¿What are bicimáquinas?

Bicimáquinas (translates as "bicycle machines") are pedal-powered machines that act as an intermediate technology to assist the family economy in obtaining a higher production capacity in agriculture and in small business. Each bicimáquina is produced individually in our shop with a combination of old bikes, concrete, wood, and metal. So far we have developed several original designs that have proven to be both functional and economical.

We are happy to share our designs with other non-profit organizations working with community-based technology. Please contact us if you are interested in a particular bicycle machine.

Bicycle Mill/Corn Degrainer

This bicycle machine is adopted to fit a manual mill and corn degrainer (and can be modified for . The Mill function has the capacity to mill 3 lbs. per minute of any type of grain. The most common use is for milling yellow maize, soya beans, and other elements that make up feed for chickens and pigs. By milling their own feed, families avoid the use of agro-industrial chemicals, in some cases achieving 100% organic production.

The Corn Degrainer is used post-harvest and easily degrains 12 to 15 quintales (1 quintal = 100 lbs.) per day and requires only one person to operate the machine.

Bicycle Blender

This is a simple kitchen blender adapted to a hand-made stationary bicycle. Blends fruit-smoothies, vegetable purée, and grain with no use of electricity. Perfect for selling smoothies at the football field, festivals and parades, or in your own kitchen to get some daily exercise. Spins up to 6400 revolutions per minute.

Bicycle Water Pump

This bicycle machine pumps water at 5-10 gallons per minute from depths of up to 30 meters - compared to an electric pump that only pumps up to 12 meters deep. This machine's primary use is to provide irrigation and drinking water in rural communities where both electricity and water are not available.

Microconcrete Vibrator for Roofing Tiles

This machine produces the vibrations required to force air bubbles out of concrete. This produces long-lasting, impermeable concrete that is moulded into roofing tiles. The roofing tiles are attractive, durable, and create better insulation than the traditionally used corrugated metal roofs used in most of Guatemala. Cheap to produce, these tiles have a great potential as the basis for a small business.

Trikes & Trailers

We custom build both front-loading and rear-loading tricycles and a variety of trailers for hauling both human and non-human cargo. These can be used for all purposes: taxi services, selling ice-cream or newspapers, or transporting larger, heavier loads like water or firewood.

Bicycle Coffee Depulper

Removes the outer shell of the coffee bean allowing small-scale farmers to then roast their own beans in the sun. The latest model of this machine has the capacity to process 100 lbs. per 15 minutes.

Bicycle Metal Sharpener

For sharpening all kinds of tools used in agriculture.

Bicycle Washing Machine

Still in the prototype phase, this pedal-powered washing machine has great potential in rural areas where washing clothes by hand is very time-consuming and inefficient.

Bicycle Electricity Generator

Another prototype with great potential to provide a cheap source of electricity to power 12volts for appliances in rural communities.

Soil Plow/Till/How

Used by hand to work soil, pushing it like a wheel-barrow.

Bicycle Nut-Sheller

Removes the outer-shell of macademia nuts at 100lbs per 15 minutes. Still working to improve the design so that it works with a larger variety of nut sizes..

Bicycle Wood Saw

A prototype tool for wood artesans that helps save time, money, and materials.

Just Bikes!

Yes, we also just fix 'em up to ride. We sell used bicycles and run a repair shop to generate funds for our other projects. Bicycles are a great way to get to school, to work, or to market!