The SplinterBike is an invention by Michael Thompson. It is a 100%
wood
Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...
en
bicycle
A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered transport, human-powered or motorized bicycle, motor-assisted, bicycle pedal, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, with two bicycle wheel, wheels attached to a ...
which only uses glue to hold everything together. No bolts or screws were used.
History
On September 16, 2010, during the
Tour of Britain
The Tour of Britain is a multi-stage cycling race, conducted on British roads, in which participants race across Great Britain to complete the race in the fastest time.
The event dates back to the first British stage races held just after th ...
, Michael Thompson (a veteran wood joiner) suggested to his friend James Tully (an amateur cyclist) that he could make a 100% wooden bicycle. James responded by saying that if Michael would build it, he would ride it.
To consolidate these bold statements the two made a £1 bet.
100% Wooden Bicycle Land Speed Record
On August 18, 2011 Thompson and Tully set the 100% Wooden Bicycle Land Speed Record with an average speed of 11.3 MPH (18.2 km/h).
Because this was the first 100% wooden bicycle, all they needed was a successful run to measure the speed.
Due to the use of a soft running track and mechanical failure, James was not able to drive the bike to higher speeds.
SplinterBikeHʌɪbrɪd
The Hʌɪbrɪd is a derivative of the original SplinterBike. The idea behind the bicycle was to build an everyday bicycle with as much wood as possible.
Some elements of a bicycle, like the drive section or brakes, are simply not realistic in wood.
However, the entire frame and the rims are made of wood (
walnut
A walnut is the edible seed of any tree of the genus '' Juglans'' (family Juglandaceae), particularly the Persian or English walnut, '' Juglans regia''. They are accessory fruit because the outer covering of the fruit is technically an i ...
and
birch
A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus ''Betula'' (), in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech- oak family Fagaceae. The genus ''Betula'' contains 3 ...
).
Thompson T-Bar Frame
The frame uses a T shape for maximum strength, while maintaining the necessary flexibility. Other wooden framed bicycles use a tubular design, making the Hʌɪbrɪd unique.
See also
*
Bamboo bicycle
*
Cardboard bicycle
*
Chukudu wood bicycle
*
Wooden bicycle
References
Bicycles
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