This article was taken from the March 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
<p style="text-align: left;" class="REGULARSExchange-BodyCopyJustified">Ever tried strapping a surfboard to a bicycle? It's awkward. The Donky Bike, from London-based industrial designer Ben Wilson, aims to make carrying heavy loads on a bicycle easier, thanks to a range of detachable frames. "There's going to be a surfboard rack, a people-carrier rack and a ladder attachment," he says. "My friends are artists who want to move paintings, so we'll have an attachment for those, too."
<p style="text-align: left;" class="REGULARSExchange-BodyCopyJustified">Inspired by the durable butcher's bike of the 30s, the Donky also steals tricks from the BMX's cranks, handlebars and wheels. Wilson made the first prototype in two days in his workshop. "I got an old bike, got on the welder and hacked it -- very Heath Robinson," the 36-year-old says. A steel beam runs through the middle of the final bicycle, ending in the detachable cargo racks at the front and rear. At £499, the bike is intended to help users perform extensive tasks, be they the weekly shop or taking their dogs to work. "I like to think of it as the pick-up truck of bicycles."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
