Despite all our technological achievements, humans still spend a lot of time waiting around for trains. Add a stiff winter breeze to the injury of commuting, and you’ve got a classic recipe for misery. [George Barratt-Jones] decided to inject some warmth into this scene by inviting people to knit a free scarf for themselves by riding a bike.
All a person has to do is ride the Cyclo-Knitter for five minutes and marvel at their handiwork. By the time the scarf is finished, they’ve cycled past being cold, and they have something to hold in the warmth. Cyclo-Knitter is essentially an Addi Express knitting machine being belt-driven by a stationary bike. Power is transferred from the bike through large, handmade wooden gears using old bike tire inner tubes as belts. [George] built a wooden tower to hold the machine and give the growing scarf a protected space to dangle.
We love the utility of this project as much as the joy it inspires in everyone who tries it. Check out their scarves and their reactions after the break. We haven’t seen people this happy to see something they weren’t expecting since that billboard that kills Zika mosquitoes.
Via [r/woodworking]
So, what prevents it from being destroyed by vandalism?
It’s in the Netherlands…?
Oh, we have plenty of morons here in the Netherlands.
I’ve been many times in The Netherlands, and yes, even vandalism exists there.
Guess that’s a world wide problem, right?
Neat project!
Technically the term came from Europe. Ask the late-empire Romans.
Human decency? So, nothing I guess… Except maybe the guy standing next to it, nothing will ever prevent anyone of destroying/damaging anything. But yeah, those thin pieces of wood would be so easy to kick through tough.
And be forever labeled as the guy who broke the dude who broke the cool knitting machine?
Only if your photo got on twitter.
I don’t think it’s really a problem there are also pianos at the train stations.
There is an ED 209 present just outside of view of the camera to teach those pesky vandalists a lesson they will not forget.
B^)
I had to G*****gle it.
http://robocop.wikia.com/wiki/Enforcement_Droid_Series_209
Kids these days. They don’t even know about things that happened before they were born.
What’s that? Yes, computers always existed, why do you ask?
Highly unlikely the Dutch railways would allow a permanent structure on their platforms so it is probably mobile. And of course supervised while in operation.
The project page has a picture of it disassembled and on a small hand cart outside of the station. So yes, I’d say you’re correct.
Scarfs. In June. R u serious?
If you watched the video you’d see everyone was wearing clothes for cold weather, if you went to the vimeo page you’d see it’s four months old.
Perfect weather for scarves.
Apparently you can get a hand crank knitting machine for $30. Time to make something!
You could embed your own wires and create “e-textiles”
I’m a knitting and a “maker” (redundant) and I love to see projects like this. I continue to hand knit but I love to see it mixed creatively to allow people to connect to making their products again. A related talk that is another example of knitting and technology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xoowbbzxTA
What could happen if you managed to program that machine to print two coloured and patterned scarves! Great post.
Eindhoven Station even. Like, right around the corner! :)
They should take advantage of more modern technology. They can place the machine near a river and set up a water wheel to turn the drive mechanism.
I can see someone peddling furiously to make a scarf for the cold until WHAM! – it gets caught in the bike wheel and (to be continued…)
Just thought I’d leave you “hanging”…
You might say that such a person was “Duncaned” in the mishap!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isadora_Duncan
Time to update the health clubs. Awesome business model. I charge my customers to use the equipment to exercise and run a knitting company out of the backroom. My customers do all the work for me!!! BRILLIANT.