CU professor's e-bike featured on PBS show
Three Cedarville academic programs collaborated to produce a wooden electric bicycle that will be featured on “The American Woodshop” on March 24, 2018.
Jay Kinsinger, associate professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering, will be featured this spring in an episode of the PBS series for do-it-yourselfers, “The American Woodshop.” The episode will cover the design and construction of Kinsinger’s walnut wood e-bicycle.
“The American Woodshop,” hosted by Scott and Suzy Phillips, highlights innovative woodshop projects throughout the United States. The episode featuring Kinsinger is set to air March 24, 2018.
Electric bicycles, known as e-bikes, combine pedal power with an electric energy boost. As the rider exerts more force, the motor makes it easier to pedal; the motor multiplies the energy input.
The wooden frame makes for a beautiful look and a smooth ride, since the wood absorbs the road vibrations. “It is a piece of artwork you can ride, like the Ferrari of bicycles,” said Kinsinger.
Under Kinsinger’s leadership, industrial and innovative design, mechanical engineering and business students produce e-bicycles made of walnut wood. The industrial and innovative design team works closely with the mechanical engineers to develop an attractive yet functional design. The business students handle the marketing, accounting and social media logistics of the project. These students are developing an online business called Sojourn Cyclery and have already sold several e-bikes.
From start to finish, it takes approximately 80 hours to create one e-bike.
During summer 2017, Mark D. Weinstein, executive director of public relations, cycled 240 miles on a Cedarville e-bike in the “Right to Life” ride. The charity ride began at the University of Notre Dame and finished at the University of Dayton.
Kinsinger has built wooden bicycles for the past seven years. Several of his bicycles were published in the 2017 book “The Wooden Bicycle: Around the World” by Kiriakos Iosifidis.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.