My mini stationary bike’s tensioning system was no longer working, so I took it apart to see what was going on and to see if I could harness the turning power. Rather than spin with a drop spindle as I turned the pedals, I wondered if I could drive a spindle, essentially making a pedal driven spinning wheel. The short answer is yes, yes I can.

Once all the extraneous bits were removed from the mini bike (like the cover, tensioner, and monitor) I was left with a pedal driven wheel. I used an old metal baluster to hold a spindle above knee height and ran a piece of waxed woven cord (this worked better than string or chain) around the wheel and up to the spindle. Some silicone grip strip on the wheel and the custom wood hub on the spindle gave enough friction so the cord didn’t slide (it is pink because that is what I had on hand). I’m still adjusting the design as I go. Initially I had the spindle resting in slots at the top of the baluster, but it wobbled too much. My husband suggested using a sleeve and offsetting the spindle hub, so I drilled a hole to fit the spindle shaft, which works much better. A metal bead and a cork keep the spindle from flying out. I’m sure as I use it more, I will find other aspects to adjust.

The style of spinning wheel is not a typical English wheel, but more like a vertical charkha spinning wheel. There is no flyer assembly to automatically take up the yarn, Instead it is an adjustment of the angle of my arm to go from adding twist to loading spun yarn onto the spindle. I believe Great Wheels use similar mechanics, but the wheel is driven by hand in a standing position.

The best part of the spinning wheel? (Ok, the second best part, because spinning wheel!!) The only thing I bought was the cork. Everything else was repurposed. The baluster was left over when my husband built a new closet upstairs, the spindle was an old glass bead mandrel, the wooden hub was a bit of dowel that I drilled and shaped and glued, the silicone wrap was left over from wrapping kayak handles, the cord, wax and the metal bead came from my stash, the whorl on the spindle is an old shanked button that I drilled a hole through.

I felt the need to card my washed cream alpaca fiber. All of it. I don’t usually do it all at once, but go as needed because the rolags are the most airy and open right after carding, which makes spinning easier.

It is therapeutic to turn the chaotic mass into fluffy white clouds. Even though I washed the fiber, it still has a significant amount of dirt and vegetable matter, most of which comes out as I card it.

Carding also increases the volume of the fiber because the clumps and locks are opened up. The mass of fiber about tripled in size with carding.

Now to figure out a good way to get to spinning all these lovely little clouds. Although I can’t go for spinning walks yet, I do get some reprieve from the boot, as long as I’m walking on smooth even surfaces. Standing for long periods is also still problematic. Hm.