For Real: Pedal Powered Snow Plow
Kevin Blake, who by day is an engineer at Trek Bicycles, came up with the idea of using pedal power to push show about 13 years ago. In 1993 Blake built a recumbent commuter tricycle with a friend and remembers thinking “could I put a blade on the front and push snow?”
His friend was skeptical about it working at all because of traction and weight issues with the light weight trike. Undeterred, Blake figured that if he could “snowplow” with a regular shovel then it should be possible to use the legs in a pedaling motion to do the same thing.
It took another eight years for Blake to acquire a junked Craftsman riding lawnmower to use for the chassis of his brainchild snowplow. Every time he shoveled snow in those eight years he would think about his pedal plow. Then one day while watching the show “Monster Garage” he was inspired. He immediately turned off the TV and started sketching some ideas for the snowplow. Within four months (Oct ’03 – Jan ‘04) of working after hours and week-ends Blake had a functional machine.
The machine was built with what Blake calls “bench-top engineering.” According to Blake: “I started by putting the lawn mower chassis on the work bench and going from there. For example, I sat on the machine, put my feet up on imaginary pedals and realized that the frame of the mower were too bulky. So I removed the gearbox, rear wheels, front wheels, and steering linkages from the mower frame. I then arranged them on the floor and laid out a steel frame that would tie the pieces together.”
After some cutting, welding and bolting Blake had a frame with wheels that he could sit on. Even better, it worked! The joke in the Blake household was Blake calling his wife to make sure she didn’t shovel the driveway before he got home so he could plow it with his invention.
What’s next? Now that Blake’s invention has been awarded a runner up prize in Specialized “Innovate or Die” contest, he figures the next version of his snowplow machine will be designed with computer aided design software.
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Sue Says:
So … will any more of these bad boys be produced? :D :D
Rebecca Says:
Good question and it’s possible.
Babs Says:
I would like one of those. How successful is it at plowing? Money here if it works well.
Backcountry.com: The Goat » Blog Archive » Pedal Powered Snowplow Great for Commuting, Too Says:
[…] Wisconsinite (real word) took home second place in the Specialized Innovate or Die contest for his pedal-powered snowplow. I’m surprised he won at all—or was even allowed to enter—since he’s an engineer for Trek […]
Rebecca Says:
I’m not surprised at all; Specialized has long had an advocacy director and they they did a nice job in picking the best ideas in the Innovate or Die contest.
Btw, the snowplow made the evening news in Wisco last week where even those of us sick of shoveling wouldn’t mind the chore with one of these babies.
Gill Printemps Says:
I would like to purchase one
The Sietch Blog » Another Sweet Use Of A Bicycle: The Bicycle Snow Plow Says:
[…] It took another eight years for Blake to acquire a junked Craftsman riding lawnmower to use for the chassis of his brainchild snowplow. Every time he shoveled snow in those eight years he would think about his pedal plow. Then one day while watching the show “Monster Garage” he was inspired. He immediately turned off the TV and started sketching some ideas for the snowplow. Within four months (Oct ’03 – Jan ‘04) of working after hours and week-ends Blake had a functional machine. (via) […]
Aaron Says:
Congratulations on an impressive machine.
Though I was very sad that this snowplow had beat my transformation trike in the Google/Trek contest.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JpiwDQr7OTs
I hope you can outsell the gas-snowplows soon.
rod anderson Says:
What is the deepest snow that can successfully be plowed? Is he planning to put a blade on the front that can be swiveled? Inquiring nortwoods minds would like to know.
swell Says:
HOLY HOT HOT HOT I WANT ONE