Wooden bicycles, lots of pics

[Lock]

...anything is possible...but why ?
wooden axles and bearings could not last and wooden wheels would be too heavy,...so why bother.

From the splinterbike site:

Ultimately we are doing this to prove a point, to turn a dream into reality but at the same time we would like to draw your attention to our chosen charity for whom we are raising money in order to support their worthy cause.

So it seems just for fun, and for a charity... Looks like they will set a record in 2011 with a triathlon athlete on the seat. I'll guess he'll draft up to speed just to run a measured mile. So the bike only needs to survive a 4-5 mile run then fall apart after...

I doubt a wooden frame can ever be as strong, durable, or light weight as even steel.

My only race experience is on the water, high performance (Olympic class) dinghies... The woodies were EVery bit as competitive as those built outta frozen snot (poly glass foam sandwich composites.)

Wood and other natural fibers eg flax are little different than carbon and glass and kevlar etc when it comes to plastic composites.

Lotsa competitive race vehicles (and vessels) out there that are completely impractical for "street", but they're "development" classes... pushing envelopes and blowin' stuff up so that the rest of us don't have to...

Cheers
Lock

[Hillhater]

Great to make things from wood to show it can be done , but lets not get carried away with the idea that it can be a genuine practical alternative to metals for bike components.
I Suspect most people would find it much more difficult to construct a frame from wood than from steel , for whilst it may be easier to cut and shape, making strong rigid joints is much trickier than welding /brazing etc.

PS: ..not many race sail boats ( Americas Cup, LV Cup, Sydney Hobart, etc) are made from wood these days.

[Lock]

PS: ..not many race sail boats ( Americas Cup, LV Cup, Sydney Hobart, etc) are made from wood these days.

Very good point Hillhater. I can only blame cultural basis... Lots of evidence to support natural fibers eg "wood"... The Gougeon brothers back in the `80's... where NASA was looking to replace aluminum wind turbine blades watt kept failing...The Gougeons produced much superior results from laminating Douglas fir:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19910000814_1991000814.pdf
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19830019076_1983019076.pdf

Nice thread here:
http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/44136/Wind-Mill-Blades

One quote:

In my wing, I used pretty traditional wood stick ribs, spaced to keep the 1/8 thick skin from flexing. In a blade like yours, the skins could be relatively thicker, and the ribs could be integrally molded into the skins -- I'd think you could mold each blade in two pieces (front and back side) and glue them together.

All sorts of possibilities. Even thin plywood for skins and aircraft spruce (perhaps from the company of that name) for spars can make a light, strong structure. The old Bellanca had wood wings like this and performed very well -- better than the typical spam can (aluminum plane). Aircraft grade spruce is very expensive.

...this from a fellow that that imagineers beautiful structures like this:


1ocK

[Lock]

http://www.wheels.ca/article/792817

What are cars made from these days? Would you believe, vegetables?

This is not new. Bio-composite materials have been around since the 1920s, when Henry Ford built prototype car components, including dashboards, door panels and passenger compartment parts, out of hemp-derived plastics.

“A car made from grass may not sound sturdy,” says Lawrence T. Drzal of Michigan State University’s Composite Materials and Structures Center, “but plant-based cars are the wave of the future.”

Bio-fibres like kenaf, hemp, grass, corn straw, flax, jute, henequen, pineapple leaf and sisal offer light weight and strength and thereby help extend fuel mileage...

loCk

[Lock]

http://www.rawbamboobikes.co.uk/

We offer a unique service to the UK Cycling industry; being the only dealer of bamboo bikes , offering a wide range of bike types suiting all ride disciplines, and budgets.

All frames are made entirely of bamboo, and are bamboo with hemp lugs, or with fibre glass/carbon fibre, making the frames flexible yet robust.

Bamboo bike frames create a smooth ride quality with a beautiful frame.

Based in the North of England, and serving the UK and Europe, we offer the opportunity to test ride a bike before buying, and guidance through the purchasing process.

Some of the bikes they picture are labeled Calfee:


tks
loCk

[Lock]

about
We spread the benefits of bike-making.

We've taught over a hundred fifty people to make bikes at the Bamboo Bike Studio. Tens of thousands of miles of test riding. Riding through winter, through potholes and all over the world. We are helping to start a factory in Ghana in September, with the goal of providing the lowest cost and highest value bicycles to people who want them most.

We love what we are doing. It started and will continue in little rooms. I hope you take the lessons we've learnt and spend some time in a little room of your own. Bring in a friend, drink some coffee, put on your light and put on some music, and build yourself a bike.

workshop
Build your own bike in two days at our workshop in Brooklyn or San Francisco.

We supply all tools and materials, and as much - or as little - help as you need.

We don't assume any prior experience, but a strong work ethic and an appetite for the unfamiliar is essential.

Build a Frame ($632), and add your own components at home or your local shop. With the Full Bike option ($948) we help you select and install all the components you need to ride away on a bike you made yourself.

Write bikes@bamboobikestudio.com for more.

Get started on your bike. Reserve your workshop by placing a deposit ($200) below.

For updates on workshop availability, follow our twitter feed or join our On-Deck List

[Lock]

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=9200

MANILA, Dec. 26 (COMSTE/PIA) -- The Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) identified the development of electric vehicles and green transport as priority projects of the commission for 2011 in an en banc meeting held at the Senate recently.

The Bamboo electric bicycle is lightweight, weighing only 18 kilograms a full 3 kilograms lighter than conventional electric bicycles. The electric motor (200W, 36V-10A) and battery of the bicycle has a range of 30 kilometers on a 5 hour charge when used over level ground but since the bamboo electric bicycle is a hybrid, where the electric power is used only for assisting the biker for uphill climbs or to get a boost of speed, the range is multiplied several times over.

Full article in the link
loCk

[Lock]

More pics of the bike here:
http://www.lifeartworks.com/amazing-steampunk-bike-wood/

[spinningmagnets]

Lock, you're one of the posters that keep this place interesting! This looked familiar, so I whipped out my Google. Its a faithful replica of the first ICE vehicle. Daimler made it in 1885. He chose a motorcycle and wood as a medium for the same reason, he needed to show his vision of the ICE's application as quickly as possible.

Otto, Daimler, Maybach, and Benz knew each other. The common steam technology around them meant they could order readily available pistons, cylinders, connecting rods, and crankshafts of just about any size. Bosche invented the coil and spark plug, which allowed many municipal light generation power-stations to convert from steam over to burning natural gas.

Petroleum oil was being pumped to refine into now-valuable kerosene lamp-fuel, (since whale-oil had become scarce and expensive), and as a result benzine (gasoline) was a dirt-cheap byproduct.

Maybach went into designing airship engines, and since they (Zeppelins) could fly higher than ground-fire could reach, he hoped to get a big government contract by promoting them as a war-weapon.

Otto and Diesel both struggled and never enjoyed the success they deserved without a big-hit product. I think they both just wanted to license their inventions to manufacturers.

Benz immediately went into making cars, but with no car loans availble for several decades, buyers had to pay full price, plus common roads at the time were barely adequate for horses. His entire life was a struggle.

Daimler was the one who enjoyed almost immediate success. Every nation had many cities on rivers, and trade was conducted with boats. Steam-boats of all sizes and types required an expensive steam engineer, and even then there occasional explosions. Daimlers cargo-boat engines sold easily, and customers demanded ever bigger versions. (like RC motors now?)

Daimler only began making luxury cars later as a side business, because nothing that was for sale at the time suited him. The German depression in the 1930's resulted in the government ordering Daimler and Benz to merge (five other companies were similarly merged to form Audi), resulting in what we now have as Mecedes-Benz.

[Lock]

Thanks SM

Daimler made it in 1885. He chose a motorcycle and wood as a medium for the same reason, he needed to show his vision of the ICE's application as quickly as possible.

Yah, kudos to Daimler, yet he still hadn't see this coming:

Parcelle_1890.jpg (38.56 KiB) Viewed 1012 times

LocK

[etard]

Now that is amazing! I think we all can appreciate his gear reduction methods.

Spin and Lock, you both contribute much to this forum.

[Lock]

http://www.boobicycles.com/world/index.html

Boo Bicycles was created in 2009 by Nick Frey, a multiple national champion, professional cyclist, and mechanical engineer. Over 18 months of research and development at Princeton University has resulted in high-performance, expertly-engineered bamboo bicycles.
Boo Bicycles are built with the highest quality and attention to detail. Every frame is handmade and requires 50 hours of labor. The ride quality of bamboo is unmatched--Boo is stiff and light, but the smoothest riding material on the market.

Seen here:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110104/BUSINESS03/101040345/-1/SPORTS12/Buzz-Bamboo-frame-bikes-race-ahead-with-Des-Moines-native

Nick Frey believes he's the only professional cyclist who designs and sells his own bike frames — and likely the only Princeton University-educated engineer doing so.

Frey, 23, a native of Des Moines and a Roosevelt High School grad, has started Boo Bicycles. The custom bikes are sold in about a dozen stores nationwide, including Lance Armstrong's shop, Mellow Johnny's, in Austin, Texas.

He and classmates built a bamboo bike for a class project and raced it. In 2009, after getting his degree in mechanical engineering, he launched Boo with loans from his parents and friends. The bamboo is specially grown in Vietnam and bikes are built there by James Wolf, who has two decades of experience building bamboo furniture.

Because of the labor involved, the frames, which are made with carbon fiber joints, cost about $2,700-$3,000. Frey, who now lives in Fort Collins, Colo., will outfit a full bike for around $4,500-$6,000, depending on the components.

Frey has sold 60 bikes, but none through bike shops. His goal is to sell no more than 150 to 200 a year so he can provide personal service. Boo brought in about $260,000 in revenues last year, and he poured all his profits into the business.

tks
10Ck

[Lock]

Wood ya believe 1897?

BambooCycle_1897.jpg (140.95 KiB) Viewed 711 times

loCk

[deVries]

Wood ya believe 1897?

OMG, HS , is THAT for REAL?

Very high-tech in design, seriously, unbelievable!

Of course, the bicycling Wright Bros came soon after, sooo...

What's next?

Bamboo

[Takemehome]

A redneck version

woodbike.jpg

(16.35 KiB) Downloaded 127 times

[Lock]

[Lock]

[Lock]

Build blog here:
http://plywoodvelomobile.blogspot.com/

When the design is finalized, I will describe the d.i.y. kit that may be available then. It will consist of laser cut plywood sheets an bent aluminum tubes. The rest is up to you.

[Lock]

Username bicyclebuilder on brassgoogles has built a him and a hers:

His:

Hers:

[Lock]

La bicyclette " la souplette " 1895 Le cadre est composé de 3 partie en Bois, dont 2 cintré le tout joint avec des armatures métalliques , jante en bois également.

http://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4067

LaSouplette_1895.jpg (42.59 KiB) Viewed 1503 times

[Lock]

no info

vlobois.jpg (41.36 KiB) Viewed 1489 times

[wdwrkr51]

Wow! And they say there is nothing new under the sun..............

[drewdiller]

Hey guys, I've just recently finished my second bamboo bike. This one is the world's first "fat bike" made of bamboo - like a Surly Pugsley if you're familiar with snow / sand biking.

Check it: http://dillerdesign.com/random/bike/fat_bamboo_v1/beauty_and_the_beast.jpg

Here's a very terse build log: http://dillerdesign.com/random/bike/fat_bamboo_v1/fat_bamboo_terse_build_log.jpg

You can bet your ass that I'm going to make a bamboo e-bike frame with super duty clamp dropouts! I really got pissed at my e-bike's torque arms when trying to change a flat. NEVER AGAIN.

[spinningmagnets]

Bill Irvine from recumbents.com, front hub is a multi-speed IGH
http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/misc/eliasohn/bill_irvine.htm

[Lock]

Splinterbike's operational:
http://inhabitat.com/splinterbike-bicycle-made-entirely-from-wood-can-hit-30-mph/