apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

hmmm, I think bikes aren't made from wood for a reason. Somehow I envision a wood bike hitting a bad pothole and snapping right in half. Wood is simply not as strong as metal. I think this may be another case of form not following function........

a very cute bike, though.......

It's very pretty.

Another example of design gone wrong.

modern on long island, I think that unless you're doing hard core street races, a wood bike would be fine. If you are doing hard core street races, the bamboo is stronger than steel and absorbs impact and vibration better than carbon fiber.

It would be nice to hear from someone who's actually tested it out and can report back on the road feel (not that I can afford the price tag).

It's nice looking, but in not practical at all. Wood simply cannot handle the sudden stresses that a pothole or curb can present.

A much nicer version of the wooden bicycle is the bamboo bike made by Calfee Bicycles. www.calfee.com

Craig Calfee is a family friend of mine, and he is using these bamboo bikes to help Zambians make a living. www.zambikes.org

nah... i'll stick with my $450 Gary Fisher Artemis thanks.
1. because i'm a cheap bastard
2. because i would cry if my fat ass broke this expensive frame
3. because i live in nyc metro, and this thing would be stolen before i could even lock it to a pole
and finally...
4. refer to number 1

not only potholes but how about getting caught in the rain on one of these bikes? yikes.

I think you all underestimate how unbelievably strong wood can be when used in the right way. We do, after all, have a wooden airplanes and wooden boats that surely take more abuse than a bike.
The bigger concern for me is having this thing stolen the first time I park it.

I'd be afraid of cracks and splintering.

It looks fantastic

"...not practical at all. Wood simply cannot handle the sudden stresses that a pothole or curb can present."

Try reading the facts - Then get back to us:

http://www.renovobikes.com/testing/

HCVMama, that link goes to a law firm. Your friend's site is http://www.calfeedesign.com/

using wood isnt all that original in a bike. the first bikes were wood. but its one of the best uses of bamboo i've seen.
while i dont think i'd go downhill singletracking on a wooden frame, it'd be fine for riding around the city, or on normal trails, like the c&o.


this one has a fun design:
http://www.waldmeister-bikes.de/waldmeister_flash_en.html

In what world is $2,000 for a bicycle affordable?

BruceS63 - think of it this way. Many people would snap up a $2,000 car and not blink twice about paying insurance, maintenance, and parking as well. Depending on location, a $2000 bike plus a few hours a month in a zipcar is far cheaper.

Somehow most of the United States was settled by white people bumping along for thousands of miles in wooden wagons with wooden wheels.

I challenge any of the expertise offered by commenters on bicycle frame design :) This frame will outlast steel and aluminum in many cases. I stopped by their booth last year at a bike show and not only are they super strong, they're also quite light. Go ahead and hit a pothole. So cool to see they make a commuter bike!

And by the way, these guys also make race bikes. Wood is damn strong when used and/or engineered correctly. Just ask the guy that makes wooden bicycle rims in Oregon.

People spend $50,000 on a car and hardly blink at it. Heck, they make monthly payments and pay interest as if they were houses, treated like a newborn baby then discarded after 5 years. Why not $2k for a bike that serves as your sole transport?

Regarding the comments about car prices vs bike prices....
as soon as my city (Los Angeles) spends an equal amount on an infrastructure for cycling as a primary means of transportation I'll joyfully spend equal amounts of my income on bicycles. Until then, I'm stuck with my $600 road bike and my $15,000 car. Unfortunately.

Wood passes the shocks onto your body, unlike the tubing used in actual bikes.

In what world is $2,000 for a bicycle affordable?

Of my 3 road bikes I have now, none would have sold for under $2000. My racing bike would go for over $5000 easily. When I ride with friends, I rarely have the most expensive bike. Serious cyclists would find $2000 affordable for a bike they wanted.

I used to joke with a girl about how much she spent on tennis rackets. Over $200 for a tennis racket? Then I realized I pay more than that for pedals.