3D-gedruckt und geklebt statt geschweisst – So ein Bike gab's noch nie
Robert Janssen lives in Rüdlingen in Schaffhausen, is a trained mechatronics engineer and works as a business economist. He has been working on a mountain bike that can be adapted precisely to the rider's physique for some time. He made decisive progress on his project during the coronavirus summer. He is now riding his first hardtail called No.One, which he plans to sell from 2022. It still needs to undergo tests to confirm its fatigue strength in accordance with the ISO standard. He is trying to finance two more frames for this test via wemakeit.com. The crowdfunding campaign runs until Wednesday, November 24.
Robert, you want to offer your No.One hardtail bike in 30 different sizes. How does that work?
"Helvetica Neue";mso-ansi-language:DE-CH;mso-fareast-language:DE;mso-bidi-language:
AR-SA">My frame consists of tubes and sleeves. There are different angles and tube lengths in the frame for each frame size, and I can then assemble the individual frame parts in such a way that there are 30 sizes in total. I summarize this in a size matrix.
Why does a single bike need 30 different sizes?
Most major manufacturers offer their frames in S, M, L and XL. They take no account of body type - some have long legs and a short torso or vice versa, others have particularly long arms and all this in different body sizes. My size matrix offers the right frame for every body type - depending on your preference, even a little more playful with a shorter reach or longer for racers.
How did you come up with this idea?
When I was looking for a new bike and researching geometries, I noticed how the big manufacturers ignore the body shape. Then I started experimenting, first in CAD on the computer, then I built my first bike.
The construction of your frames is also quite special. Please explain!
I use precision stainless steel tubes as the frame material and adapt them accordingly to connect them later with 3D-printed aluminum sleeves. I then use industrial construction adhesive as a connector. I use tubes with square and rectangular cross-sections in the rear section, which offer a certain amount of flex.
You glue instead of welding. What is the advantage?
The high temperature differences when welding aluminum, for example, weaken the frame around the area of the weld seam. Welding is also extremely energy-intensive, partly because of the associated processes to relieve the internal stresses that arise. The industrial adhesive, on the other hand, hardens at 65 degrees Celsius within two hours.
Sustainable production is important to me. That's why I use steel tubes instead of aluminum. My design also allows me to manufacture the frames entirely in Switzerland. A company in Bern manufactures the sleeves, I get the tubes from a company in Lupfig and I have the strikingly curved seat tube bent by a specialist in Birmensdorf. I assemble the frames in Rüdlingen.How heavy is the bike?
In the low-cost configuration with SRAM GX groupset 12.6 kilograms, without pedals. With carbon wheels and handlebars as well as high-end components, you can save around 1.5 kilos.
How expensive will your bike be?
I'm still working on reducing the price. As things stand at the moment, the frame costs 3600 francs and the complete bike 5900 francs. My goal is to be able to offer the complete bike for under 5,000 francs and the frame for under 3,000 francs.
Who can afford a hardtail for this price?It's a niche product, that's for sure. I have a few interested parties and I received a lot of positive feedback at Cycle Week. But I'm curious to see if I'll be successful with it myself.
What are the advantages of a hardtail?
The simplicity and low weight are important advantages. A hardtail frame is practically maintenance-free, unlike a suspension rear triangle. I find the riding characteristics very interesting. You can feel every stone and every root. Anyone who has only ridden a fullie for a long time learns to ride a hardtail in a new way. I often ride a hardtail, even on alpine single trails and in the bike park. I even jump drops with it.
What do you do if you can't raise the money for the test frames via the crowdfunding campaign?
It will then take a little longer before I can build the frames for certification. So it probably won't be enough to sell the first frames in spring 2022, but in 2023 instead. But I will launch the No.One on the market one way or another.
In English, "vain" means futile, vain, useless. What do you want to say with your brand name?
Vain was my nickname that friends gave me many years ago, it came about as a play on words from "who cares". Of course I'm always asked about it, in the sense of: "Is the name the program?" The name certainly gets people talking and that's a good thing.