Wald's.  This, I believe, is not a big deal.  Time and experience will tell what difference this makes.

 These clamps fit 31.8mm oversized bars plenty fine.  With two rubber shims inside, the grip is excellent.  No slippin'.  No trippin'!

I'm still undecided whether I'll completely switch to these and ditch the Walds completely, or just offer them as an option.  I'll probably just offer them as an option.  Why not?

Let me know what you think.  Your input is welcome.

CETMA Racks are about to evolve.

CETMA Racks are about to evolve.  Get ready.

I'm improving the way CETMA Racks function by eliminating a weak link--the p-clamps you see above.  New and improved CETMA Racks will not utilize these things.  Goodbye, p-clamps.

I plan to introduce an improved design later this week.  I'll post info here and at the CETMA Cargo Facebook page.

One step closer to being the totally best rack in the whole world of all time.

Busting my buttons this week with massive rack-making and another Margo finished. Three new bikes starting next week, AND finally getting the cargo bike canopy wrapped up. Lotsa updates coming...

Someone recently brought to my attention inoperable Brack and HALFrack Buy Now buttons, which seemed to suddenly stop working for no apparent reason.

They're fixed now.

BROOKLYN, New York!! There's a new CETMA Racks dealer in town, receiving a small batch of 3-rails and 5-rails this week. If you desire a CETMA Rack and prefer to buy locally, this is where to go: http://www.718c.com/

Since I don't really advertise anywhere, how and when did you first learn about CETMA? Care to share?

Time for a new CETMA Cargo video, yes?

From Bethany in Berkeley (partially edited for length):


Hi Lane,

We've been too busy enjoying our Cetma to have a formal photosession, which I feel would be appropriate, since it has become such a fun part of our family life.

Our 5-year old loves climbing onto the bike. Somehow I convinced my mom to go for a ride. She loved it. Great workout even in a pencil skirt.  I made my own harness using a green scarf and a cushion for the bench that I sewed myself.  But our kids seem to be handling themselves well on the bench or the floor of the box reclining on the front of the box.

Thanks for making it all possible.

--bethany

I'm changing my cargo bike boxes.

In the past I commissioned a local woodworker to build them for me, using a wood called MDO (medium density overlay).  Not anymore.

New boxes will be built in-house by me, using marine plywood.  I've got a nail gun, compressor, biscuit joiner, and a lot of clamps to do it.

This makes me very happy.  Having another aspect of production under my roof means greater flexibility, control, and pride.  Soon I'll be smelting my own iron and powder-coating my own bikes (not likely).

UPDATE:  Pics of first box are HERE:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/lancekagar

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