We have produced polar sleds, wheeled carts and buggies over many years. The lightweight carbon fibre model produced for a Yukon ice road Race combined the best practice and lessons learned from its predecessors. After its Yukon race, this buggy was sent down to the US to replace ‘Icebird’ which was being pulled by Rosie Swale Pope in the early stages of her run across America. The new one became ‘Ice Chick’ and was with Rosie for the rest of her run, including Death Valley and reaching the coast at Long Beach in December 2016.
The same mould has since spawned a variety of models with a wide range of additional technologies. This demand has made us realise that they are now ‘a thing’ and need a name. After much head scratching and debate the ‘JogPod’ is born.
Following on from this is the ‘Cogpod’, for those that prefer their expeditions to be pedal powered.
Weathertight, instantly accessible and with a host of optional features the Jogpod will allow you to undertake long distance travel with huge flexibility.
With a Jogpod you won’t need a support vehicle or crew, can start and stop as often and for as long as you like without having to find accommodation or put up a tent.
Experience has shown that the having such a mobile billboard, with your message emblazoned on it, attracts much more and favourable attention than a lone runner passing through. This unusual mode of travel has proven effective in attracting local and national press and TV, which is great for the profile of any charities and sponsors involved.
Carbon Fibre or Glass Fibre: The lightest stiffest bodyshell is produced from carbon fibre fabric, as found in aerospace and Formula One. A glass fibre shell requires more weight of fabric to achieve similar mechanical performance. Although heavier glass fibre, as a material, is less costly than carbon fibre.
Each shell is built as a sandwich structure with an inner and outer layer of fabric, either side of a foam core. This sandwich construction is an established method to increase stiffness whilst minimising weight.
The carbon fibre shell does also feature some lightweight glass tissue for better adherence to the core material.
This protects the laminate and provides solid colour. A red upper half and black lower half works well with logos or all kinds. It is possible to have pretty much what you like including glitter if that’s your thing.
Most of the foam core used in the structure is 5mm thick. In the base however it is much thicker. This makes the floor on which the occupant will sleep nice and stable, it provides a main structural spine for the whole unit and provides thermal insulation under the sleeping area. For planned use in much colder regions the thickness and type of foam used throughout can be adjusted to provide increased protection.
One advantage of fibre reinforced composite laminates is that specific areas can be reinforced easily through the addition of more fabric. This method is used in the nose of the units where the towing and steering assembly will be mounted. Four fixed bolts protrude through the flat face of the nose onto which the external assembly is attached.
More localised reinforcement can be achieved by using solid inserts in place of the form core. This was used to provide hard points for bolting snowboard section to the underside and can be used to provide threaded mounts for external or internal cameras like GoPros.
Solar power gathered during daylight needs to be stored for when required. Batteries are heavy so much effort has gone into battery selection for both weight and compatibility with solar panel charging.
The preferred Victron battery unit is well proven and comes with a Bluetooth link so that the charging performance and charge level can be monitored on a phone app. In periods of extended bad weather/ low light this will allow for accurate management of power and prioritising what should be charged.
The battery unit, its associated power regulation equipment and all other wiring is mounted on a platform contained behind a bulkhead in the nose.
On a long trip or expedition the items typically needing power include phones, laptop, cameras (still and video), drones, satellite trackers and possibly radios.
These can be powered by 12V car sockets and USB ports, the outputs for which are mounted in the bulkhead for ease of access.
It would be possible to mount a power source externally to the nose as they come with waterproof covers. This would allow charging of worn items whilst being used on the move.
Bulkhead featuring 12V power outlet, USB charging ports, electric fan, lighting strip and blue tooth transmitter to monitor battery levels and charging rate from solar panels.
Bulkhead Fan: The Jogpod is sealed against the weather. There will be times when you need to circulate some air to cool off or to help to have a change in the unit as a whole. The fan is a based on a computer cooiling fan so uses little energy and is controlled by the user.
Internal Lighting: Strip LEDs increase the usability of the living space. These can positioned to optimise the light depending upon what other internal features are selected.
Rear LEDs and whip aerial flashing LED: Being seen by following traffic is important. We provide large reflective strips but flashing red LEDs add an extra level of warning.
Low power LED lighting. Make a home from home and allow you to get your administration sorted whatever the hour.
Powered Wheel Hub: Electric cycles are becoming more popular which means more hub motors are becoming available. If your jogpod features solar and/or wind power generation then a hub motor is a possibility to help with the steeper inclines.
Wheels: BMX size – can use standard units or get high performance wheels made to order. As with any bike wheels there are options on tread, puncture resistant linings etec.
We have also used Airseal instant puncture self repair and this is well established across many vehicle types for expedition work.
The front wheel of the Cogpod takes its share of the weight but is non steering. This means that the bike does not have to be attached for the body of the Cogpod to be used for resting or sleeping.
The non steering front wheel takes its share of the weight and provides stability when mobile or static.
