"The bicycle is the noblest invention of mankind"
-William Saroyan
ABOUT US
We are a student-run Mechanical Engineering club out of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. We are dedicated to learning and teaching modern methods of bicycle frame building to other students at Cal Poly.
Our mission is to give students at Cal Poly experience in the design and manufacturing process of bicycle frames and components. Through our club, any student with an idea for a bicycle can design and ultimately fabricate it. We teach 3D modeling, welding techniques, composite construction, and more to any student who wants to learn. As a result of our unique interests, we are the world’s first collegiate student-run club dedicated to the design and construction of bikes.
In addition to helping students build their own bikes, we collaborate on club projects for our annual exhibit at the North American Handmade Bike Show (NAHBS). NAHBS is an international bike show that attracts cycling enthusiasts from around the world. It is one of the largest cycling shows in the world, and is an incredible opportunity to garner attention for our school. Last year, the show was held in Hartford, CT where we displayed a carbon fiber road bike. This was the first carbon fiber bike frame ever made at Cal Poly. We conducted research with professors and sought advice from industry professionals to learn what was required to complete this project. We went through many trials and iterations of all the processes to refine each part before manufacturing the full frame.
As our club grows, so do our goals. This year, NAHBS will be held in Sacramento, and we are looking to use our home field advantage. We will showcase several bikes made by students in the club, as well as a full suspension downhill mountain bike. The downhill bike will be designed and built by dedicated club members working as a team to showcase the club’s talent. In addition, we have implemented a design review process to develop the majority of the components on the bike. To showcase Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” motto, we are also designing and manufacturing nearly every component on the bike.
Contact Us
1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93410
Contact us at:
Club Meetings:
Mondays, 7-8 PM
Virtual: Zoom Meeting (Link on Slack or email)