Classes will be held at EBW from 9 am to 12 pm, Saturdays, October 2nd, 9th and 16th .

Topics covered include:

• Basic Maintenance and Preventative Care
• Components
• Professional Tool Use
• Advanced Tuning and Repair

The class will offer each participant a complete bike repair and tune-up, along with the knowledge to repeat the process again.

Class costs $45 for all three classes and a 10% discount on EBW membership and parts purchased during class.

Participants must register, either in person or by phone, and pay class fees in advance. To register, or with any questions, call Justin at EBW, (541) 683-3397, Tuesday-Saturday 12-6pm.

Click here for the EBW home page.

Eugene is the ideal percolator for grassroots and DIY movements. CAT is located in a post-industrial cum residential neighborhood, where roosters can be heard crowing alongside the train whistles and highway overpass. It’s real. No sheltered utopia here.

Barrett Hafner, Astoria, Oregon
My time here at CAT has been a very formative experience. I’ve discovered a love of designing and building things, and a true path to helping better the world. Working with my hands – especially doing technical work like welding – has become almost a form of meditation for me, and that in itself has made this experience infinitely worthwhile and given me a better understanding of my own right livelihood.

Additionally, I feel that I have been challenged here philosophically, intellectually, and emotionally to be a stronger person, and that has really helped me develop my values and beliefs to a point where I have a much clearer vision of the direction that I want to put my energy in. For me, these challenges have been incredibly rewarding, but I would counsel anyone interested in this program to be aware that, in addition to a set of skills, you are also taught a set of values as a part of the curriculum.

After I’m done with the apprenticeship I plan to be based in Portland, Ore. and become a Human Powered Network partner, building and selling HPM creations.

Matthew Staahl, Fargo, North Dakota
At CAT we are learning that human powered machines are an integral and diverse art of all communities. Whether through localized courier distribution or simply by a leisurely ride through a neighborhood, these simple machines are vehicles for change. Through the establishment of an international community to community network of cargo bike builders (us) we will be able to facilitate distribution of ideas and production material on a more sane and egalitarian level.

Starting from raw unbent tubes, we are building cargo bikes from the ground up. The TIG welding instruction is exemplary as is the brazing. We get hours and hours of hands on instruction with the various tools used in bicycle fabrication (all the hand tools as well as the heavy hitters like mills and lathes). This is all complimentary to the history and theory that has gone into the various designs here at CAT. We also get a healthy dose of information from various local and regional cycling advocates as well as industry designers and builders to help give us a 360 degree view of the modern state of the cycling mind.

This is a study of how these beautiful machines are made and so much more. Being able to work in a garden to produce your own food is a nice counter balance to staring at molten metal and flickering flames. Sewing instruction not only teaches a valuable skill but helps put you into a makers mind set. The open dialogue with fellow apprentices and staff here at CAT on all things in the saddle and off is priceless. What we can do together, all of us, is just sitting there waiting to be opened up and examined and then put back together and taken for a roll down the road.

Ride Bikes.

I have read about motorbike, automobile, and human powered vehicle design, but I had never built anything. At CAT, I have met people who bring their designs to life.

To the future apprentices of CAT, I suggest you prepare for a challenge. This is not school, work, or home. It may be a little of each.

Rusl – Vancouver, B.C.
We have learned both slow, repeatable precision milling and lathing techniques and quick, use-your-eyeballs, hand-art practical methods.

I’ve learned how to use CAD Solidworks to create 3D bicycle models for planning and design. Also how to make and design bicycle fixture/jigs. This will be immensely useful.

I am now much more familiar with Cargo Bikes, their design, and bike building generally. I will be confident to go out into the world building and promoting them.

Mirye – Seoul, South Korea
There are other frame building courses in the United States, but one of the reasons that I recommend the course at the CAT is that you can do an in-depth study not only about basic designs, but also gain knowledge of alternative models like cargo bikes. That means you’ll be able to have experiences with all kinds of bikes. The frame-builders at CAT make a constant effort to build with experimental character.

Everyday together we’ve enjoyed openly discussing various issues about building bikes. We have realized that by sharing our ideas we can tap our unlimited potential. If you’ve been interested in making cargo bikes, I guarantee it’ll be a very valuable time for you.

For More Information about the Apprenticeship program, click here.

Interested in our apprenticeship program? Our next session begins July 15th, 2010. For details, please see our Apprenticeship Information page>

Welding is one of the skills taught at CAT.

You’ve probably heard of UBI and Barnett. Now the Center for Appropriate Transport (CAT) and Human Powered Machines (HPM) are introducing the first cargo frame building school in the States.  Started in 1990, Human Powered Machines led the current revival of cargo bikes, trikes and trailers in the USA. This program will provide three apprentices per session with the skills necessary to replicate all or portions of the original CAT Oregon.

Some of what apprentices get:

• A Long Haul cargo bike frameset (self-made).
• What it takes to run a cargo courier business.
• Skills to manufacture and assemble HPM products. Apprentices will be invited to be part of a federation of decentralized fabricators (a microfranchise).
• Experience with youth programs such as Mobile School Presentations, Trips for Kids and Valet Parking.
• Training in how to run a workspace rental shop.

Instructors:

The primary instructor, Jan VanderTuin, has a broad background in cargo vehicles.  In the early 80’s he traveled throughout Western Europe researching the subject.  He put together an extensive collection of information from around the world and became convinced that cargo bikes would do well in the USA. Since 1982, Jan has designed over a hundred unique vehicles for fun, for the alter-abled, and for cargo needs. He disagrees with the shipping of bikes around the world and has taught frame building classes to hundreds of students in Eugene. His favorite quote: “give a person a fish and they eat for a day. Teach a person to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.”

Other instructors include staff proficient at fabrication, sewing, business, distribution, retail and publishing.

When?

July 15th 2009 – December 15th 2009

How much?

Apprentices will pay for training, fixtures, and usage of designs, depending on their individual plan. CAT offers on-site housing to apprentices.

Basic tuition: $5000 (Room and board is not included).

For more information, contact us at (541) 344-1197 or email cat@catoregon.org

Build this trailer at CAT!

The Center for Appropriate Transport (CAT) and Human Powered Machines (HPM) is offering a series of workshops on building high-quality bicycle trailers. Participants will learn basic fabrication skills and come away with a finished trailer frame and hitch. The next workshop series will run on Saturdays in March from 1-5 PM at CAT.

Students taking the class will learn:

• How to miter tubing (cut it to fit against other tubes)
• How to braze
• How to use hand tools and power tools used in the building of this trailer
• Other related skills

The cost will start at $400 for instruction and materials to build a basic, unpainted trailer frame with hitch.

About the trailer

The basic trailer is 2’ x 3’ and can carry 250 lbs. Practically any bicycle can pull it. The hitch attaches to the seat post and the trailer quick-connects in a second. Optional extras include a basic wooden box, a flat bed in plywood or aluminum tread plate, or a Pedalers Express-style fiberglass container (two used containers are currently available). Powdercoating for the frame is also available.