venue: Hackney City Farm, LondonThis course is run by Nik White of Biggles Recycles, a Bristol-based social enterprise promoting cycling and recycling by turning scrap bicycles into usable bikes and trailers to 'keep bums on bikes and bikes on the road'. Participants will have the opportunity to see recycled materials being crafted into a functional bike trailer that can carry anything from 20kg to 200kg (the latter would have to be fabricated from steel and with heavy-duty wheels). During the day a trailer will be made. Participants will see the processes involved, and have a go themselves. First is a discussion on the availability of scrap materials that people may have themselves, or from scrap yards or skips. Participants will look at the potential for working with different scrap materials. Next comes an understanding of the mechanical details of the trailer, for example locating the wheels onto the trailer chassis, mechanisms for coupling the trailer to the bicycle and attaching some sort of cargo-holding device to the trailer. Participants will see trailers made from different materials, and discuss a range of high- and low-tech ideas. We will look at and use a variety of tools including work-benches, clamping systems, drills, files, spanners, cutting (saws, angle-grinders) and fixing (glues, nuts & bolts, brazing, welding and fibres, plus rivet guns and pop-riveting). Materials can include bought or scrap timber (or even branches), bamboo, large wicker baskets, water tanks, tubular steel furniture (very good), second-hand BMX or pram wheels (or even whole prams). Participants will receive a 12-page booklet on trailer design and build - with 2 main designs, one metal, one wood. You can also buy some specialist materials from the course tutor. Bring work clothes, and gloves and goggles if you have them; they will be supplied if you don't. Come along with your own ideas, and leave with a design for your trailer. dates: see 'book online' below
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how
to book: |
if you can't open
the booking form, you need Acrobat
Reader - it's free |
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arrive: |
for a 10am prompt start |
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depart: |
after
the course finishes at 5pm |
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directions: |
click here for
directions to Hackney City Farm |
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what
to bring: |
work
clothes; pen and notebook; packed lunch (if you're not using
the cafe) |
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let
us know: |
if
you have any special needs |
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price: |
£60 Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30 admin fee) No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course |
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lunch: |
bring
a packed lunch or you can get lunch at the cafe |
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car
sharing: |
visit
our car
sharing forum to offer or request a lift |
course tutor Nik with a home-made trailer, attached to the bike via the seat post
another ingenious bike trailer, comprising plastic boxes with lids
