Did yer hear about the Wooden Engine?
It wouldn't go.
Wooden bikes
191–200 of 238 posts
Re: Wooden bikes
#192Earlier quoted context omitted.
The problem is like 0.2% of cyclists actually race but it's about 95% of marketing.
And arguably, if the goal is to get a workout, an easier ride just means you’ll have to cycle longer to reach your goal.
Or just cycle faster on a better/lighter bike.
Re: Wooden bikes
#193"The best bike is the one you ride."
Re: Wooden bikes
#194Earlier quoted context omitted.
I can't find the source at the moment, but there was actually a test done where riders rode bikes of carbon vs. alloy or steel with the frame material obscured from view. They couldn't tell the difference. When everyone is telling you that carbon has a better ride quality, it's hard not to feel it. Steel is the best frame material for 95% of people due to its durability. Quality steel frames (not Schwinn travellers)…
Steel might be nice, and you're right that there exist go-fast weight steel bikes, but it's also hard to find in new bikes at attractive weights & price points. The universe of go-fast road bikes is dominated by aluminum at the low end and carbon above about $1500US. >custom Sure, but that's pretty pricey compared to off-the-rack carbon or aluminum. What was the actual conclusion of the study you remember? That there…
The reason you can't find them is many places just don't make them at scale and you're really left to ordering from small builders. There's some really great, top notch steel frame builders in the US right now so if you're going to do it you wont be disappointed.
Re: Wooden bikes
#195The vibration dampening is a red herring. As a point of comparison, the differences in dampening between various frames/materials is on the order of ~1psi of tire pressure normally. In other words, if you found yourself with the harshest of frames, you could drop air pressure by 1 or 2psi and be at the same level as the "smoothest" frame.
Agreed. I have two bikes - the notoriously stiff Specialized Allez Sprint (aluminum), and the Cannondale SuperSix (carbon). The carbon bike has wider wheels that allow me to run ~10psi lower than I do on the aluminum bike. Anecdotally, I can barely tell the difference between the two and the deck is stacked in favor of the carbon bike. Swap the wheels and I'm sure they would feel exactly the same aside from geometry.
Where you will notice it most is in hard cornering and sprinting hard. You'll get more flame flex and feel then with regular riding. Carbon is also wholly dependent on how they shape and layer it for the ride, plus how thick is the aluminum.
Re: Wooden bikes
#196I think bikes will become a niche sports product, replaced by E-Scooters for basic transportation around town, and autonomous cars/minibuses for anything longer.
You don't get any exercise with an e-scooter, and personally I go a fair bit faster than most of them on my bike. Cycling to the work saves me time on my commute and the need not to go to a gym. My commuting bike (a very basic mountain bike, cost I can't understand why so few people cycle.
> I can't understand why so few people cycle.
Rain, snow, hills, sweat, cargo, parking, theft, [getting hit by] cars, maintenance.
I have two bicycles, and I'm considering a bikeshare subscription, because hauling them up and down three floors and maneuvering them around a tiny apartment is annoying.
Unrelated, but I was hit by a car on bike to work day.
Re: Wooden bikes
#197The vibration dampening is a red herring. As a point of comparison, the differences in dampening between various frames/materials is on the order of ~1psi of tire pressure normally. In other words, if you found yourself with the harshest of frames, you could drop air pressure by 1 or 2psi and be at the same level as the "smoothest" frame.
The gullibility of cyclists is the industry's most valuable asset. In tests, cyclists cannot tell the difference between frame materials when the frame is covered. I think it is just really seductive to think you can get magically faster by a significant amount just by buying a new frame with that new bottom bracket that's claimed to be 30% stiffer.
It's similar to any hobby that attracts both disposable income and pseudoscience. Audiophiles. Skiers. Surfers. Surgeons. (Kidding.)
Re: Wooden bikes
#198I use a bike as my primary transportation (I live in a very, very bike friendly city) and I don't think I have ever seen a wooden bike. Vibrations from the road is not something I've ever considered since it has not been a problem in any of the bikes that I've had. My primary considerations when considering a bike would be: * Price * Durability * Cargo support (like basket and rear hub)
If you do a road trip more than 80km, you feel the vibration. I find aluminum is worse than steel. With short, daily trips, I don't think people notice vibration.
Is this assuming a racing bike or something?
I biked 20km back and forth to school daily for six years, and 80km road trips are not something out of the ordinary. I don't think I've ever noticed anything about vibration. But that is in the countryside of the Netherlands, with flat terrain and good roads.
The worst thing I ever had was stiff knees for a week after, from inflammations caused by biking in too high a gear for too long.
Re: Wooden bikes
#199Engineered wood is truly an amazing material. While touring a newly-constructed home a few weeks ago, I saw what appeared to be floor joists constructed out of thin, cheap particle-board. It turns out that they're made of engineered wood, and are actually stronger than an equivalent sawed wood beam. https://imgur.com/a/3AkZblF
Am I being paranoid if I worry about how long the glue will last? I mean I'm sure the chemists who created the stuff thought of this but I've never seen any articles on the how that is researched.
Re: Wooden bikes
#200I don't understand the market for bicycles in the thousands of euro price range. Bikes get stolen often enough for me to never be relaxed leaving such a bike outside a shop or caffe or such. If you can't leave the bike anywhere, it's almost useless, except perhaps as a virtue signalling device.
I live in the Netherlands and have not had my bike stolen in 25 years. Just use a good lock and only park in secured parking locations with gated access and cameras. And don't buy a bike without knowing the full history and paperwork, otherwise you are shooting yourself in the foot by supporting criminals and raising your chance of having your bike stolen in the future.
> Just use a good lock and only park in secured parking locations with gated access and cameras.
I can sadly say from experience that this does not help when you live in student housing.
Also, one lock? You've been lucky. Two locks of different brands is a better bet (junkies tend to specialize in unlocking one particular type quickly)