Pencil Bike

What could be more practical than a bicycle that doubles as a pencil?! It is surprisingly easy to make this fun and functional 'riding implement' out of an old kid's bike and a 4" x 4" wooden beam.

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Step 1: Start Design on the CAD system

See Woodenbikes' genius "CAD" instructions to create a cardboard cutout of your body, so you can figure out proper positioning of wheels/seat/handlebars/etc. As he says...

"Using a sophisticated 2D CAD system (Cardboard Aided Design) life size cutout of your foot/leg thigh/back and arm, pivoting on brads at the joints, you can design the bike on the ground to explore sizing and clearance issues. My CAD system sometimes has a Gooey interface if I spill something on it while designing :-)
More seriously, like other CAD systems it has a GUI (Graspable User interface).

Make a cardboard cutout of your lower leg (with foot and pedal), thigh, torso, and straight arm (to a distance 2" back from your wrist). Use it to look for good riding position and clearances for knees to bars, heels to wheels etc. Use the CAD system to layout the riding position, cranks, wheels etc with attention for locating your hands, shoulder, seat-back angle, butt, knees and feet.

For detailed instruction on 12 Steps to designing a sweet handling recumbent, visit Bikesmith Design at http://bikesmithdesign.com/Design/12Steps.html

lukev2 says: Jun 6, 2012. 11:52 AM

Call it Pointless.... -Les Claypool of Primus

frankcox says: May 9, 2012. 6:23 AM

That piece of wood has to wiegh a ton!

Green Silver says: May 5, 2011. 11:03 AM

Just don't run into anyone...
Back to the drawing board! :o) Literally!!!

black hole in reply to Green SilverApr 14, 2012. 3:20 PM

My thoughts exactly. =D

dragonsniper in reply to Green SilverJun 1, 2011. 6:22 AM

lol

roscoerules says: Aug 14, 2011. 10:07 AM

What is the weight capacity of your invention? Generally speaking, kids' bikes and BMX bikes weren't designed for 215-pounders like me. What do you think?

Otherwise, great job! Thanks for posting!

-- Earl

molittr says: Jul 10, 2011. 9:22 PM

yay drawknife!

molittr says: Jul 10, 2011. 9:09 PM

I heard on NPR about a guy who made a Bananamobile and they referenced Richard Scarry!

Manny B says: Jul 1, 2011. 10:27 AM

:) !

X3R0X77 says: Jun 30, 2011. 5:58 PM

does it really erase

chicopluma says: Jun 11, 2011. 3:50 PM

that looks dangerous, you know, to the people in front of you

Mimikry says: May 3, 2011. 12:37 AM

now THAT is awesome :o)
you'll never search after your pencil again.
I would like to see the sharpener for it :)

great work!

dragonsniper in reply to MimikryJun 1, 2011. 6:25 AM

lmfao just imagine that sharpener it would probably be just a jig saw or something

dragonsniper says: Jun 1, 2011. 6:22 AM

it writes yes but the question is does it erase

poofrabbit says: May 31, 2011. 9:42 PM

I am so excited you won! I have loved your project since you posted it!

husamwadi says: May 31, 2011. 9:18 PM

congrats dude!

estructor says: May 31, 2011. 6:17 PM

Congratulations on winning first prize!

cjbikenut says: May 23, 2011. 8:06 AM

This is a great project/instructable. Nice balance btwn whimsy and practical, ambitious/manageable. I love the CAD system. You have my vote!

playa123 says: May 16, 2011. 8:51 AM

that is EPIC!!!!

ANDY! says: May 13, 2011. 7:51 PM

Thats so epically awesome. Totally want to make something like that!

josephlwu says: May 11, 2011. 10:03 PM

Imma go and impale someone with a bicycle. JK JK. it's very creative and will attract a lot of attention :)

farzadbayan says: May 10, 2011. 8:13 AM

Awesome! Your Instructable remember me "Busytown" cartoon & game!
Thank you!

Ninzerbean says: May 6, 2011. 9:25 AM

This is the BEST! But the hyperlink for the "CAD" instructions doesn't go anywhere.

tofu4tortoise says: May 4, 2011. 4:51 PM

i love the busytown reference. when i was a kid busytown was my life. nostalgia is killing me now. but great 'ible!

Kasm279 in reply to tofu4tortoiseMay 5, 2011. 4:53 PM

I think I still have that book around somewhere ;)

tofu4tortoise in reply to Kasm279May 5, 2011. 5:06 PM

i still have the book and i remember that page exactly it was my favorite. and i have the computer and board game too, somewhere in my basement. i must find them!

splazem says: May 5, 2011. 4:02 PM

Wow.

triciab1212 says: May 5, 2011. 10:03 AM

i love it! I want one! For a second, i was like "crap! we don't have auto-cad! We won't be able to make it!"....then i read your definition of "cad"! LOL! Awesome idea. now i'll have to convince my hubby to make 2 (maybe not the cute "pencil" part, tho).