Introducing the ‘Hydrofiets’

The Hydrofiets-7

The Hydrofiets is an artistic and functional cargo bike.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)


Say hello to the “Hydrofiets,” the latest creation from Portland-based builder Tom LaBonty. The bike was commissioned by Woodlawn neighborhood resident Ethan Jewett for use by his company Stickeen Brand Services.

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Ethan Jewett was art director on the project.

The idea behind the bike is simple: To provide clean filtered tap water at events. Currently Jewett is putting the bike to use for one of his clients, Klean Kanteen. The bike fits with their mission to discourage the purchase of single-use water bottles.

The bike is outfitted with high-quality plumbing components and hoses that attach directly to any water spigot. From there, the water runs through two filtering tanks and up and out of four nozzles on the large, wooden countertop. To keep customers cool, the Hydrofiets has a large umbrella that cranks up from a sturdy stand just in front of the handlebars. The bike features tons of classy and custom touches throughout. From the wave-pattern and wood on the countertop and main triangle, to the custom chain-steering system LaBonty created just for this bike.

Get a closer look in the photos below…

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In classic LaBonty style, he used one of Jewett’s old MTB frames to create the main chassis. Jewett says LaBonty executed his ideas perfectly. “When I met with Tom, I told him the vision and aesthetic we were going for… an art bike, like something that would belong on New Belgium’s Tour de Fat.”

LaBonty has gained a national following since his “hillbilly” cargo bikes first hit the Internet just over three years ago. This is LaBonty’s 59th bike. Next month, LaBonty will fly to Dallas, Texas, to give a Cargo Bike Build Workshop as part of the month long Cyclesomatic 2012 event.

The Hydrofiets is just the latest in a long line of locally made cargo bikes that blend form, function and everyday use into an effective business marketing tool. With beer, coffee, and now water, we’ve got all three essential liquids covered.

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(Nice work Ethan and Tom! It’s beautiful!)

— Jewett says he’ll be looking to set up the Hydrofiets at big street parties along the Sunday Parkways route this weekend. If you miss it out there, it will be stored at Velo Cult Bike Shop on NE 42nd in Hollywood.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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whyat
whyat
11 years ago

Such a piece of art. Frickin’ awesome.

Ethan
11 years ago

If anyone out there is having a big streetside party on the East Portland Sunday Parkways route, I’ll do my best to have it there (just needs a spigot). We’re planning to accept Sky Boyer’s generous offer and store/display her at VeloCult starting next week. Come by and check it out.

John Lascurettes
11 years ago

Both brilliant and beautiful. I love it.

A.K.
A.K.
11 years ago

Very cool! A nice change of pace from the usual beer hauler.

pabstslut
pabstslut
11 years ago

Nice! Tom has really raised his game from his earlier models in terms of details and finish work.

Schrauf
Schrauf
11 years ago

Is the idea with the heavy-duty filters that the water source will often be delivered via a garden hose not normally approved for consumption? Or is this just a concept design, since our tap water is pretty damn safe, or maybe it is intended for post-disaster use?

Cool, regardless.

Spiffy
11 years ago
Reply to  Schrauf

there’s going to be a lot of anti-fluoride people that won’t want to drink the unfiltered tap water…

resopmok
resopmok
11 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

afaik portland water is non-fluorinated, for now.

Nate
11 years ago
Reply to  Schrauf

Carbon filtration removes clorine and cloramines commonly added to municipal water, as well as addressing taste and odor issues. supply water must be potable drinking water, food grade hose is used. Unfortunately Carbon filters do not remove Flouride :(.

Nate
11 years ago
Reply to  Nate

Chlorine, chloramine, Fluoride. Since I never drink em I forgot how to spell em.

C3
C3
11 years ago
Reply to  Nate

If you drink Portland tap water, you’re drinking Chlorine (& maybe chloramine). If one (or two chemicals is enough for y’all) – Vote NO on Fluoridated water in Portland – please.
~ Beautiful bike! Can someone make one that carries kombucha?

Kurt Kemmerer
Kurt Kemmerer
11 years ago
Reply to  Nate

In Portland water?

Ethan
11 years ago

Good question Schrauf. Food grade hoses are very common and are used by Food Carts all over town (RV technology).

Ben
11 years ago

Overall a really cool concept, and good ascetics, but I think the welds and chain steering system look terrible.

Jonathan Braddick
11 years ago

Thanks for the mention, it really means a lot coming from Dallas, TX and the Oak Cliff neighborhood. We can’t wait to have Tom here and let everyone know how talented he is. Also, thanks to Joe Biel for doing the documentary and Dinner and Bikes that helped me learn all about the Portland bicycle scene.

Bill Stites
11 years ago

Beautiful bike Tom! and Ethan! Whatever the cost was, I almost guarantee it was underpriced – there is a ton of work in there.

It will be interesting to see how that cable/chain steering works out. I’ve tried it before, and it didn’t work very well – just too much stretchiness. After being disappointed with the heaviest brake cables I could find, I DOUBLED them up – whole ‘nother pair of cables operating independently from the first pair. I felt good about the redundency of this system for safety, but was shocked that it still felt really noodly.
It may be worth looking into using chain the whole way, but not sure there is a clear path for this.

dmc
dmc
11 years ago
Reply to  Bill Stites

Interesting Bill. I am curious how this system handles.

Sunny
Sunny
11 years ago
Reply to  Bill Stites

Safety wise, if the cables do fail, the rider won’t be flung forward and over the handlebars like a regular bike.

b
b
11 years ago
Reply to  Sunny

they would be steered off the road instead.

basketloverd
basketloverd
11 years ago
Reply to  Bill Stites

Braided cables have far less stretch.

Spiffy
11 years ago

very classy looking… I love the use of a Schwinn style cruiser frame where the lines continue into the front and blend in…

I also like the use of the mesh… and the wood with the green, and the chrome…

Linda Ginenthal
11 years ago

How much water does it hold?

Ethan
11 years ago

Linda, It carries a filtration system, not tankage. It hooks up to a hose bib or (eventually) a fire hydrant.

Tom
Tom
11 years ago

I’m getting a bunch of credit for this build, but I have to point out that as my most challenging build, I had a lot of help. For the first time I brought on a full time partner, Seth Burke, who shared the design work and did all the woodwork (using reclaimed fencing & window blinds). Also, all the badges & metal cut outs were designed and provided by Ethan and his crew.

Ethan Jewett
11 years ago

A very good point Tom. I need to credit Chris Leiter on our team for his amazing graphic work, and US Pure Water in Marin for the filtration system. All that said, Tom was the one responsible for taking words and sketches and translating a concept into reality.

seth burke
seth burke
11 years ago

thanks to tom for letting me play bike builder with him.
this hydrofiets project was a blast to work on. from the onset i knew this was going to be toms most artistic build to date. finding just the right bends to accent the feeling of water flowing through the bike was a fun challenge. and to do so without cluttering the frame with extra metal or steering rods led us to think far outside the box, as such the cable steering was run up and over the filters under the recycled wood decking to help provide clean lines and a pleasing visual image of an artistic yet functioning bike. and more a bike with a health conscious intent.
we knew from the get go that this machine was never intended for racing nor long distance rides, rather the customers stated intent that this bike stay in the pdx area and be used to filter water for folks at local public events where bottled water just leads to waste. and most people would love to fill the bike bottle they already have on their bike rather than shell out money on a disposable piece of plastic, right.
while the welds are not NAHBBS quality and his style may be a bit hillbilly, i found working with tom to be a great opportunity to explore how fun bike designing and building can be. after all,
bike riding should put a smile on your face.

if you are not familiar with tom and his whimsical fun recycled cargo bikes, do your self a favor and look at where he is going with safe, practical, affordable, completely original and recycled bikes. you may just get one for yourself…

thanks. seth burke. design partner on the hydofiets project.
tom, i look forward to more projects down the bike path….

Spiffy
11 years ago

all it needs is a trailer to carry a pressurized water supply…

Sunny
Sunny
11 years ago

The bottle return for plastic water bottles is 5 cents in Oregon.

resopmok
resopmok
11 years ago

a co2 tank to make some soda water would be a really nice addition to the design, if possible. probably a bit too much extra weight after all that water eh?

Kurt Kemmerer
Kurt Kemmerer
11 years ago
Reply to  resopmok

It appears that the bike doesn’t really carry water, or much water. But if one got rid of the filter system, which seems to be no problem around here, adding some co2 seems plausible.

Kurt Kemmerer
Kurt Kemmerer
11 years ago

Awesome bicycle, and awesome purpose. Although, in Portland, why does the tap water need to be filtered?

IanC
IanC
11 years ago

That is a work of art. Amazing job, builders. Thank you to the purchaser for commissioning such a stylish, unique piece.

drew
drew
11 years ago

Thats a beautiful rolling artwork, I imagine it took a long time to bring it from idea to reality. Portland has some great tap water coming from the bull run watershed, but I would be interested in trying it filtered to see if any difference.
I have used cable steering (single brake cable with pulleys from Frances cycles) on my cargo bike for 2 years, and found that it works great up to 100lbs of cargo. More weight than that I find causes friction to build in the cable housing… the steering develops play, and is harder to turn. Minimizing housing runs helps a lot. Cable steering is a great solution for baks that don’t carry people (adults) or really heavy loads. For me its been trouble free for about 8K miles so far; I cleaned and lubed the cables a few times, but they didn’t even seem to need that maintenance.

Alan 1.0
Alan 1.0
11 years ago

I found it across from Glenwood Park, almost at the end of my ride (I shudda gone clockwise ;). Delicious water, great pressure and really nice spigots made it easy to fill just about any shape container. I looked around for Ethan but didn’t see him, it was just locked there attracting loads of curious attention. I explained the potable water hose and filters to a couple and they instantly got the “no throw away plastic” part. Thanks for the drink! Beautiful sculpture/machine!

EthanPDX
EthanPDX
11 years ago

I took the family out for a loop (they were getting restless). Sorry I missed you Alan.

Alan 1.0
Alan 1.0
11 years ago
Reply to  EthanPDX

I’m glad you got to go ride with your family! What a really nice day!

The Hydrofiet did great as “installation art” all by itself, garnering loads of curious looks. The location was excellent. People tended to look but not touch, though, when it was all alone. Once I filled my bottles, several other people followed my lead. Maybe a sign on the bartop, “Free Water, help yourself,” would loosen them up. Anyway, total success for a wonderful idea!

BTW, just curious whether you pedaled it down and back? (I admit I drove to the ride.)

DK
DK
11 years ago

Love it!
No electric assist? …Downhill bike! 😉

EthanPDX
EthanPDX
11 years ago

I had to get two cargo bikes on course so I did borrow a van to get it there. With the new cranks it actually get around fine. I agree it needs clear signage. Klean Kanteen has some sweet “Free Water” flags, which would do the trick.

Alan 1.0
Alan 1.0
11 years ago
Reply to  EthanPDX

I noticed the cranks…sweet!

RyNO Dan
RyNO Dan
11 years ago

Refuse Single-Use. That’s awesome. “Avoid single-use items” is too wordy and awkward. I’m glad there’s someone else out there !