Sustainability is...

Since the 2nd of December, the Rebicycle is on display at RAP, the architectural centre on Nieuwstraat 33, Leiden (admission = free). The exhibition is aimed at the problems that still exist around the definition of sustainability and the complexity of sustainability issues. The exhibition is divided into the scales Small, Medium, Large, X-Large and XX-Large, the Rebicycle Project being a possible solution on the Small scale.

Industrial Design Faculty TU Delft

Every fall, our faculty presents itself to possible future students. Products are displayed to give an idea of what kind of products are developed at our faculty, and you guessed it, the Rebicycle was one of them! And it goes a little something like this...

The Rebicycle at the CBK in Rotterdam

The Rebicycle has been on display in the "Centrum Beeldende Kunst" (CBK) in Rotterdam. The exibit was from 19th of June until the 25th of July, and featured work from two professional photographers and a special around the "Fietsstang" magazine by Rotterdam designer Stang Gubbels. The CBK had received a lot of positive reactions, and children couldn't keep their hands off it, which in my mind makes the Rebicycle partly successful, at least in the area of communicating that there are different radical options to consider on the road to a sustainable way of life.

The Rebicycle at "Le Grand Depart": Start of the Tour de France in Rotterdam

On July 2nd and 3rd, The Rebicycle was part of the public stand of the TU Delft at the start of the Tour de France in Rotterdam, "Le Grand Depart".

Back from around the world trip!

I travelled for 7 months, but I'm back now...

First User Test Succesful!

During the photoshoot for The Rebicycle also the first user test was performed. I knew that the cranks, fork and steering pin weren't stiff enough yet, but I was curious whether it was possible at all to drive the prototype. After a shoot in the field we went to a cycling path and I started to drive by the photographer. Surprisingly it went quite well and even quite comfortably. Though one flaw in the design was revealed, being vibrations caused by the non tension loading of the spokes in the wheels during production. This allows the wood rim in the space between two spokes to flex too much, resulting in a sligthly bumpy ride. This has to be redesigned as well, but overall it was a great sensation to be able to ride my wooden bike prototype!

TU Delta published an article on the Rebicycle

TU Delta, the university journal, has published an article on the Rebicycle project. You can read the article and react to it on:
http://delta.tudelft.nl/nl/archief/artikel/houten-fiets-vervuilt-niets/19616
The article explains in short what the Rebicycle project is about (in Dutch). I hope it comes across that we need to push the limits in sustainable product development.

Revealing the Rebicycle to Minister Cramer

On the 9th of June, I got the chance to present the Rebicycle Project at the Greenovator Tour with Minister Cramer. Business professionals, young entrepreneurs and students (amongst which was yours truly) discuss and present their ideas for the future of sustainable development, entrepreneurship and green innovation ("Greenovation") to Minister for the Environment Jacqueline Cramer and an audience of approx. 150 interested people. The evening and further Greenovator Tour developments can be seen on http://www.youtube.com/user/greenovators.

A general introduction is published on the website of the Ministry for the Environment: 

http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/nieuws/2009/06/10/minister-cramer-start-greenovator-tour.html