Bike Workshop

During July 2018, I enrolled in a week-long bike workshop with the end product being our very own bikes. The shop provided the building materials and tools while also instructing us on the fundamentals of bike mechanics.

Personal Exploration

Following this workshop, I decided to invest in my own personal bike toolkit and continue my learning of bikes through online research, especially YouTube videos. This helped to inform certain design decisions including tire type, number of gears, and additional features.

Before any actual building occurred for my bike, I wanted to first figure out the desired end product that would satisfy the target audience (me). Since the majority of my riding would occur in an urban/suburban terrain, I opted on a commuter bike design.

Aesthetics

When deciding my design for my bike, I wanted something understated with a pop of color. So, I chose a color palette of silver and black with red accents.

Functionality

Three Gears

In the urban terrain I would be riding my bike in, there are some hills, but it is overall flat. So, I decided on a three-gear level for my bike. Although it struggles with big hills, a 3-speed bike is good for flat ground and a little incline which is descriptive of the kind of terrain I would be riding it on.

Thumb Shifters

I wanted a lightweight and simple gear shift mechanism which could display which gear I was in. In the end, I decided on a the style of shifters called “trigger” or “thumb shifters.” They’re the most common shifters on commuter and mountain bikes and are good for casual cyclists. They’re activated when the user pressed short levels mounted on the handlebar. The shifter on the left handlebar shifts up and down through the front chainrings of the bike while the shifter on the left shifts through the sprockets at the rear of the bike.

Urban Tires

Since the majority of my riding would be in urban/suburban terrain, I opted for urban commuting tires. These allow for speed, durability, and traction across multiple surfaces including city streets, bike paths, and light trails.

Comfort

Comfort is a common issue, especially among new cyclists. To mitigate the amount of discomfort, I wanted to select a bike seat (aka a saddle) that was suited to the type of riding I’d be doing and my body mechanics.

Most of the time, I like to alternate between standing up on the pedals/hovering over the saddle of a bike and sitting upright while cruising around. I would also be using this bike in the Pacific Northwest which experiences seasonal rainfall. Due to these varied positions and weather conditions, I chose a saddle with some padding with a durable, weather-resistant cover material and a streamlined shape that would aid my movement.

Extra Features

Bike Bell

Legally, it’s not required to have a bell installed on a bike. However, it’s a handy way to give a friendly alert that you’re approaching. So, I installed a bell with a purple transparent face so you could see the gears working inside when I used it. I thought if I was going to include a bell, it might as well be fun and interesting to use!

Water Bottle Cage

I carry my water bottle everywhere with me, so I wanted to add a water bottle cage so I can keep it with me when I go on rides. The bike frame I chose had cage mount bolts on the down tube (part of the bike frame that slopes down from the tube attached to the handlebar apparatus and goes down to the bottom bracket of the bike where the pedals are).

Maintenance

Currently, I’m performing yearly maintenance to my bike including but not limited to: checking all brake and gear cables + cable housing for fraying, breakage, rust, corrosion; adjusting tire pressure; checking wheels for signs of wear; wiping the chain and cassette cogs clean with a rag; cleaning the bike frame; test the tightness of the moving and connecting parts; and servicing the bearings on the bike.

New Features

Eventually, I want to install a kickstand for my bike. I was originally worried about the added weight of it while riding, but I’ve found that with the context in which I ride my bike, the added weight is not a big deal. Plus, I don’t like dropping my bike on the ground or leaning it on things after all the work I’ve put into building it!