Biking has to be one of the most rewarding experiences for those who aren’t adrenaline junkies. Whether you’re doing it for the exercise or just love pedaling and watching the world go by, bicycles are arguably the most eco friendly form of transport till date. You may have come across old and unused rail tracks during your many trips and wished that they could be put to use again. Instead of letting them rust, why not make use of them? Will is a guy who’s decided to do just that. He modified his bike to be able to travel along rail lines with the help of an outrigger.
No-Weld Rail Bike Conversion
The DIY project is a fun way to make use of tracks lying unused as well as giving you something practical to do. The ‘rail bike’ utilizes a device on the front wheel to keep the bike in line with the track. An outrigger has been fitted to the bike as well to ride the other track. Will says that he used a conduit, a bike fork, cut up razor scooter parts, retaining pins and numerous nuts and bolts to turn his ordinary cycle into a rail worthy one. Nothing has been welded so almost anyone can turn their bicycles into one of these contraptions.
The tricky part was to get everything measured precisely. However, despite all his calculations and hours of hard work, the rail bike met with a bit of a mishap after the guide on the bike’s side caught a railway tie and the frame bent. Will is in the process of perfecting his project and we’re looking to hear from him and his work. Till then, we’ll be trying our hand at converting our bicycles into rail worthy bikes too so we can make use of the many defunct railway lines that dot the backcountry.
Via: Makezine
