Snowbike Project

"The first ride was really exhilarating, because after several unsuccessful experimental construction attempts, finally the concept works well. After having tried with a snowboard, as well as with two skis side by side, to finally use only one ski for maneuverability reasons"

My main motivation in making this post is to give you the idea of using the iMac stand, if you have one in your closet that is no longer used. Be careful when disassembling the stand, it requires some skill in handling cutting tools, because this iMac is very well built.

- An iMac stand

- wheel axle with bolt or quick release.

- screws of your choice.

- a single ski cut to the length you want.

- A board of maple wood preferably, oil painted

- Voilà!

The most difficult part to find is the stand that attaches to the fork... the iMac stand. Without this piece, this project would never have been possible, it is thanks to this discovery that the idea came to my mind... hey why not put a ski on it! All other parts are according to your bike, what type of fork ect. For example, at the top of the stand, behind and between the two suspension arms, I installed a kind of suspension which prevents the stand from moving but with a certain rebound. To do this I used metal pipe that I cut the same length as the rod which is used to hold everything in place, which I covered with rubber (cut tire tube)

Very important! It will be necessary to respect the direction of the stand, this allows you to swing with the other suspension correctly and will prevent you from tipping too far backwards, and for a better suspension you can put elastic, so I drilled holes in front and back and then screwed pins allowing me to hang an elastic on the fork. The ski is a simple ski that I cut just long enough to balance, I decided to use a manual hacksaw to challenge it but you can use an electric saw that can cut the blades on either side ski.

The elastic, sturdy with covered metal tiphangs, on the bottom part of the suspension and on any suspension fork there is a small hole which is used to install a reflector or some light, then it is on this anchoring point that it is possible to hang the elastic (optional) This is to prevent the ski from checking too much.

On the top, I decided to cover with a board cut and painted in a hard wood preferably, because you will have to drill to pass your fastening bolts. To assemble the stand on the ski, you will have to improvise a bit, either you can use metal brackets or solid wood (it's better anti-rust metal) So underneath the ski, use flat head screws made of bevel to be able to embed them inside.Also at the top of the stand we have the fixing of the fork, There we must find an axis of the right length to pass through the hinge holes which before were used to support a heavy iMac computer screen, so it is sturdy, really solid, surprisingly solid and perfectly the right diameter for the axle of the wheel, then you have the grip on the axle adjusted according to your material.Ultimately you will be able to install a lamp, but solidly, because the area is slightly turbulent.

This is optional, it's a modified part that comes from a scooter that acts as an emergency brake, but it's rather decorative.

It's about showing you the brackets below, how I arranged them. so imagine your way of assembling the ski with the stand, the sky is the limit. I used what I had on hand, two very solid brackets that I cut so that they could enter under the stand where I wanted.