Is it possible to build a bicycle made from wood?
Dominator Asked: Is it possible to build a bicycle made from wood?
I am a student in a senior high-school woodworking class and I am very determined to make my final wood shop project to be a bicycle, made of wood.I have one semester (roughly 5 months) to build this project and I want to know if it is even possible to do.All design will be done be me personally, however I need help as to ideas to construct a pedaling mechanism without using a metal chain.I want it to be 100% out of wood (if possible).Also I need wooden wheel ideas and a way to use back brakes (Without the "Fred Flinstone" way).Any help is extremely appreciated
Answers:
scroll down just a bit here.. you will see one that was made of wood and a little idea as to how he did it
http://www.crookedbrains.net/2008/03/veh
There have be may bikes made from wood but a 100% one would not be ride able.
Schwinn makes a bike out of flax fiber.It promises to be as strong and flexible as carbon fiber, and much more environmentally friendly.
Look at the Renovo web site http://www.renovobikes.com/ to see some gorgeous bike frames made from wood. I've seen one in person and it was pure artistry. These bikes use ordinary components for the drive train, though.
HTH
wood wheels are what bikes started with
for good reason, they moved on
but it can be done
they had no gears or chain though
drive was direct like a tricycle, still metal not wood
you could drive the front wheel directly from wood cranks and pedals
top speed would be about 7mph though
you could make wood gears and chain but there are hundreds of parts in a chain
what about rope and pulleys?
anyway
it;s not really possible to buidl anytthing practical
it would wear out too soon and be too much hand labor to build [ too $$$$ to sell]
what about tires?
people make bamboo bikes now
of course that is just the frame
and there is a company renovo that makes wood #####$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ bikes
just the frames i think
brakes are going to be tough without rubber
wood just doesn;t have much friction
maybe make it a 'fixie', that would aid in braking some
though the cranks then have to be stronger, and attach to the shoes
bearing also are tough
wood isn;t really very strong for very compressed loads that also have to be low friction
but it would last a few miles
wle
Google "bamboo bicycle".It's done all the time.No chain?Don't see a way of getting around that.You're still going to need a certain amount of metal parts in any bicycle.
Dom
Yes. You have already found out about ALL wood bikes, Natural fiber and epoxy frames, and of course the bamboo bike. The question is how functional you want the bike to be. As a piece of art, an all wood bike would be pretty cool. BUT, as a rider, it would not function competitively with its commercial counter parts. If you want a functional wood bike, like the bamboo bike… you will need to merge wood with traditional components.
Yes, wood has ben used in bike frames for decades. In fact, there are still automobile frames made from wood! I drove and raced a Lotus Super 7 which was an all wood frame. It was very strong and light! I could carry the frame hanging over a shoulder like a computer case.!
Soccerref
hi…
Nothing is impossible if you want to do it…. even a car canbuild used a wood, what more bicycle…
Anyway please visit my blog, hope there is something you can get for the tip of building your dream bicycle
