Introduction: Marianette Update

This is an update of my former instructable https://www.instructables.com/id/Row-pull-push-bike-la-marianette/


After a year of daily work and more than 1000 Km the hinge was wearing out  making steering unprecise. So I decided to rebuilt the mechanism and try to make it even stronger.

Many people watched the original instructable last year but nobody told me about doing something similar. I hope this one helps somebody to try it. The bicycle is really fun and many interested people ask me about it in the street.

Step 1:

The new hinge is built using a wheel hub, a handlebar stem and a front fork.

Step 2:


Hub diameters are not standard.

The diameter of the hub should be similar to the diameter of the handlebar stem.

Step 3:

The spokes of the bicycle wheel are dismounted. The hub is kept to be used as a bearing.

Step 4:

The stem clamp was opened using a big screwdriver and pliers.

Of course you would not do that with an aluminum stem!
Aluminum stems have usually a two pieces clamp, this step would not be needed. However, matching the diameter of the hub would be more difficult.

Step 5:

Hub into the clamp.
Clamp closed with pliers.
Clamp screw inserted and tightened.

Step 6:

The stem is mounted in the bicycle

Step 7:

The fork is mounted on the hub.

Step 8:

The handlebar is fixed to the fork using another stem.

Step 9:

A pedal is fixed to the fork. I used a crank shortener and a couple of seat clamps  for that.
You may also find a way to fix a spare crank to the fork instead.

Step 10:

I used a satellite clamp and a M8 threaded rod to couple the pedals.

Step 11:

The front crank is now fixed with aluminum profiles. The profiles are screwed to the fork using the mudguard hole and a seat clamp fixed to the stem.

Step 12:

I changed the elastic ropes by springs.

Finished. Steering is really better. I hope it will work for another year.