Would you ride a wooden bike?
#26
Erik the Inveigler
Now, would that be the world renown, Greg Smallman? In fact, Australia can boast a number of fine, world-class luthiers these days! And, Brazilian rosewood, though really beautiful, now falls under international regulations (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Ah, well, I can dream, can't I?
#27
No, not Greg Smallman. The guy I know lives in a small Victorian town where I used to also live. And yes, to move any of his stock of Brazilian rosewood around, he has to get heaps of approvals from the Australian Government, as well as the destinatin governments.
#28
Me duelen las nalgas
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If I was wealthy enough to collect art and handcrafted collectibles, wood and bamboo bikes would top my list of stuff to have. They're appealing functional arts/crafts in the same way as wooden cameras and handmade pinhole cameras.
#29
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I woould love to ride a wooden bike, just to see how well it works.
Are certain types of wood strong enough to make bike frames out of without CF? Would they have to be solid? Wood isn't very dense, but I'd imagine a wood bike would be pretty heavy. I'd still love to ride it. It'd probably ride like butter (wood would probably absorb all of the bumps!)
Are certain types of wood strong enough to make bike frames out of without CF? Would they have to be solid? Wood isn't very dense, but I'd imagine a wood bike would be pretty heavy. I'd still love to ride it. It'd probably ride like butter (wood would probably absorb all of the bumps!)
#31
Based on this page: https://lyrebirdcycles.com/category/frame-building/ it looks like the guy uses CF tubes with a wood veneer. Renovo uses just wood.
EDIT: AlexCyclistRoch beat me to it.
EDIT: AlexCyclistRoch beat me to it.
Just to clear something up, they are not carbon frames with wood veneer.
The build method is something I developed over several years of research, it involves laying up a composite of tonewoods and fibres (carbon, boron and renewables eg flax) layer by layer. The frames are generally about 50% CF/BF/RF by weight, somewhat less than that by volume (CF is heavier than wood, BF is heavier than carbon).
The intention was not to make a wooden frame for the sake of making a wooden frame: I set out to get the best ride quality I could and tonewoods turned out to be the answer.
The woods used do come as veneer leaf because that's a great way to buy very thin sections of very high quality wood.
Last edited by Mark Kelly; 09-20-16 at 08:06 AM.
#32
The problem has always been that the tube joints are compound curves and wood won't bend over the compound curve and maintain strength.
I have developed a new method which appears to be novel and am in the process of patenting it.
#33
#35
Not a scientist nor an engineer,
Given that we generally ride our bikes outdoors I'd be concerned with the frame getting wet over time, as no sealant is perfect and the joint where the wood connects with other parts of the bike like the forks would make me nervous about its longevity.
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Given that we generally ride our bikes outdoors I'd be concerned with the frame getting wet over time, as no sealant is perfect and the joint where the wood connects with other parts of the bike like the forks would make me nervous about its longevity.
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The surface layer of wood is not epoxied, it is finished by hand with tung oil, a process that takes me around a week to complete.
Since I am therefore not relying on a skin of plastic over the surface of the wood (which is what your hockey sticks had) I don't get the delamination that causes the damage you mention.
Last edited by Mark Kelly; 09-20-16 at 07:34 AM.
#36
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They are pretty bikes by and large ... but because I am a wood-lover, of course I would say that. Interesting to know the details behind your construction. Your website is a little ... empty at the moment.
I would call your creations "wood/composite frames." But whatever ... They are pretty for the most part ... ai am interested to see how the tube junctures will appear with your latest production technique.
Please post here from time to time to keep us updated. I don't think one of your bikes---nor one of Renovo's---will be in my budget soon ... right now I cannot justify buying another bike (at least until I get my car running ... ) but I am interested as an observer.
I would call your creations "wood/composite frames." But whatever ... They are pretty for the most part ... ai am interested to see how the tube junctures will appear with your latest production technique.
Please post here from time to time to keep us updated. I don't think one of your bikes---nor one of Renovo's---will be in my budget soon ... right now I cannot justify buying another bike (at least until I get my car running ... ) but I am interested as an observer.
#37
Your website is a little ... empty at the moment.
I would call your creations "wood/composite frames." But whatever ... They are pretty for the most part ... ai am interested to see how the tube junctures will appear with your latest production technique.
Please post here from time to time to keep us updated.
I would call your creations "wood/composite frames." But whatever ... They are pretty for the most part ... ai am interested to see how the tube junctures will appear with your latest production technique.
Please post here from time to time to keep us updated.
One of the few things on the website that works is the top banner, which now says "Tonewood Composite Bicycles", a tag I've been using for a couple of years.
I mostly hang out over at Velocipede Salon.
Last edited by Mark Kelly; 09-20-16 at 08:09 AM.
#41
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The first bicycles were made of wood, and didn't have pedals. The rider pushed his feet on the ground. I can't think of any reason that the wood 200 years ago would be any stronger than the wood of today.
#43
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Rosewood veneers aren't that expensive.
My company builds boats with the stuff. SPECIAL : Carl Douglas Racing Shells
Kevlar/wood composite skins.
#44
Rosewood veneers aren't that expensive.
My company builds boats with the stuff. SPECIAL : Carl Douglas Racing Shells
Kevlar/wood composite skins.
My company builds boats with the stuff. SPECIAL : Carl Douglas Racing Shells
Kevlar/wood composite skins.
#46
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OK - we are using Santos Rosewood (from Bolivia, not really a rosewood) now as the Brazilian stock ran out. We're still using Brazilian Mahogany which confused me.
#47
#48
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I like the woodies when it's about using different woods in composite, with or without other materials to get the right flexibility and rigidity in the right places. The main advantage of wood in this one is that it's easy to retrieve if you bike into a canal. But I've always managed to stay out of canals.
I do see a lot more wooden fenders lately, I like that, it looks good with fat tyres. Wooden rims might be a good idea, they flex in a different way and that's supposed to be very comfortable. Cork handlebar grips is also a good idea but the for the other parts I think it takes a very high degree of woodworking and special woods to beat steel.