BikeCAD Pro

Went and bought BikeCAD Pro last week after playing with the online version and figuring it was going to be pretty helpful for a whole lot of stuff, especially fitting and and getting mitre templates.

Quite easy to get to grips with compared to any other CAD package I’ve used, but it does only really have one specific use. Covers almost everything you could need to put together a double triangle frame in detail but has a few things missing that I thought would be standard, like disk brake options.. maybe that will be in the next release.

More posts on this including daft/dream builds to come.

The Twilight Sad and Amidships @ Aunitie Annies

The Twilight Sad gig last night - love this band and their miserable music, they’ve been listened to a lot the past year or so, so it was great to see them in Belfast, and they made a proper impression. The frontman James’ emotional and uninhibited performance was pretty special.

Local band Amidships (blurry pic below) were supporting and played a great set, I’ve seen them twice now, both times supporting a couple of my very favourite Scottish acts. First time was with Frightened Rabbit last year at the Empire. 

Had a tour about Belfast’s first Fab Lab today. It’s a great wee space, kinda hidden away, but it sounds like it’s doing a lot of good work locally. It’s well kitted out with a large bed CNC, 3D touch 3D printer, vinyl cutter, a small laser cutter and a whole heap of open source software.

SICamp workshop @ Blick

Today I went along to a workshop at Blick Studios in Belfast to find out a bit more about what the Social Innovation Camp are up to in Northern Ireland.

I took part in one of their events back in 2011 and loved it, so I’m happy to see them making stuff happen in NI.

Bit of background…

“Social Innovation Camp brings together software developers and designers with people who understand a social problem to help build web and mobile solutions to social challenges”

photo theps

Basically they bring together all the people needed to start and tackle some social problems in one venue where they work (and play) for 48 hours to make a working prototype of a new web based service.

This year they are coming to the Playhouse in Derry/Londonderry and they’ve hit the road in search of ideas for the main event this June. It’s well worth getting involved, but don’t take my word for it, find out where they will be and when to find out what it’s all about for yourself.

My NAEWYE zine and print arrived yesterday from Aberdeen. Well impressed with the whole thing. #letterpress #art #design

Heard there was a bit of snow about so we went exploring today [26/03/13] didn’t have to go to far before we came across stranded cars and 8ft drifts. Mental.

Sprayin’. The welder is getting a fresh coat of paint.

New second hand vice for the workshop. Slowly but surely gathering up framebuilding tools. Building myself a new workbench next week.

The winter project that’s only getting a look in now its spring.

Ronde Bicycle Cafe

Today[11/03/13] I finally made it along to Ronde, a bicycle cafe in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. It’s such a nice space, filled with some of the nicest bikes about, and the coffee is great. Would love to see a space like this in Belfast. Plenty of inspiration for some of my own projects I’m sitting on atm.

Back to Edinburgh

This week[09/03/13] I’m in Edinburgh, back to see some uni pals, always love coming here…

Dropped by the Fruitmarket Gallery and saw some nice art, and saw Toms work that he has in an exhibition in the National Gallery!

and it’s snowing, which I love.

Went a wee cycle with the wee bro tonight[05/05/13], being home’s not so bad sometimes.

Photos from the Service Jam!

Flly Campbell did an amazing job capturing the jam over the weekend, check out the rest of the photos HERE.

While we were doing a bit of exploring for the service jam [02/13/13] we met Austin, he founded the Belfast Bicycle Workshop where he repairs second hand bikes and runs classes for young people. It’s hidden down an alley on Lawrence Street in Belfast in amongst some artist workshops. There is a great Slowcoast soundslide about the workshop that you can listen to here.

Belfast Service Jam

Rumble Labs - The pretty amazing venue for the Belfast Service Jam, part of the Global Service Jam, an event where all sorts of folk get together all over the world to design new services in just 48 hours. Excited to be helping out with this one. [01/02/13]