TerraCycle (bicycle)

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TerraCycle, Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of recumbent bicycle parts based in Portland, Oregon in the United States. TerraCycle is known for its idlers [1] and Cargo Monster load-carrying extensions. [2]

Contents

An example of a recumbent bicycle, fitted with a fairing. V2fairing2.jpg
An example of a recumbent bicycle, fitted with a fairing.

History

Background

In 1996, Pat Franz began making custom-fitted recumbent bicycles in a small office in Portland, Oregon. [3] Recumbent cycling is a small market, so in order to make the bicycles, many of the parts had to be hand-crafted. Before long, other recumbent bicycle manufacturers noted TerraCycle's parts and began asking to have parts made for their own recumbent cycles. [4] TerraCycle shifted its efforts from building whole recumbent bicycles to manufacturing recumbent cycling parts and has since gained international recognition in the recumbent cycling community. [5] [6] Today, TerraCycle parts can be found in stores in North America, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan and around the world online.[ citation needed ]

In late 2011, an upcycling company also named TerraCycle purchased the rights to www.terracycle.com, formerly held by the recumbent cycle part manufacturer. The new home of TerraCycle recumbent cycling is www.t-cycle.com.

Acquisitions

In December 2007, TerraCycle acquired FastBack Systems, a recumbent cycling hydration system and frame pack manufacturer out of Fort Collins, Colorado. Mike Vogl, the founder of FastBack, said in a press release: "We’ve grown quickly, and the demands of the business require increasing time and resources." [7] TerraCycle has continued producing the lines of packs and bags, expanded the line to include other products and begun selling the FastBack line in Europe. [8]

In December 2009, TerraCycle acquired WindWrap, a maker of fairings for recumbent cycles based in Eureka, California. The WindWrap line of fairings has been expanded and improved upon, and is now available in Europe. WindWrap founder, Mark Mueller, said of the move: "I am proud that Windwrap fairings are in use around the world. Now its time someone who can make these an even better product to take things from here. We've been working with TerraCycle for years and believe they will be a great company for this."[ citation needed ]

In December 2011, Terracycle acquired Velogenesis, and began selling the seat strut clamps developed by Velogenesis founder, Ray Brick. [9]

Influence

Innovations in recumbent technology

TerraCycle's first bike, the TerraZa was known for its ground-breaking customizability. The TerraZa won the acclaim of Recumbent Cyclist News for being revolutionary: "This is the way we like to see recumbents built, the way more should be built and the way many high-end bikes will have to be built in the future." [10]

The folding stem developed at TerraCycle has changed the way that other companies approach their products. Bacchetta Recumbent Bikes has adopted TerraCycle's GlideFlex folding stem as standard equipment. [11]

The Cargo Monster, designed by TerraCycle in 2009, is a load-carrying extension that transforms the carrying ability of most any recumbent cycle. [12]

In 2011, TerraCycle's Sport Idlers won Accessory of the Year on BentRider Online. [13]

Involvement in recumbent cycling culture

In 2005, TerraCycle sponsored the Race Across Oregon, when Robert Johnson of TerraCycle participated on the team RAO Speedwagon. The team used only recumbent cycles in what is ordinarily an upright bicycle competition. RAO Speedwagon finished first place in what was a big win for the recumbent cycling community both in terms of promoting recumbent cycles and demonstrating their efficacy. [14]

Over the years, TerraCycle has supplied idlers to various teams participating in the ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge. [15] In 2005, the Oregon State University Human Powered Vehicle Team placed 5th overall with the help of TerraCycle parts. [16]

Various events in the recumbent cycling community, like the evening event following the Oregon Human Powered Vehicle Challenge, are hosted at TerraCycle's workshop. [17]

Related Research Articles

Bicycle Pedal-driven two-wheel vehicle

A bicycle, also called a bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A bicycle rider is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.

Tandem bicycle Type of bicycle

The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement, not the number of riders. Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the mid 1880s. Tandems can reach higher speeds than the same riders on single bicycles, and tandem bicycle racing exists. As with bicycles for single riders, there are many variations that have been developed over the years.

Recumbent bicycle Type of bicycle

A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Most recumbent riders choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons: the rider's weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by back and buttocks. On a traditional upright bicycle, the body weight rests entirely on a small portion of the sitting bones, the feet, and the hands.

Tricycle

A tricycle, often abbreviated to trike, is a human-powered three-wheeled vehicle.

Velomobile

A velomobile, velomobiel, velo, or bicycle car is a human-powered vehicle (HPV) enclosed for aerodynamic advantage and/or protection from weather and collisions. They are similar to recumbent bicycles, pedal go-karts and tricycles, but with a full fairing. A fairing may be added to a non-faired cycle, or the fairing may be an integral part of the structure, monocoque like that of an airplane. The term velomobile can be thought of as similar in scope to the cycle world as the term automobile is to the automotive world.

Freight bicycle

Freight bicycles, carrier cycles, freight tricycles, cargo bikes, box bikes, or cycletrucks are human powered vehicles designed and constructed specifically for transporting loads. Vehicle designs include a cargo area consisting of an open or enclosed box, a flat platform, or a wire basket, usually mounted over one or both wheels, low behind the front wheel, or between parallel wheels at either the front or rear of the vehicle. The frame and drivetrain must be constructed to handle loads larger than those on an ordinary bicycle.

The International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) is a US-based organization dedicated to promoting the design and development of human powered vehicles (HPVs) and the keeping of speed and distance records for these vehicles and bikes.

Catrike is a brand of lightweight tadpole-design recumbent tricycles manufactured by Big Cat HPV, LLC, which is based in Orlando, Florida, United States. The company was founded in 1999 by Paulo Camasmie. Catrike riders have an annual factory-sponsored rally in March. Big Cat builds more trikes equipped with direct-steering than any other manufacturer in the world.

Bicycle boulevard

A bicycle boulevard, sometimes referred to as a neighborhood greenway, neighborway, neighborhood bikeway or neighborhood byway is a type of bikeway composed of a low-speed street which has been "optimized" for bicycle traffic. Bicycle boulevards discourage cut-through motor-vehicle traffic but allow local motor-vehicle traffic. They are designed to give priority to bicyclists as through-going traffic. They are intended as a low-cost, politically popular way to create a connected network of streets with good bicyclist comfort and/or safety.

Handcycle

A handcycle is a type of human-powered land vehicle powered by the arms rather than the legs, as on a bicycle. Most handcycles are tricycle in form, with two coasting rear wheels and one steerable powered front wheel. Despite usually having three wheels, they are also known as handbikes.

Local bike shop

A local bike shop or local bicycle shop, sometimes abbreviated LBS, is a small business, as distinct from a chain, mail-order or online vendor, specializing in bicycle sale, maintenance and parts. In the UK and Ireland, the expression independent bicycle dealers (IBDs) is also used.

Kinesis Industry Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer of aluminum and carbon fiber bicycle frames, forks, and components. Based in Taiwan, it has a plant in Guangzhou, China, and an American subsidiary in Portland, Oregon that generates $5-$10 million in annual sales. The company was founded in 1989 by former employees of Giant Bicycles, and was headed by Tom Jeng until 2011, when he left to form Jovial Bike Components.

The Center for Appropriate Transport (CAT) is a non-profit community center dedicated to bicycles and alternative transport located in Eugene, Oregon, United States.

Trailer bike

A trailer bike is a one-wheeled, or sometimes two-wheeled, bicycle trailer designed to carry one or more children in positions that closely resemble that of a bicycle rider. It can be described as the, "back half of a bicycle." The rider of a trailer bike usually has a saddle, handlebars, and pedals. Some fold for more compact storage.

Worksman Cycles

Worksman Cycles is a family-owned American manufacturer of bicycles and tricycles for industrial, commercial and recreational use. The company was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Ozone Park in the borough of Queens in New York City. Previously in the Spear Building the company also operates an additional factory in Conway, South Carolina. Worksman is the oldest bicycle manufacturer in the United States and has operated its own factory-direct e-commerce store since 2004.

TerraTrike is a brand of recumbent tadpole tricycles manufactured by WizWheelz Inc. TerraTrike is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA. TerraTrike's 2013 product line consists of 5 models: Rover, Rambler, Tour II, Sportster, Tandem Pro. Each model has 3 to 5 different component levels to meet each riders needs.

Cruzbike is a brand of recumbent bicycles based in Lumberton, North Carolina, United States. The company was founded in 2003 and all models are now designed and assembled in the United States. Cruzbike started life in Australia and was featured on the ABC show The New Inventors. It is fairly unusual in that it makes a front-wheel drive recumbent bicycle with a Moving Bottom Bracket (MBB). The bottom bracket is the piece that the pedals attach to, and in this case it moves left and right with the front wheel when steering the bicycle. This design allows for better climbing ability, and eliminates "heel strike" on turns, but comes with a learning curve as there is pedal steer.

Bacchetta is a brand of recumbent bicycles based in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. The company was founded in 2001 and it primarily makes short wheelbase recumbents. Bacchetta makes the number one selling recumbent bicycle of all time, the Giro, and claims to have sold more recumbents in the market than any other manufacturer. In 2012, they helped sponsor a 4-person team for the Race Across America that completed the race in six days, 21 hours and 29 minutes. In 2011 Bruce Gordon of British Columbia, Canada made a round-the-world ride in 153 days, a Guinness record. He made his trip on a Bacchetta Corsa. Many HPRA Track Records have been set by Bacchetta riders on events from 200 meter sprints to 1 hour time trials. In 2018, Bacchetta expanded their product line into recumbent trikes by introducing the CarbonTrike CT2, the world's lightest production trike and the first production trike made out of carbon fiber.

Bike Friday

Bike Friday is a manufacturer of folding, small-wheeled bicycles that is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, United States. The company was founded in 1992 by brothers Alan Scholz and Hanz Scholz. By 2018, it employed 22 people and manufactured frames in Eugene. Alan Scholz also founded Burley Design Cooperative in 1978.

References

  1. ↑ "Exquisite Idler Kits by TerraCycle | undercover cycling". Go-one.us. 2007-12-28. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  2. ↑ "TerraCycle Cargo Monster | SPEZI: Liegerad Faltrad Dreirad Vierrad Tandem Rehabilitation Velomobil Anhänger Pedelec E-Bike". Spezialradmesse.de. 2010-07-18. Archived from the original on 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  3. ↑ "About us". t-cycle.com. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  4. ↑ "TerraCycle". Icletta. Archived from the original on 2012-03-11. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  5. ↑ Alan Barnard. "EcoVelo » Blog Archive » TerraCycle". Ecovelo.info. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  6. ↑ http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/search.do?type=magazine&titleId=442&term=terracycle%5B%5D
  7. ↑ "NEWS". Fastbacksystem.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  8. ↑ "New year roundup". Velo Vision. Archived from the original on 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  9. ↑ "'BentRider Online» Blog Archive » TerraCycle Buys Velogenesis Seat Clamp Line". Bentrideronline.com. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  10. ↑ Bryant, Robert J. (November 1999). "The New Terra-Za SWB". Recumbent Cyclist News (54): 10–14.
  11. ↑ "TerraCycle Easy Reacher Underseat Rack". Bentrideronline.com. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  12. ↑ "Blog Archive » Portland's TerraCycle unleashes their 'Cargo Monster'". BikePortland.org. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  13. ↑ "'BentRider Online» Blog Archive » Bike And Trike of The Year!!!". Bentrideronline.com. 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  14. ↑ "Team RAO Speedwagon's 2005 Race Recap". Race Across Oregon. 2006-04-18. Archived from the original on 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  15. ↑ "Idler Kit: Terracycle Front Idler Kits for TerraTrikes". Utah Trikes. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  16. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2012-03-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ↑ "Human Power Challenge News Archives". Ohpv.org. 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
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