Welcome to the BikeCAD.ca website. Here, you'll find tutorials on using BikeCAD Pro, a standalone application for bicycle frame builders and bicycle fit specialists that runs on a PC, a Mac or on Linux.
BikeCAD can be used to design any diamond frame bike and control it through a comprehensive set of parametric input fields.
A model of the rider and or bike can be generated by matching a photo, or six more basic body dimensions can be taken, and from those, frame geometry can be recommended through a fully customizable tool called the Fit Advisor. If using a Fit bike, BikeCAD can translate fit coordinates to an actual bicycle and is an excellent means of documenting the results of a fit session.
A free version of BikeCAD has always been available online. Originally deployed as a Java applet, the free version can now run in any browser with no need for a plugin. After browsing the BikeCAD Design Archive, feel free to start your own design variation from any of the thousands of designs you'll find there, and come back often as new features are always being added to the program.
Comments
This is my new site
This is my new site
confusing website
this website confuses me.....
Is there a demo that i can try? the online aplet deosnt seem to work. there is no obvious DOWNLOAD button or tab.
cheers
Sorry you're having trouble
I trust you've taken the time to watch the video at the top of this page. The free version of BikeCAD serves as the demo for BikeCAD Pro. BikeCAD runs as a Java applet inside your web browser. Therefore, there is nothing to download except for Java which you can get at: java.com. I regret that long load times sometimes cause Java to quit before the BikeCAD applet can be deployed. I would encourage you to try again if that has happened to you. While it may be of little comfort to those who don't require the added features of BikeCAD Pro, BikeCAD Pro being a standalone application, does not need to be run inside a web browser and launches reliably on any operating system capable of running Java 1.5 or higher.
Thoughts on this site
This site is a lot like one of my favorite places: my grandparent's basement. It had all sorts of incredible, amazing and unique treasures. It would take me hours to find simple things but if I asked one of them, they could have it in my hands in a second or two. Since they'd spent literally years building up the content of that basement, they knew where everything was. I didn't.
Today, I started here by spending a long time trying to figure out how registration works. First, you register, and then you get an email confirmation with information about setting up a password. On most other sites, you create the username and password, and then you get a confirmation. On my own, I had to figure out the logic of the registration system for this site. It was OK once I figured it out but it made me wonder about the rest of the application.
I next tried to figure out how to start with the web version. I looked for obvious clues like a big red arrow, "Step 1" or "Start Here." The intro movie gave me a tour of the features but didn't clearly tell me exactly where to click to begin. It was like a view though a window. Now that I had my registration key, I was looking for the padlock, not the window.
After scanning the page a few times, I found a paragraph that talked about two ways to enter the online app. I decided to try and edit an existing file. I found a file, clicked on it and then tried to find the buttons that were shown on the launching page. I didn't see them right away. They may have been there but I was getting nowhere fast. At that point, I gave up and watched the app's features through the window again.
It's clear that this site and the app has amazing and powerful things and I'm sure that the creators know exactly where everything is located, just like my grandparents knew their basement. As a new user, however, I need clear, obvious steps in order to get what I want done quickly. I'm a busy grown-up now and I just don't have the time to poke around and find things like I did when I was a child.
My advice is to find a friend who's never seen the site. Watch them use the site and then write down each and every step that they need to take in order to register, and then create and save a model. Don't tell them how to do anything if at all possible. Watch where they go to get an understanding of what kinds of problems that they have. It will help you create a smoother app, and will probably reduce the amount of time that you have to spend answering questions via email and postings.
Yes, doing that may be a big pain but all I'm asking is for you to show me the quickest and easiest ways to get to the buried treasure.
This ain't your grandparent's basement anymore
Thank you for the feedback.
Just like your grandparents, I have some of my own preconceived ideas about how things ought to be done. However, you raise a good point. Despite my efforts to explain how things work through the video intro, there will always be people arriving at the site looking for a big red start button.
In response to your feedback, I have added a third method for launching the BikeCAD applet. You can now start BikeCAD with a single click by choosing the Quick Start button in the top menu.
All three methods for launching BikeCAD are summarized here.
As for the registration procedure, I won't be able to respond quite so proactively to that issue. The BikeCAD.ca website uses the popular Drupal Content Management System. Because Drupal is an open source community-contributed framework, it would be technically possible to modify it according to your suggestions. However, one of the things I love most about Drupal is that it comes ready to go with all the common CMS features like a registration system, a forum, and the foundation upon which we can develop this growing database of bicycle designs. Bicycle design is really what excites me the most. So working to make BikeCAD an even more powerful tool for designing bikes is where I hope to place most of my attention in the coming months.
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just get on / off scoll for zoom nothing to zoom
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While BikeCAD Pro is simple to install on a PC, a Mac or on Linux, the free version requires that you jump through quite a few hoops before the program will run in your browser. These steps are described at bikecad.ca/java_1.8_security.
Be aware the free version will only run on IE, Safari, the 32 bit ESR version of Firefox or on Chrome with the IE tab extension enabled. If you have trouble with one browser, it is worth trying the other options.
Can I place sticker on the bike according to my design
This site is a considerable measure like one of my most loved spots. It had a wide range of mind boggling, stunning and one of a kind fortunes. It would take me hours to discover basic things yet in the event that I solicited one from them, they could have it in my grasp in a moment or two. Since they'd spent truly years developing the substance of that storm cellar, they knew where everything was.
My recommendation is to discover a companion who's never observed the site.
Watch where they go to get a comprehension of what sorts of issues that they have. It will enable you to make a smoother application, and will most likely lessen the measure of time that you need to spend noting questions by means of email and postings.
Indeed, doing that might be a major agony yet all I'm approaching is for you to demonstrate to me the fastest and most effortless approaches to get to the covered fortune.
Placing your own sticker on the bike
Various brand logos can be displayed as described at: bikecad.ca/brand_logos. If you'd like your logo added, you can send me a copy of your logo in some vector based file format such as AI, SVG or PDF.