The Spruce Goose of Bikes
By Rocky Thompson on December 12th, 2006
Designers at Xylon Bikes wanted to build a modern bike with the performance characteristics of carbon or metal out of wood. They’re probably afraid that we’re going to need to start rationing metal or something during the war. Looks like the chain’s a little loose on this one.
Um…. wood flexes. One could argue that the major usefulness of wood in building is precisely that characteristic. Unless 2-wheeled design has changed radically in the last, say, 25 seconds, frame flex = bad. Nice Apes on that bad boy though.
Techweenie,
Hardtail, rigid frames that don’t flex are considerd harsh.
They’re engineering specific types of flex into sportbike motorcycle frames, too.
I’m going to go ahead and say “owned” in a semi-ironic-yet-secretly-serious way now.
“Owned.”
I’m glad we got that out in the open.
“Get on the bike, Smithers… now”
Ah, I’m with you now. It’s like a ski or an old guy: Flex one way is good, flex the other way ends you up at a chairopractor.
I think that I like the Calfee bamboo frames better; maybe I’m just too attached to the tube paradigm.
http://www.calfeedesign.com/bamboo.htm
Nice to see the comments, feedback is an essential part of product development, thank you.
Just one small point however…anyone ever ridden a bike with a frame that it is so hard it just feels “dead” or with suspension that is so sloppy it feels like you are riding a “gator”
Try a wooden frame bike yourself! you are in for a pleasanrt surprise.
Nick, ya’ll have a demo fleet out there somewhere? I’ll take that dare.