Pedalling For A Smoothie: Bicimaquina Licuadora

Whilst staying in a cool house share in San Cristobal de Las Casas, we were fortunate to have a play on some bicimaquinas (bicycle machines).

I presume these are similar (and perhaps inspired by) the bicimaquinas at Maya Pedal in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. They also had a bicycle powered washing machine (bici lavadora).

I love low-tech energy saving machines, especially when bicycles are involved. It also tickles my childish soft spot for anything Rube Golberg-esque. I blame the ‘truffle shuffle’ scene from The Goonies.

I should have mentioned in the video, these bicimaquinas were built by Jean Pierre of El Cafe Machete in San Cristobal de Las Casas. Although he was in France at the time, he kindly responded to our message on WarmShowers.org and introduced us to his friends at La Calaca (the nickname for the house share).