Over the past few decades the Whakarewarea Forest trail network (Rotorua, New Zealand) has developed into a world class location, for both riding and staging events. The Rotorua Trails Trust team play the essential role of building and keeping it primed to top form.
Bosch eBike Systems approached Rotorua Trails Trust to discuss the challenges and effort required to haul equipment into the forest for trail building and maintenance. The foundation of the discussion stemmed from a vision that Bosch have, to create a sustainable legacy for the Rotorua mountain bike community and support the maintenance of the trail network known to the global audience as a must visit and ride location.
The discussion evolved into a working project which resulted in Bosch eBike Systems building two ultimate maintenance trailers, specifically for the Rotorua Trails Trust to use with their Trek eBikes, ePowered by Bosch. One trailer for trail building and another for trail maintenance, both decked out with a new set of Bosch power tools required for the job.
Local fabricator and all-round bike guru Jeff Anderson of Jeffson Bikes was engaged to work across the design concepts and worked closely with the Rotorua Trails Trust team, ensuring all challenges that the team were faced with were considered during the conceptual and development phases.
The project presented a big design challenge for Jeff, despite the aim being to lighten the load for the Rotorua Trails Trust team. This meant in the design phase he spoke with three other local Rotorua engineers on the design and materials.
“It feels awesome to know I’ve been at the heart of producing something that will make people’s lives easier and benefit the Rotorua community,” said Jeff.
“We have to remember we are still pedalling this in, even if it's on an eBike. It’s that challenge to make it light and strong, and also maneuverable. They are shaped a little bit like a boat, which might look a bit funny, but we hope they can just bounce and slide off the inevitable trees that they will clip out on the trail.” he added.
The Bosch ePowered legacy was crafted and the trailers unveiled by the Bosch eBike Systems team, in collaboration with Rotorua Trails Trust and Jeff, at Crankworx Rotorua in March 2020. The trailers are now part of the daily job and workflow of the Rotorua Trails Trust team - including Trail Manager Damian Clarke and trail builder Casey King.
“Bosch have been really generous - they have really listened to us and partnered with us through this whole process, provided us the two trailers decked out with the new Bosch power tools and we think we’ve got a really good, practical outcome to show for it. They are towed by three Trek eBikes ePowered by Bosch eBike Systems - we’re grateful that we can now do our jobs more efficiently and safely for the benefit of the mountain bike community,” said Damian from Rotorua Trails Trust.
Trailers names: Mahi Waka – a trail maintenance trailer (small and nimble) and Piki Waka – a trail building trailer (large, lockable, modular).
Check out the complete film here.