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The Next Generation Snow Groomer for Single Track Cycling

Institution: Michigan Technological University
Funders (6)
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Why This Project Is Important 

Current snow groomers are not versatile for the varying snow conditions throughout the winter biking season. The snow groomer that will be designed by the Velovations Enterprise will allow trail organizations to groom trails in any snow condition. With a modular design a part needing improvement can be designed, fabricated, and then quickly swapped in the field while keeping the groomer functional in the mean time. This allows for rapid development of implements which translates to better trails for the user. By donating you get better trails, the trail organization gets a new groomer, and we get continuing engineering projects.

Project Description 

The Velovations Enterprise team is working with a local trails club to design and build a multi-purpose trail groomer for single track trails. The goal of this project is to create a groomer that uses interchangeable implements to groom varying winter conditions throughout the season. The implements are swapped using a saddle and pin system as seen in the photos above. The pins have the red handles which slide through the saddle on the implement. The groomer will be used on the Churning Rapids Trails in Hancock, MI for winter fat bike cycling.

For more information about the trails or to see what the club is currently using, please see their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ChurningRapidsSnowBike

Meet the Researchers

Rachel Kolb

Rachel is a 4th year undergraduate student at Michigan Technological University studying Mechanical Engineering. She is currently working on the Snow Groomer sub-team on the Velovations Bike Design Enterprise.



Anthony Bacon

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Eric DeJong

Third year mechanical engineer at Michigan Tech. From Ada, MI. Love gravity biking and all types of skiing. Member of velovations enterprise. Developing fat tire snow bike trail groomer.



Ian DeVlieg

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Steve Lehmann

Steve is currently a Research Associate at Michigan Tech. He is also the advisor for Velovations. Past industry experience includes Test Engineering roles at Engineered Machined Products, Johnson Controls and Prince Corp.



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$1,300
of $500 fund goal
The average donation for this project is $217
0
days left
260%
funded
$800
last
Funding is Closed

What Your Donation Can Help Us Do: 

  • Your donation will help us cover the material costs of new implements, groomer testing expenses, and a teardown of a snow tiller.

$10 6 Funders

Velovations Sticker

For every $10 donated, we will send you a Velovations Enterprise sticker to thank you for your donation to our project.

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Gifts to projects listed on SUPERIORIDEAS.ORG are received and processed by Michigan Tech Fund. Michigan Tech Fund is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code acting on behalf of Michigan Technological University. It is the policy of Michigan Tech Fund that a portion of the gifts and/or income therefrom may be used to defray the costs of raising and administering the funds.