Big Red for Sale

Big Red, Burningman, 2013

Big Red, Burningman, 2013

Big Red, First Night Santa Cruz, 2015

Big Red, First Night Santa Cruz, 2015

Big Red, Santa Cruz Open Streets, 2013

Big Red, Santa Cruz Open Streets, 2013

It is with some sadness that I offer our beloved art bike “Big Red” for sale.

This amazing custom-designed and custom-built 4-person  quadricycle has over $2,400 in materials, and over 200 hours of work invested in its fabrication and fine tuning the mechanics of its drive system. It’s a great ride for Open Streets, First Night, Burning Man, and similar events. It can be pedaled by a single person, but gets easier of course with more pedalers.

Features include:

  • Custom-built steel frame that supports four pedalers and additional passengers
  • Four adjustable seats; each pedaler can adjust seat for comfortable reach to pedals
  • Heavy duty chains throughout; freewheel sprockets allow pedaler to pedal or coast independently
  • Heavy duty front forks; custom-built rear forks
  • Front wheels are 26×1¼; rear wheels are heavy duty downhill racing wheels, 26×1¾
  • Dual disc brakes on front wheels
  • Custom handlebar steering mechanism, turns both front wheels
  • Rear basket for cargo
  • LED and/or EL wire lighting, available separately

$2,000 or best offer

Contact Ted if you’re interested.

 

bigred-burningman2013-1

Zoe and Forrest atop “Big Red” at Burningman, 2013. Forrest was the co-creator of Big Red.

Details:

Big Red Art Bike

Big Red Art Bike is NN long X NN wide X NN tall to top of frame, and NN tall to top of seat backs.

Big Red Drive train

All four pedalers drive a single wheel.

Big Red drive train

Another view showing how the four pedalers all drive Big Red through the right rear wheel.

Detail of one of the free-wheel sprockets on the rear cross-axle, that transfers the pedal power form the four pedalers to the rear right wheel.

Detail of one of the free-wheel sprockets on the rear cross-axle, that transfers the pedal power form the four pedalers to the rear right wheel.

Another view of a chain coming from the pedalers to the free-wheel sprocket on the cross-axle.

Another view of a chain coming from the pedalers to the free-wheel sprocket on the cross-axle.

A view of the bolts, welded onto the chair, and the fender washers and wing nuts, that allow the chairs to be individually adjusted for each pedaler's leg length.

A view of the bolts, welded onto the chair, and the fender washers and wing nuts, that allow the chairs to be individually adjusted for each pedaler’s leg length.

Another view showing the adjustable chairs.

Another view showing the adjustable chairs.

The cargo basket at the back

The cargo basket at the back

A close-up of the super heavy duty custom-built rear forks, that allow for the wide wheel and tires for added traction.

A close-up of the super heavy duty custom-built rear forks, that allow for the wide wheel and tires for added traction.

This view shows the pedals for the rear riders; you can see their drive chains going backward to the cross-axle, and the chains coming from the front riders; the chair you see is for the front right rider.

This view shows the pedals for the rear riders; you can see their drive chains going backward to the cross-axle, and the chains coming from the front riders; the chair you see is for the front right rider.

This view shows the chain tensioners n each of the two front chains, going from the front pedalers' pedals (off screen left) back to the rear pedalers (off screen right).

This view shows the chain tensioners n each of the two front chains, going from the front pedalers’ pedals (off screen left) back to the rear pedalers (off screen right).

Here's the chain tensioner on the rear left chain. Behind that, you can see the two chains that bring the power down to the right rear wheel, as well as the cargo basket.

Here’s the chain tensioner on the rear left chain. Behind that, you can see the two chains that bring the power down to the right rear wheel, as well as the cargo basket.

These are the pedal assemblies for the two front riders; the vertical bar in right foreground is the steering rod.

These are the pedal assemblies for the two front riders; the vertical bar in right foreground is the steering rod.

Front right tire, showing disc brake.

Front right tire, showing disc brake.

Here's the steering assembly, in which the rotational motion of the handlebars above is translated into left-right motion to turn both front wheels.

Here’s the steering assembly, in which the rotational motion of the handlebars above is translated into left-right motion to turn both front wheels.

Another view of the elegant steering system.

Another view of the elegant steering system.

A view of most of the bike, from the front.

A view of most of the bike, from the front.

A view from the driver's seat, front left rider, showing dual disc brake levers.

A view from the driver’s seat, front left rider, showing dual disc brake levers.

Building Big Red

Artist, engineer, sculptor, potter, blacksmith and “builder of multi-wheeled contraptions” Roy Holmberg was our fabricator.

Building art bike "Big Red" Welding stell tubing to bicycle frame parts

Roy is welding square steel tubing to a bicycle fork tube. The bicycle frame part seen in the foreground was later replaced with a custom-built fork, to accommodate the larger rear wheels.

Building art bike "Big Red"

Here’s a finished side base, square steel tubing connecting bicycle frame parts.

Building art bike "Big Red"

Pedal assemblies and partial frames, turned upside down, to serve as the pedals for the 4 riders who pedal Big Red.

Building art bike "Big Red"

This is me, Ted, grinding smooth some cut bicycle frame parts.

Building art bike "Big Red"

The two side frames are now connected by the upper framing, forming a tall quad bike.

Building art bike "Big Red"

As we rode Big Red at Burningman and elsewhere, we made design and component modifications to improve the drive train. Here, Roy is working on one of those modifications, 2012.

Last Updated on November 20, 2016