Builder Of The ‘Bike Of The Future’ To Visit Winona During Bike Fest
May 18, 2017 at 5:19 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Jay Kinsinger, assistant professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering at Cedarville University, near Dayton, Ohio, and a summer resident of Dewart Lake, also will take part in the Fat and Skinny Tire Fest. He has a display along the Winona Lake Channel where people can view the wooden framed "bike of the future,” according to a news release from Cedarville University.
Several industrial and innovative design, mechanical engineering and business students at Cedarville University this year created the bike of the future – an e-Bike – that brings modern technology and power together with the traditional bicycle so the rider can experience a better ride. An e-Bike allows a ride to more easily conquer hills and rolling terrain, the release states.
The e-Bike concept is not new in the biking world; they’re a growing trend among riders. And, yet, even the Cedarville e-Bike will be different than the electronic bikes that are currently being ridden on streets and bike paths today. These e-Bikes will be made with a wooden frame, which is a significant departure from the traditional metal frame bicycles.
Kinsinger brought the e-Bike concept to the industrial and innovative design students – a one-of-a-kind program at Cedarville University. Cedarville is the only Christian university in the nation to offer this academic program, the release states.
After being elected to an entrepreneurial board last year, Kinsinger saw the opportunity for collaboration between engineering, business and design students. The bike is the capstone project for six senior engineering students.
“This is the first capstone project that places an emphasis on collaboration between majors at Cedarville University,” said Kinsinger. “It’s a very open-ended project, where there’s no answer in the back of the book for this work.”
Kinsinger’s concept comes from his interest in woodworking and bicycle riding. He has been making wooden bicycles for years. All of his family members have wooden framed bicycles, including a children’s bike that folds in half.
The Cedarville-branded bicycle will be equipped with a battery and motor, as well as the traditional gears found on a regular bicycle. With the added power from the motor, these bikes assist personal mobility of the rider, while maintaining the integrity of “pedal power.”
“Each of our three programs – engineering, industrial and innovative design and business – are interested in innovation and creating 'real-world' projects to enhance the educational experience for our students,” said Jim Stevenson, president of the International Center for Creativity, the home of the industrial and innovative program in Columbus. “Each of the disciplines bring something diverse and unique to the process, which in the end, will be a serviceable product for the biking industry.”
Trayton Ojala, industrial designer and project specialist at ICC, and a 2014 Cedarville graduate, is leading the design aspect of the project.
“The project teaches the students to lean on the expertise of others and to communicate outside of their own discipline – both of which are extremely important when trying to get a product to market with efficiency,” Ojala said. “This experience will help set our graduates apart from other students because of the collaboration component in the classroom.”
ICC students presented the final design concept Oct. 21. The engineering students are currently building the bike, and the business students will create a comprehensive marketing plan they believe will lead to future sales of the bike.
Jay Kinsinger, assistant professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering at Cedarville University, near Dayton, Ohio, and a summer resident of Dewart Lake, also will take part in the Fat and Skinny Tire Fest. He has a display along the Winona Lake Channel where people can view the wooden framed "bike of the future,” according to a news release from Cedarville University.
Several industrial and innovative design, mechanical engineering and business students at Cedarville University this year created the bike of the future – an e-Bike – that brings modern technology and power together with the traditional bicycle so the rider can experience a better ride. An e-Bike allows a ride to more easily conquer hills and rolling terrain, the release states.
The e-Bike concept is not new in the biking world; they’re a growing trend among riders. And, yet, even the Cedarville e-Bike will be different than the electronic bikes that are currently being ridden on streets and bike paths today. These e-Bikes will be made with a wooden frame, which is a significant departure from the traditional metal frame bicycles.
Kinsinger brought the e-Bike concept to the industrial and innovative design students – a one-of-a-kind program at Cedarville University. Cedarville is the only Christian university in the nation to offer this academic program, the release states.
After being elected to an entrepreneurial board last year, Kinsinger saw the opportunity for collaboration between engineering, business and design students. The bike is the capstone project for six senior engineering students.
“This is the first capstone project that places an emphasis on collaboration between majors at Cedarville University,” said Kinsinger. “It’s a very open-ended project, where there’s no answer in the back of the book for this work.”
Kinsinger’s concept comes from his interest in woodworking and bicycle riding. He has been making wooden bicycles for years. All of his family members have wooden framed bicycles, including a children’s bike that folds in half.
The Cedarville-branded bicycle will be equipped with a battery and motor, as well as the traditional gears found on a regular bicycle. With the added power from the motor, these bikes assist personal mobility of the rider, while maintaining the integrity of “pedal power.”
“Each of our three programs – engineering, industrial and innovative design and business – are interested in innovation and creating 'real-world' projects to enhance the educational experience for our students,” said Jim Stevenson, president of the International Center for Creativity, the home of the industrial and innovative program in Columbus. “Each of the disciplines bring something diverse and unique to the process, which in the end, will be a serviceable product for the biking industry.”
Trayton Ojala, industrial designer and project specialist at ICC, and a 2014 Cedarville graduate, is leading the design aspect of the project.
“The project teaches the students to lean on the expertise of others and to communicate outside of their own discipline – both of which are extremely important when trying to get a product to market with efficiency,” Ojala said. “This experience will help set our graduates apart from other students because of the collaboration component in the classroom.”
ICC students presented the final design concept Oct. 21. The engineering students are currently building the bike, and the business students will create a comprehensive marketing plan they believe will lead to future sales of the bike.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092