Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines!: Blog

Electric bike journey, DeltaRunner Trike coming soon

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:55:03 GMT

Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machines

Custom bike building, robots, gadgets and garage hackers unite!

Electric bike journey, DeltaRunner Trike coming soon

September 4, 2008

Yikes! The summer is closing in fast. Just seemed like we got some nice weather and the cold temperatures have suddenly moved in. What happened to summer? Methinks it forgot about us here. Oh well, Brad has been able to get many projects done this summer, and three or four slated for this fall. He is currently writing the DeltaRunner Trike. It’s similar to the DeltaWolf Speed Trike with a higher seating position, front suspension and a 26 inch front wheel. The DeltaRunner plan should be available for download in a couple of days.

Last week we had an interesting visitor, Justin Lemire. He’s on a cross-country journey from British Columbia to Halifax, Nova Scotia on an electric bike, over 6,500 km. He happened to email us last week as he drove into our city and came over that night. He and Brad chatted for hours about bikes, electronics, environmental issues and the Atomic Zombie way of doing things to increase recycling, thinking outside the box and boosting interest in garage hacking and getting “back to basics”.

We offered the use of our Duct Tape Palace tent trailer so Justin could get a well deserved night’s rest. He has a hammock and sleeping bag, stopping along the TransCanada Highway catching some sleep when he can. He left BC in late July and expects to be in Halifax by the end of September. After a good sleep, a light breakfast, and another two-hour chat, he was on his way, accompanied by Brad on his Silent Speedster Electric Scooter to show Justin the way back to Highway 17 east.

It was a great visit, and we hope to keep in touch with Justin. He has so many amazing stories and pictures of his journey. Hope he writes a book or detailed blog once he returns to BC. It’s a once in a lifetime chance to travel this great country and meet all sorts of people. Glad he took the chance to fire off an email to us (thanks, Joshua for suggesting he contact the Atomic Zombie krew).

Also, recently updated the Builders Gallery . Many awesome recumbents, choppers, trikes, tall bikes, electric bikes, tandems and crazy bikes. Another update will be online next week. This is turning into a full-time job!

http://www.ATOMICZOMBIE.com

Vigilante Chopper, Marauder Reloaded, LodeRunner Trike, Tradewinds Tandem, and more!

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:39:22 GMT

As you can tell by the title of this entry, the Atomic Zombie garage has been very busy. Three new projects have been completed over the past month, and a new addition to be finished over the next few days. Might as well take advantage of the weather while it lasts. So much rain over the past four months; it's a miracle how much is being done to catch up.

We really haven't been doing much else except trying to get as many projects done as possible. The summer is so short here. Brad is writing the TourMaster Long Wheel Base Recumbent right now, and hope to have it online later this week.

Last week, we finally got some video footage for the Vigilante Chopper. The final pictures also turned out very well!

If the weather holds up, we will be doing some videos this week for Marauder, LodeRunner and Tradewinds, too. Maybe after the TourMaster is done we'll take a couple of days to relax and enjoy the summer while it lasts.

The gardens are growing amazingly well. Should be a bountiful harvest this fall for corn and potatoes. The only bad part is the constant weeding that has to be done. It's good exercise, though. We have been doing some biking lately. It feels good to get out in the fresh air and just enjoy the sunshine. Even a half hour ride is worth it. Soon enough we'll be complaining about the cold and snow, so get out there and make the most of the season!

Marauder Reloaded done, Lode Runner Delta Trike very soon!

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:30:31 GMT

Whoa! Over a month ago we still had snow, but today, the grass is green, flowers in full bloom...ahh, yes, summer is finally on the way. What a difference a month makes. Still pretty chilly most evenings with occasional frost, but the veggie garden is growing quite well. Many tulips and daffodils still in full bloom. Still leery about putting in the tomato plants until the weekend, where we should have temps in the high 70's to mid-80's. Not too shabby.

Our latest book, Bike, Scooter and Chopper Projects for the Evil Genius, came out late last month, and Brad with his World Record SkyCycle (2003) was featured in a new book on Page 6 entitled, Crazy Canadian Trivia 3 by Pat Hancock, published by Scholastic Canada Ltd., ISBN 978-0-545-99995-3. It's a really neat book with loads of interesting stuff. Wish we had something like this when we were kids. Did you know that actor James Doohan (Enterprise engineer "Scotty" in the Star Trek TV series and movies) was a Canadian whose cremated ashes were launched into space last year? Now you do!

It's been a very busy month in the garage. The Marauder Reloaded recumbent is done, and the Lode Runner Delta Trike should be painted this weekend. The Marauder is a new and improved design of the original 2003 Marauder Lowracer featured in Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza. The Lode Runner Delta Trike is designed to support heavier riders who want to be at eye level with motorized vehicles and also for hauling cargo.

Since many of us feel more stable riding trikes as we get older, the Lode Runner is a great bike for short and long haul rides, with two rear disc brakes and parking brake. Should be taking it for a test ride tomorrow, then priming and painting over the weekend. I like the seat and rear cargo area. Might as well take advantage of the cooler temps right now, since the garage will be in the 90's and over 100 in late July.

Once the final pics are done, Brad plans to hide in his room for a few days writing them up. They will be available for download in a week or so. Stay tuned to the forum for announcements. Been reading about the nasty weather affecting our southern neighbors in the US. Hope you are doing OK. Our thoughts are with you.

Marauder Reloaded almost done

Sat, 03 May 2008 22:39:32 GMT

It's a dreary day, some snow in the morning and rain, but still chilly. It's been raining for over a day, but the sun is finally trying to come out, although it's too late in the day to really get out there and enjoy it. Still need to wear a warm jacket.

Yes, it's hard to believe that a few days in the garage means another bike is nearing completion. What a change from a month ago when we were still getting snow and sub-zero temperatures. Brad spent an entire weekend cleaning and re-organizing the garage, then started right away on the Marauder Reloaded. He's been working on this design for well over a year.

Since last month, we finished up some minor house renovations and gearing up for this season's building extravaganza. A bit behind on the build schedule, but hope to have the Lode Runner Delta Trike done in June, followed by the Black Pearl Chopper.

Still no update on the second payment processor on the store due to more delays. Wish we could do that stuff ourselves; it would be done by now. But, have to wait a little longer for them to get it together. In the meantime, payments are still being accepted through PayPal or with a credit card.

The Builder's Gallery was recently updated with dozens of awesome creations, so check it out.

Not much more to report right now, but stay tuned for the unveiling of the new Marauder Reloaded Lowracer in the next few weeks.

Tonight's dinner will be Chicken Almond Khorma, recipe courtesy of our forum member TheVictim. This is the second time I've made it, and it's easy, as well as delicious. We welcome anyone to post their favorite recipes, too.

The Garage Opens This Week

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:11:47 GMT

Well, here we are, supposedly in spring, but Mother Nature isn't co-operating. We, like many parts of the world, are still having snow, cold temperatures, freezing rain, and basically unfriendly cycling weather. Brad is getting anxious to start cleaning the garage, but the backyard is still full of snow and mud spots, so hope the sun will shine all week long. Maybe we will actually have a nice spring after all? Let's hope so, although last April we got several feet of snow dumped on us.

To cope with this seemingly long winter, we worked on and launched a new Support Forum and Atomic Zombie store. The new software are much more user friendly, organized and loaded with features. But, we were unable to import previous forum members and customers into the new database, so you must re-register (it takes seconds) on both systems. Sometimes old and new technology don't get along.

The store doesn't require that you log in to your customer account get your downloadable project links - you will receive them automatically in an email from the store once your payment is successfully processed. The entire ordering, checkout and download link receipt is quick and easy.

We are working on some issues with the second payment processor (hope to have it fixed this week), but for now, you can still pay with PayPal. You can pay with a credit card, and don't need to have a PayPal account. If you aren't a fan of PayPal, rest assured, you don't have to become a member of that payment processor to pay for purchases.

Many projects on the Atomic Zombie To Do list, but have had to push up tentative release dates due to the late spring. Here's what's tentatively coming up this spring, summer and fall:

Marauder Reloaded (April)
Lode Runner Delta Trike (May)
Black Pearl Chopper (June)
Tandem Inline Delta Trike (July)
Tandem Electric Motorcycle (August)
HQ SWB Lowracer (September)
Winter Vehicle (October)

Bike, Scooter and Chopper Projects for the Evil Genius will be out some time in May. Keep checking the Support Forum for updates and announcements. This is a book, and we cannot offer it as a download, since the copyright is owned by McGraw-Hill.

We have had some problems getting a steady supply of Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza and 101 Spy Gadgets for the Evil Genius, so thanks for your patience while we work out supplier issues. Unfortunately, due to insane shipping costs and delays, we cannot ship books outside of Canada and USA at this time. We're not a multinational conglomerate that can negotiate cheap shipping rates; just a Zombie, a Kat and a dawg!

Also, working on updating the Builder's Gallery - sorry it's taking so long. We decided to do some much needed home renovations that became a bit of a nightmare. Almost got the main stuff finished, so will finally have some uninterrupted time to sit here for hours to upload your latest creations. Great work, everyone! More amazing builds will be posted in the next week.

The latest Atomic Zombie newsletter is also online, www.atomiczombie.com/newsletter/april2008.htm.

Stay warm, friends.

StreetFighter Quad Cycle now online

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:04:07 GMT

The StreetFighter Quad Cycle is finally online and already creating a buzz. This will be the last big project until we thaw from the deep freeze. Can't build in the garage when it's in the -30s and -40s Celsius. Even the kerosene heater can't keep up with frigid temps. The StreetFighter was a suggestion by one of our Atomic Zombie Krew members - SirJoey - last year. It took longer than expected to get done, between other projects and books, but what a major accomplishment!

The Builder's Gallery was updated recently with a record 35 new projects. Many cool builds, including some amazing clones of Marauder, Meridian, StreetFox, Bandito, Sparky, DeltaWolf and OverKill. Alot of incredible talent out there, so keep up the great work, everyone.

More software upgrades over the next couple of months that will keep us up many late nights, but necessary to keep things going along smoothly.

The latest Atomic Zombie newsletter is also online, www.atomiczombie.com/newsletter/january2008.htm.

Stay warm, friends.

StreetFox Tadpole Trike, New Bike Book in 2008

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:33:52 GMT

I know, I know, it's been awhile since the last update. The summer has flown by somehow (I barely remember August), and fall is settling in, although the temps have been in the 80's and 90's some days. Very weird. So much to do around the house, and so little time - literally.

Of course, that means getting our bike projects done as quickly as possible, as well as our next book, "Bike, Scooter, and Chopper Projects for the Evil Genius", due out in late April 2008. There will be at least two more downloadable projects coming in the next few months, and a winter bike for sure in January/February.

But, in the meantime, the StreetFox Tadpole Trike download is online and sparking some interest in the bike building community. We took it out for some video footage and pictures a couple of weeks ago, my first real test ride at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, just a half hour drive from where we live. It was unbelievably hot that day, not a good day for wearing black t-shirts.

I was so impressed with how well the StreetFox handled around sharp corners, comfortable and fast. Considering I haven't done much bike riding this summer, I managed to tackle a couple of fairly steep hills with little effort. Should have known better than to wear the black tee, though. I can also lift the trike easily in and out of the back of the truck by myself, another plus.

After riding around for a couple of hours, we rested at the beach and met up with an Atomic Zombie fan, who is also an electric bike enthusiast. It's interesting how many people are into this hobby and electric vehicles. After chatting it up with him for almost an hour, we packed up and headed home.

It was a productive day, but we headed to a BBQ for dinner and decided to ride our bikes, about a 15 minute ride, Brad on his DeltaWolf with underseat steering modification and me on my StreetFox. I can honestly say that I'm now a huge fan of the tadpole trike design. I liked my WildKat Recumbent, but I think I'm hooked on the StreetFox for sure. Check it out for yourself.

Brad is currently working on a compact electric scooter, smaller than the LongRanger Electric Bike, but still practical and easy to build. That download will be available in October. So, we're still plugging along, and yes, the Builder's Gallery is being updated. Once all of the latest entries are done, it will all be uploaded late one evening. Have to be weary of our bandwidth issues these days. Thanks for your continued patience as we try to resolve the occasional download glitches. We have some options available, but improvements take time and money, things we're a bit short on these days. The store and site will be streamlined later this year.

Cheers for now.

LongRanger electric bike now available

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:24:03 GMT

Another addition to the Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines family is now available for download. A few weeks ago, we took The LongRanger Electric bike out to camp for more photos and give it a real run for several days. It performed well beyond our expectations. Barely used any battery juice at all, which was amazing considering Brad drove the bike for hours, even pulling someone on a scooter and me on the back of the seat while he sat on a pillow place precariously atop the battery cage. I don’t recommend doing that for long haul rides, though.

It was funny watching riders on those store bought electric scooters and bikes barely make it up small hills, having to get off and push most of the way while we zipped on by effortlessly.

Plus, we didn’t get any of those annoying looks that people on gas powered scooters and bikes get in a normally tranquil campground. There were a couple of gas powered scooters that were so annoying to campers that the park rangers asked them to park them permanently for the duration of their stay. We laughed among ourselves that no one had a problem with our LongRanger.

Even took it to a spot where some bikers were soaring off small jumps and hills. The BMX-ers were totally impressed with it. Before long, our campsite was popular, with visitors asking all about the LongRanger and where they could buy one.

Sorry, we don’t sell the finished bikes, only the plans so you can make your own. So, there you have it. Another mission accomplished. Oh, and thanks to those of you who voted for the StreetFighter Cycle Car. Building will commence when the StreetFox Tadpole Trike is done! And, to those of you who might think you don’t have time to build your own custom human powered vehicles, we do all of this stuff in our spare time. If we can do it, so can you! Cheers, friends.

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Gladiator Chopper Trike, StreetFox Tadpole Trike

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:43:52 GMT

Finally got some decent weather to shoot some video footage of the Gladiator Chopper Trike. Granted, we've been lucky to have an abundance of rain, compared to many part of the world having drought conditions, raging forest fires and low water tables, so we're not complaining here!

Despite the unpredictable weather, we did get the Gladiator out for some footage before the high humidity set in last week. The Gladiator download is also available now.

Brad is now working on the StreetFox Tadpole Trike - yes, it's really coming along. I know, we said that in the spring, but he seriously has it all planned out, has all of the parts, just a few things to get done this week and he'll begin putting it together.

I believe he's planning on getting the LongRanger Electric Bike download done over the next week, too. Of course, in typical Atomic Zombie style, he'll be working in the sweltering heat since the temperature has risen to the 30s and 40s Celsius (80s to 90s Fahrenheit). I'm going to wait until the temperature cools off before beginning my welding lessons. It's more important to get the StreetFox Tadpole Trike done first.

I'll have the fall to tinker with some projects I've been wanting to work on. I have plenty of yard work to keep me busy for the rest of the summer any way. Nothing like picking fresh veggies from your garden! I guess that's it for now. Stay tuned for more updates.

Gladiator Chopper, Injuries

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:54:34 GMT

Well, after nearly a month of sweat, blood and tears - literally - the baddest chopper of the Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines family is cruising the streets. This phat chopper even makes Harley riders stop and gaze in amazement. Brad went for a half-hour ride yesterday and eventually came back nearly an hour-and-a-half later.

"I can't ride half a block without someone waving me down, or running up to me to take a look," he said yesterday, amazed that so many people want to ask questions about the Gladiator.

I've ridden it, too, and it's amazingly comfortable, easy to handle, smooth. You forget there are two car wheels; it's that smooth.

The download will be available in a few weeks, but first, the StreetFox Tadpole Trike will be built. This will be my ride and will mark, the beginning of my welding lessons. I'll be starting out on the stick welder and maybe get a mig later on. I want to build some trailers and things for the yard. I'm really looking forward to learning something new. This will definitely test my tolerance for patience. Should be interesting.

As for the Gladiator chopper, it really has been a labor of love, and Brad has some scars to prove it. I'll spare you the gory pictures, though.

He got a nasty burn on his arm after touching a piece of freshly welded metal; poked himself in the eye with a wheel spoke; caught his shirt on fire; hammered on his finger and now the nail is black; and yesterday, gashed his head on the chain ring that was hanging up to dry after being painted. He bent down to pick something up off the floor, then "Crunch!" - one of the ring's teeth dug into his head, leaving a half-inch gash. I walked into the garage to ask him something, and he asked me to look at the wound.

"Yep, it's bleeding, dude. Might need a couple of stitches." I cleaned it up, applied direct pressure, added some antibiotic stuff and the bleeding stopped. Back out to the garage he went. He HAD to get the Gladiator on the road that day for it's first official test ride as the newest completed project. He HAD to ride to his buddy's house and show him. Now, that's dedication to the cause!

Add to the physical injuries - building the beast in a 90 degree garage! Definitely lots of sweat went into this build. The tears - well, not much - but Brad wasn't very happy with the paint job at first. It seems the manufacturer of the type of paint he normally uses added some sparkle-speckle crap to their brand and he wasn't thrilled about it at all, especially since it's not stated on the can. Let's just say that projectiles were launched in the air in frustration, but he's ok with the final result now thanks to some positive feedback yesterday. How frustrating, though, to put in so much work, only to be disappointed with the quality of paint, especially when it's made by a manufacturer whose products you've used for years. It all worked out in the end, and soon the download will be available so everyone can build their own Gladiator style chopper!

More custom bike projects just added

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:59:30 GMT

Just recently updated the Atomic Zombie Builder's Gallery with over 20 new projects built by cool Atomic Zombie Krew members from around the world.

Check out these creative customs, most of which are inspired by Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machine designs.

Bike projects, new books, wild weather, Willie Nelson rocks

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:41:38 GMT

Wow - it's been over a month since my last update. Seems like only last week I updated the blog. My bad! Sorry, folks. Been really busy with yard work and getting the vegetable garden and flower beds planted. I have spent the past week and a half weeding every garden again since they keep growing faster than the plants I want to grow. It has been incredibly hot and humid for most of June, which is great for the plants, but hard on the body, especially Brad, who's been sweltering in the garage recently.

We had a warm, dry spring at first, then it turned cold, some frost early in the month, then rainy and many storms. The lightning has been unbelievable, and yes, I have seen horizontal lightning bolts for the first time. It freaked me out. Yesterday was filled with torrential rain, intense lightning, wind and warnings of tornadoes. Apparently, one touched down west of here, but reports haven't been confirmed yet. We've had fried routers and hubs to replace and the usual annoyances thanks to power outages, some flooding (our house plumbing needs an overhaul), software glitches and so on. But, in true Atomic Zombie spirit, we're muddling through the crap and still enjoying the stuff we do.

Earlier this month, we got the green light to do another book for McGraw-Hill, "Bike, Scooter and Chopper Projects for the Evil Genius." Brad's started on projects already. It will be available in spring 2008. And, we're looking over edits of "51 Practical Jokes for the Evil Genius" due out in September 2007. MAKE magazine is planning to publish a how-to article on our Granny's Nightmare bike chopper in issue # 11 out in August 2007.

Brad's totally psyched about a new chopper - Gladiator - for the bike book. It should be completed in the next couple of weeks, then my Streetfox Tadpole Trike will be done, too. I hope to start welding soon to help out with the Tadpole and maybe design a small trailer to pull behind it since it will be my main ride. In between all of the building madness and new deadline, he's also making headway on the Arcturus Hybrid Camper Cycle, but that's an extensive project that will take at least another year to complete.

Other than spending lots of time outdoors and in the garage, not much else is new. Oh, I did see Willie Nelson and Family in concert here last week and that 74-year-old dude can sure throw an amazing party. I was so impressed with the opening acts - Shaye and 40 Points - but Willie was awesome. My dad and I had a great time. He's a big Willie fan.

Stay tuned to the Builder's Gallery. There will be new additions late next week. I'm a bit overwhelmed with paperwork these days, so it's taking a little longer to get the gallery updated. Cheers, friends.

Happy Canada Day - July 1 and Independence Day - July 4.

Freak Bike Militia - Golden Horseshoe Cruisers will be holding their second annual Hamilton Beach Cruise and Can-Am Challenge, July 20 & 21, Oakville, Ontario. For more information, contact fbmghc@hotmail.com and check out the flyer http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/yyzmec/FBMGHHBC07FLYERa.jpg . Last year's event was a success, so join the fun and good times. Atomic Zombie is proud to sponsor this awesome event.

Tragedy strikes, Tadpole Trike project

Tue, 22 May 2007 19:38:31 GMT

Well, it was an interesting weekend, to say the least. To celebrate the completion of 51 High-Tech Practical Jokes - it's done, it's done, it's done!!!! - we decided to take the Duct Tape Palace (aka The House of Cloth) out for its first camping trip this year. We chose a provincial park about an hour's drive from town where it would be quiet so we could relax and spend some time chillin'. Little did we know how chillin' we would really be.

Many nearby forest fires forced the Ministry of Natural Resources to impose fire bans throughout most of the region. We knew that there was a good chance we couldn't have campfires over the weekend. Indeed, the ban continued all weekend despite some rain on Saturday. So, there we were - AZ, KoolKat and the Prince of Dogness - huddled together in our House of Cloth, under half a dozen blankets and heater blasting on high, watching Friends episodes on our archaic DVD player, which refused to work one night, probably due to the cold.

Yes, icicles did form above our heads due to the condensation from our breath while were sleeping, and we're all trying to shake the chills from three days and nights of sub-zero temps, rains and wearing layers of clothing all of the time. Yes, it rained and snowed twice. We must be crazy to subject ourselves to this unpredictable weather every year, but what else can you do on a long weekend!? Despite the chilliness, we did relax, saw many deer, a rabbit, a raccoon, walked around the park and did enjoy a couple of days of sunshine.

We did have a tragedy on Friday that put a damper all weekend. Brad brought his buddy Sparky to tool around the park since he's a silent little dude, but tragedy struck, and an ear-shattering boom disrupted the evening tranquility. Poor Sparky blew a rear tire in a spectacular explosion, leaving Brad to push the bike back to the campsite, a long walk from where the tragedy took place. The rear tire is beyond repair; it blew up pretty good.Maybe it's time to reincarnate Sparky into another electric vehicle. Guess that's what happens when you buy crap tires from Crappy Tire (Canadian Tire). This time, we'll invest in higher quality wheels.

So, now that we're back in the swing of things and thawing out, you know what this means - it's BIKE BUILDING TIME, BABY!

The first project will be the Streetfox Tadpole Trike, which will include rear suspension. I really took a liking to Brad's DeltaWolf Trike, so I get to have a trike of my own. I did like my WildKat Recumbent last year, but I really like trikes right now. After cruising around on the Kyoto Cruiser Trike, last year, I want my own. When I have the garden completely planted, then I'll start my welding lessons, too. I can hardly wait. Updates on this project will be posted here and in the forum.

Bikes, books, updates

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:35:52 GMT

OK, I think I can say for sure that spring is here. Tulips are coming up now, and there isn't any more snow in the forecast. I know, I said that last month and look what happened! It was actually +20 C yesterday, a far cry from the -20 C three weeks ago. The gardens are ready for planting, even have some grape plants in the ground and hoping they will grow well this summer.

The composter yielded some great soil almost to the very top of the container, the first time in several years since I started it. There's hope for me yet!

Only six home improvement projects line up for this summer! When you own a home, there's always something to do. The biggest hurdle is finding the time to fit everything in. I wonder how we ever got anything accomplished when we had cable TV! I'm so glad we cancelled it years ago. We do enjoy watching DVDs of Macgyver, Hawaii Five-O, Miami Vice, Macleod, Quincy, Kojak, etc. My dad actually met Telly Savalas (Kojak) while on a trip in California years ago. We like the 70s and 80s shows the best. The only time we take a break during the day is to watch an episode of one of those shows, then it's back to the grind.

Only three more chapters to finish for the 51 High-Tech Practical Jokes book, then the garage cleaning and bike building begins! First on the list is another recumbent, followed by a chopper and tadpole trike. While these are being built, I will learn welding from the guru and work on some trailer designs that I've been wanting to build. Wish I could sketch better. I have them worked out in my head, just can't seem to put them on paper to make sense.

Updated the Builders Gallery over the weekend - a record 23 entries, including 14 choppers! There's alot of talent and creativity out there. Truly inspiring. Keep up the great work, everyone, and keep sending in those pictures of your completed home built projects to the gallery.

Who loves ya, baby?

Spring is finally here - I need a bike!!

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:48:38 GMT

I can't believe it - I think that spring has finally arrived. There's no snow in the yard and I've already started cleaning up the gardens and raked the lawn for the first time. The ground is still frozen in many areas, though.

Some crocuses and tulips are starting to poke through the soil and the sun has been out alot over the past few days. Is this a dream, or is winter finally over? Let's hope so.

Someone is itching to get the garage cleaned and organized for this year's bike projects, and someone else is anxious to start learning how to weld. Oh, the things I plan to make!

It better happen soon 'cause I don't have a bike to ride this year yet! My WildKat recumbent, which was built last spring, has been recycled to make room for more bikes, so I am currently bike-less.

Dude, I need some wheels!

http://www.atomiczombie.com/info/chicks.jpg

Gallery updates, new recumbent, spring coming!

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:51:10 GMT

Here we are less than two weeks from the beginning of April and guess what just happened - yep, more snow! I know, I asked for it weeks ago, but come on! Yesterday was pretty weird. -22 C in the morning, then warmed up a bit, some snow, then windy, then warmer, then freezing rain, followed by thunder and lightening and more freezing rain. Now, it's raining. I can't remember the last time we've had such weird weather. So much for being +8 C today, I think it got as high at +4 C. Oh well, can't complain considering the severe weather conditions east and south of us.

I guess the world didn't come to an end with the early Daylight Savings time change recently. I prefer this earlier time change anyway. It helps get you motivated with it's light earlier in the morning until early evening. Don't tell George W. Bush this, but I actually agree with him on setting the clocks forward one hour three weeks earlier this year.

Yes, in addition to a new chopper, Brad's worked out a plan for a new overseat steering recumbent that we will build together (yet to be named). Since I have yet to start on my welding lessons, it will be a good project for me to get started on. We have almost all of the parts together, just waiting for the weather to co-operate for the annual garage spring cleaning to make room for this year's builds.

The Builder's Gallery was updated today, so be sure to check them out. There is so much creativity out there, keep sending in those pictures!

Cheers to our buddy and Atomic Zombie forum member, Tiny Neutrino, who is planning an extensive sailing excursion across the Pacific Ocean on a homebuilt raft. Keep us posted "Tiny"!

Thanks also for all of the wonderful emails, gifts, invitations, letters and blog entries we've received from many Atomic Zombie krew members. Sometimes our lives are so hectic, it's impossible to thank each of you personally, so here's a big Thank You to everyone.

Be careful what you wish for, new chopper soon

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:50:38 GMT

I have a confession to make. I secretly wished for snow recently and guess what we got a week ago? Yes, we got just over 2 feet of the white stuff. Why did I wish for snow? Well, water tables, lake and river levels are very low, and there have already been some forest fires in the region due to dry conditions. If we don't get enough snow and rain over the next few months, summer will be dry and terrible for forest fires. When summer is short where you live you can appreciate the importance of camping - campfire and all. When forest conditions are dry, fire bans are implemented and that means no campfires.

Now, the freezing rain has begun again. Ugh. Makes walking and driving very treacherous. But, I've heard that spring might be just around the corner.

The water table around here is very low and it will be another summer of severe water restrictions unless things change drastically. Plus, I'd rather have snow than -30 C to -45 C temps, even though it has been pretty cold this week in the -20s.

We were luckier than alot of regions in the US and eastern Canada that got pummeled by snow, high winds and tornadoes. So, enough of the weather already!

There will be a new awesome chopper, The Black Pearl, making its debut this spring, in May or June. I have seen some of the preliminary sketches, and believe me, this chopper is even more over the top than OverKill. More info. on The Black Pearl will be coming over the next couple of months.

Making more headway on the 51 High-Tech Practical Jokes book, busy with our regular jobs, and itching to get into the garage. The backyard is full of water and ice right now. Even the dog isn't thrilled about going outside. Hope it all melts away soon so we can get on with some bike projects. Stay tuned!

Builders' Gallery, skating, updates

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:23:44 GMT

Hey everyone. Finally, we are getting a break from the intense cold. The little snow we have is melting every day. Could spring really be on its way? I'll believe it when the tulips are popping up. Working lots of hours on the 51 High-Tech Practical Jokes book to get it done as soon as possible. The Builders' Gallery has been updated over the past couple of days, so check out the newest entries. Sorry it's taken so long to get your projects included.

We've been so overwhelmed with technical crap lately that's eaten into our spare time. Instead of working on books and projects, we've had to divert attention to computer- and software-related glitches that have really been a pain to deal with, but necessary. So, keep sending in your pictures and info. for the Builders' Gallery. Your bikes - choppers, tandems, trikes, tall bikes, lowracers, unicycles, spincycles, etc. - are amazing!

We took some time this past weekend to hang out with some friends on Lake Superior - literally. The ice is pretty thick so they had an ice shack heated with a wood stove, ATV's, ice fishing, hockey, skating, food. Had a good time. Nice to get out in the outdoors and hang out for awhile. Brad even skated for the first time ever! Only fell a couple of times. Not too bad for a newbie!

New bikes, deep freeze again

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:10:14 GMT

The long-awaited Bandito Short Wheel Base Recumbent and Meridian Long Wheel Base Recumbent downloads are now online. It's a bit strange launching these two new projects right now when we are in the middle of another deep freeze. Well, we can dream of warmer days by looking at the videos and pictures.

In the meantime, Brad is working hard on the 51 High-Tech Practical Jokes for the Evil Genius book, aiming to get it done well before deadline to free up some time for building more bikes this spring.

The new forum will be launched some time, no definite timeframe on that. The current one is working ok, a couple of glitches, but just don't have the time to mess around with configurations. We are already behind thanks to technical problems with our former web host that kept screwing up our site and store. So, had to make a quick decision and transfer everything over to another company. Hopefully, no more disruptions for awhile.

By the way, when you register for the Support Forum, you will receive an email with instructions so that your account will be activated. If you don't follow the instructions, your membership request will be automatically deleted in 48 hours. This is necessary to ward off spam 'bots that automatically register on forums then post crap. Every membership is verified before being approved. That's the best system we can offer right now. The next forum will have improved security features, but more on that later.

That's it from our end. Just trying to stay warm and manage our time. Can you believe these temperatures!?

Deep freeze

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:01:26 GMT

Holy icicles, Batman, it's sure cold here now! I didn't order this weather, but it sure has hit us hard for over a week. It's a snappy -27°C today, a little warmer from the -30s last week. Yes, you are reading that right. Imagine this - parts of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan have been colder than -40. A major snowstorm in the west last week claimed several lives, tornado-like winds in BC and ice storms in the mid-US. What the heck is going on this year? Nasty. Hope you're safe and warm wherever you are.

There's not much else to report on, other than Brad is still working on the Bandito and Meridian downloads, and not doing very much in the garage these days, obviously. Might have to hold off on my welding training until this deep freeze ends, even though we have heat in the garage, it's still pretty damp. I'm not feeling inspired today, so back to some paperwork. Oh, the joys.

Welcome to 2007!

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:00:48 GMT

Hey everyone! I know it's been awhile since the last entry. We are well rested from taking a break over the holidays and gearing up for another very busy year. Hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday and a Cool Yule. It's hard to believe that we are already in another new year. We have so much planned this year it's going to take alot of organizing and time management to achieve our goals.

First, the Bandito and Meridian downloads will be available later this month. Then, the forum will be completely overhauled with more features. Also, a winter bike project, followed by more choppers, tadpole trike, trailers and a whack of other informative downloads yet to be finalized.

And, we start working on our fourth book in partnership with McGraw-Hill Professional, "51 High-Tech Practical Jokes for the Evil Genius", which will be out in September. Plus, I will start learning to weld some time this month. I'm looking forward to that!

Just think - all of this will be done in our "spare time"! Are we nuts!? Yep, that seems to be the Atomic Zombie way. So, thanks in advance for your patience if you post questions in the forum or send us emails and it takes us a few days to respond. Hopefully, you can continue to help each other as much as possible.

Ongoing freezing rain is causing some power outages and Internet access and telephone problems, so please bear with us. This winter is unusually warm. We should have 3-5 feet of snow and temperatures well below freezing, but that's not the case - yet. Even the squirrels, which should be hibernating, are still out and about. We're still plugging along, despite these challenges, trying to cope the best we can.

We'll be checking in the forum regularly, and the Builder's Gallery will be updated every month. Another blog update will be coming at ya next week. Have a great weekend.

Project updates. flu season arrives

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 21:57:59 GMT

This week hasn't been very productive thanks to technical issues and the flu. We've both been battling the flu and fatigue for most of the week, but things are much better today. We're trying to get the Meridian and Bandito recumbent downloads ready before Christmas, but no guarantees. Work has been extremely busy as everyone tries to wrap up various commitments before the end of 2006. Too much on the go and little sleep thanks to software upgrades on our site that suddenly had to be done. Technology can be such a time consuming pain!

We will have a new forum launched in a month with lots of cool features. We're working on that right now whenever we have some "spare" time.

I decided not to embark on my shopping journey last weekend. I went out one evening this week and it was pretty uneventful. No horror stories of psycho shoppers, no long lines, no grumps - nothing! The stores we went to were surprisingly quiet. I know it's only the beginning of December, but this was quite unusual for this time of year. I'll bet that Wal-Mart was crazy, though, despite the frigid temps -28^○C.

Yep, welcome to winter in Northwestern Ontario. Only 3.5 more months of winter to go! Actually, if you dress appropriately in layers of clothing and keep yourself covered, especially while outside, it's not really that bad. Getting into a frozen vehicle isn't fun, though. It sometimes takes 10-15 minutes before the heat begins to kick in. Makes defrosting the windows a challenge. Those of you who live in warmer climates must shake your heads in disbelief. Why would anyone want to live in this frozen wasteland?

Well, the standard of living is pretty reasonable, compared to large metropolitan cities. Lots of housing that's reasonable in price (for the most part). We're a few minutes' drive to parks, camping, lakes, rivers and awesome outdoor activities. It takes only 35 minutes to drive from one end of the city to the other. We don't have hurricanes, avalanches, or volcanoes. Earthquakes, tornadoes and flooding are rare. Excellent health care system, compared to many parts of the world. Excellent post-secondary education - Lakehead University and Confederation College. Lots of outdoor and indoor recreation, year 'round events. Great summers for camping and gardening. The list goes on and on. I guess it's not so bad living here. It's just hard to remember why we choose to live here when the temp is -35^○C and the car won't start.

Today was amazing! +4C and sunny all day. Went for a long walk, shoveled some snow and helped with some garage cleaning. All in all a great day.

Snow, bikes, Christmas shopping, AZ krew rocks!

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:58:04 GMT

Eek! It has finally arrived. The white stuff is on the ground, I repeat, the white stuff is on the ground. This spells the end to the biking season of 2006, well, for most of us anyway. There are some brave souls who do bike during the winter. My hats off to them, but to me it's not worth putting one's lives at serious risk, especially here. Even walking can be treacherous on any given day. I'll be looking forward to my walk tonight, though. A fresh snowfall is great for walking. However, what I'm not looking forward to is a trip to a few stores this weekend.

I haven't ventured to the city's main shopping area yet this season. It's going to be another interesting experience, as it is every year. Here's my plan of attack.

First, get my butt out of bed bright and early tomorrow. Since some stores open at 7 am, it will be an early start. No, I definitely won't be motivated for 7 am, but maybe 8:30 is more realistic. Then, it's off to select an appropriate parking space, not too close to the buildings, but close enough to exits to make a quick escape when the hoards of shoppers invade the property. It really is a game, isn't it? Get there early enough to beat out the crowds, choose a parking spot strategically, plan out the shopping route in the store and proceed to checkouts in efficient, but orderly manner. Then, get outta there without bruises and high blood pressure. Why do we do this to ourselves every year? I'll never understand it.

Whenever I'm in a lineup and people start complaining, you know the signs - mumbling to themselves or to others in line hoping to share their misery, constantly shifting their weight from one leg to another, constantly checking their watch, sighing loudly so that everyone can hear - I start whistling. There's nothing more annoying to a grumpy person than an overly happy person. So, the next time you're around grumps, try to act exactly the opposite and eventually you'll annoy them enough that they'll give up their complaining, at least while you're around them spreading good cheer.

Once I get my shopping done, I like to grab a coffee and watch people. It's a hobby I've always enjoyed. Man, the holidays sure do bring out the grumpiness in some people. They change into nasty, pushy, obnoxious beasts! Bah humbug, indeed! Christmas should be an enjoyable time of year, not stressful, rushed and overwhelming. Just think of all of the credit card CEOs wringing their hands in delight during this time of year, just like the Grinch when he gets the idea to steal presents, decorations and Christmas feasts from the Whos.

I'll venture out tomorrow with a positive attitude and just hope for the best. Brad will be writing the Meridian and Bandito recumbent projects all weekend, so I'll be puttering around keeping quiet so he can get finished this weekend. I know how easy is it to get distracted when you're trying to concentrate on something. Writing is an art that demands concentration, which means blocking out everything and everyone around you. Creative people tend to need alot of space, mentally and physically, to do their craft; it's something that alot of folks don't understand. That's probably why some people think that artists and writers are antisocial. Maybe some really are, but it's really because they need to be left alone to focus on their craft. Researching, building and writing are very time consuming and deadlines are always looming, so it's important to be organized and focused at all times to get things done.

That's why we haven't been overly active in the Forums lately. We really do try to be there every couple of days to post, but hopefully, membership will grow to the point that everyone can help each other out. That's already been happening more often, and it's great to see. That's why we started the forums in the first place. There are some great projects by members going on right now - choppers, DeltaWolf trikes, recumbents, SpinCycles. Kudos to the AZ krew members who are making some very cool designs and builds, even in parts of the world where cold temperatures and snow have already set in. Our little building community is really growing into a great social networking and information site. We tip our welding helmets to you all! Thanks for being cool. There will be some exciting forum updates and member perks coming in early 2007. Stay tuned.

bike plans coming, New York Bike Kill, winter is here

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:56:51 GMT

Yeah, I can already hear you - "Where are the new videos and downloads?" We've had some technical problems that had to be fixed first so we're a week behind. Just because you need to do something right away, stuff breaks down, computers run out of memory, hard drives run out of space, software glitches take hours to figure out, you know, everything just seems to go wrong. So, this week and upcoming weekend will be spent editing the videos and getting the Meridian Long Wheel Base Recumbent and Bandito Short Wheel Base Recumbent downloads done. But, some good things have happened recently that outweigh the negative stuff.

Toronto based artist Janet Attard sent us some cool black and white photos taken by Martin of Cine Cycle when they were in New York recently for the Bike Kill in Brooklyn. You can see lots of pics and vids on YouTube and Flickr. Just type in key phrases like "Bike Kill New York" and you'll get tons of info. This annual full-day block party event features home built chops, tall bike jousting and lots more. Some very interesting and wild bike creations at that event.

Just signed on with McGraw-Hill to do another book, 51 High-Tech Practical Jokes for the Evil Genius. There will be all kinds of projects for beginners to advanced tinkerers, even a chapter on Halloween projects to scare the bejeezes out of unsuspecting trick or treaters. This one will be alot of fun to do. Now all we have to do is round up a group of "victims" to try our pranks on. It will be out in September 2007.

Won a prize from Instructables last month (thanks, Eric). A set of sunglasses and spy camera from Spy Gear. I know they're made for kids, but I've been having a blast snapping pics. The resolution is 640 x 480 dpi and the unit holds 20 color pictures, so it's pretty decent. Wish there was something like this around when I was a kid. Well, I get to regress back to my childhood and play around with my new toy. Beats doing boring paperwork!

Weatherwise, the weekend was pretty decent. Saturday was warm enough to get some yard work done and clean the truck inside and out, the house windows, bag leaves and twigs. Sunday was nice, too, sunny and bright. Felt good to go for a long walk and soak in some rays. I enjoy walking. It seems as though winter arrives pretty late in recent years. We haven't had much rain this fall, causing water shortages in rural areas, brush fires and prompting our city to issue water conservation warnings. Today, it's cold, freezing rain and dull. This is the type of weather we used to have throughout the fall, but it's really quite late. No sense complaining. Winter happens - eventually.

Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines web stats for October 2006

Hits	2,243,579
Visitors	79,208
Page views	229,338

Meridian and Bandito Recumbents are done!

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 19:03:27 GMT

Two new members of the Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines krew will be ready to meet the world in the next week.

The Meridian Long Wheel Base Recumbent and Bandito Short Wheel Base Recumbent bikes are done, painted and photographed. Videos will be up this week, either Wednesday or Thursday.

The downloads will be available early next week. Announcements will be posted here and in the Forum. Each of these bikes took about four days to build, including painting. Yes, once you get the hang of welding and basic bike building you can build something like the Meridian and Bandito in a matter of days, not weeks. I am really looking forward to starting my welding lessons in January. It will definitely help pass the time during the cold, dark winter days.

Of course, Brad has been zipping around the neighborhood and recreation trails trying the new bikes out. I like the designs and adjustable bottom brackets so that anyone can ride them, regardless of their leg length - something that us vertically challenged folks appreciate! I love the Bandito's color. Hope we use it on other projects, too.

Plus, I prefer to be higher than lowracers like the Marauder, especially in traffic. I generally don't trust gas powered vehicle drivers around here. But, I do feel confident riding these two recumbents because you sit high enough so that other vehicles on the road will see you as well, hopefully, like some many drivers are. Pretty impressive the speed you can crank out on the Meridian and Bandito. Even I can work up quite a sweat on each of them and they handle exceptionally well, even on our horrible roads. If only it was spring!

The rush has been on to get as many projects done as possible before snow covers the ground for a few months or more. Brad has been burning the midnight oil, pulling many late nights and weekends to keep up the pace.

Yesterday felt like spring. It was nice to go for a long walk with the dog and enjoy the sunshine. Even today, the sun is shining, the sky is clear and the air is crisp, but not cold (about -4).

Next on the list is an in-line tandem trike, chopper and tadpole trike. We'll be working throughout the winter and posting projects as they're finished.

Cheers to the Freak Bike Militia - Golden Horseshoe Cruisers for sending us a couple of cool shirts from their Halloween Cruise last month. Awesome of you to think of us, even though we couldn't join you. Thanks dudes!

Tribute to Veterans

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 18:05:05 GMT

In Flanders Fields

by Major John McCrae
Canadian Officer

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.