this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2024
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Solarpunk

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The Monk and Robot books by Becky Chambers take place in a very solar punk setting where significant rewilding has taken place. The main character is a travelling tea monk (you don’t need to know what that is) who travels with what is called an ox-bike. Essentially the setup is an e-bike-driven lightweight campervan or possibly wagon. My impression from the book is that the front bike does not detach from the back.

I’ve done some literal back of the envelope calculations and I think it would be possible to make something like that in real life with our current technology. But I’ve not been able to find any prior art, except for the Wide path bicycle camper, which is more like a trailer than a campervan. My guess is you could improve on the if you made the bike built in, not least because it’s easier to stop without the damned bike falling over.

Have you ever heard of or seen anyone make something like this? Do you think it could work?

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

There was this very cool handmade bike trailer wagon thing: https://slrpnk.net/post/1833883

For the artist's experiences living out of it: https://theaimlesslywanderingartist.blogspot.com/2013/12/winter-comes-to-southern-california.html

But that's a trailer. It sounds like you're describing something closer to a Bicycle Rickshaw, possibly on a tricycle frame.

You could even do a recumbent bike:

It seems like either could be enclosed using techniques learned from popup campers for a fairly comfortable living space.

(I think a lot about all the crazy contraptions people would make if the roads weren't exclusively the domain of giant trucks and SUVs, and if cargo bikes didn't have to fit themselves into narrow bike lanes and roadsides. I think people would come up with some really cool and weird stuff. Add solar panels and ebike parts, and they'd get really interesting.)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

This is for sure the closest I’ve seen so far and I’d have never found it without you. Thank you!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Wow, these are aMAZing!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Well now I have a new book (series?) to read, this looks super awesome, thank you

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

This was kind of my secret agenda here, happy it worked out!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Series as in there are two, or is there a third one already?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Two so far. Hoping for more. X)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

For me it feels complete as it is, that said I would totally read a third part ;)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Can also really recommend Wayfarers series!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

It's a fantastic series, very digestible too. The audiobooks would be super easy to finish in a weekend.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

No, but I think about it all the time!!! I’m not an engineer but if anyone does sketch or attempt it, please post it, we would love to see it!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Ooooooh! That sounds awesome! The fact that it was bear proof in the books, as well as being light enough to be pulled by an e bike makes me think carbon fiber and/or aluminum. Makes me wanna do some design mockups with rough sizing and structural estimates. Not artistic enough to do any of the murals on the sides with the gods but it would be fun to try to do structural theorizing.

(Not an engineer, i just like thinking through problems like this)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

Also I’d love to see your sketches!!!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

I’m not too concerned about bears since they’re very uncommon where I live (Northern Europe), but I was thinking fibreglass or possibly some special plywood with aluminium frame. I actually did some calculations on the weight of a frame and it’s pretty ok even with steel bars, especially if they’re hollow.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

I'm pretty sure there is a part where they talk about the bike as separate from the wagon. Ah, here's the quote: "Mosscap nodded at the wagon trailing dutifully behind Dex’s ox-bike."

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I've definitely seen similar things but with motorcycles! If you search 'motorcyle camper' there are lots of results

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago