In Germany, starvation, the slaughtering of horses and a sky-high price of oats impaired transportation, whereupon Baron Karl von Drais came out with his two-wheeled Laufmaschine (running machine) in Mannheim, Germany, on June 12, 1817.
Today, wooden bikes have evolved into durable and functional works of art, light years ahead of the earliest bikes created out of wood. Wood has allowed artisan bike makers the freedom to create finely crafted forms, though there are still some who contend that metal is a superior material for making bikes. Well, the wooden bike is getting a boost from carbon fiber in this gorgeous Carbon Wood Bike by Italian industrial design student Daniele Quintaba and his father, a master woodworker.
Seen over at Domus, the Carbon Wood Bike has been painstakingly handcrafted by father and son, out of layers of ash and mahogany wood, and carbon fiber, which have been bent to form a strong, reinforced frame that looks stunning as well.
Weighing 9 kilograms (19.8 pounds) -- relatively light for a wooden frame -- the bike features a carved set of wooden handlebars and seat (might not be too comfortable for the guys, though).
It's definitely one of the classier wooden bikes we've seen, and thanks to the reinforcing carbon fiber layers in this bike, which make it as rugged as any metal frame, its refined, artistic character can shine that much more through its graceful wooden lines.
OTOH, suspect "horses" rode by "dandies" were still... spendy for many to buy and maintain.spinningmagnets said:These would be easy and cheap to make (back in the day).
Dauntless said:
Dauntless said:Getting up around $5k, no, it won't be mine.
LockH said:"electric stretched wooden beach cruiser" seen on ES "Big Woody":
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=49800&p=736043
I would hate to slip off the back of that seat, land on the rear tire, and get launched into the rear fender pinch point crotch first at 60 mph. Ouch!LockH said: