mikedy26

I love the look but I have visions of them shattering with too much weight.

This image is too large, so you'll have to look at it here.
https://www.myredqueen.com/culture-≈-.../#.UCklU0JATHM

oberthecat

I have one like this. Notice that there strips of aluminum laminated between the strips of wood.

Chombi

Just as I suspected, it's laminated wood, which will be the best way to make the bar more "predictable" and stable, structural-wise.
I'm wondering if they can laminate a bar by rolling together the different wood layers and some way steam bending and setting them before the laminating glue cures. that way you can maybe do a drop type bar easier. A sort of roll type wood lamination...... That can look cool at the ends where you might see the different layers coiled together.

Chombi

Velognome 

Hi mikedy26,welcome to the C&V, glad to have you aboard! I think you'll find a lot of what your wanting in this thread:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...den+handlebars

The search function on the forum will alos lead you to lots of other posting on this topic. Did you look there first?

puchfinnland

as a woodenboat builder that bar is no challange at all.

you could even make it solid if you choose a hardwood.

laminated curved bars are even possible- I dont know why he put aluminum in the lamination-epoxy dont like the stuff.

Flying Merkel

Looks like a gimmick to me. How about a bar made from a fully recyclable material that doesn't involve the death of any trees- steel or aluminum?

SJX426 

The al strip is not for strength, it for the peace of mind of the rider.

cyclotoine

I don't understand it, it's uncomfortable for any real length or ride. If you can create a bend then sure it might have some practical use. It will not last as long as an alloy bar either. It requires maintenance to not dry out and weaken. I am sure that people will speak out about how with proper care and blah blah blah it can last longer etc etc.. but the fact is that most people do not do maintenance on much of anything these days. When I started dating my own girlfriend and we were set to go on a road trip I asked her when she last changed the oil in her car. Her answer: "never". This is actually more typical than it is an exception of things in general. So you can make a lighter and stronger alloy bar that will last indefinitely. Which is more environmentally friendly, that's tough to answer. I'll stick with aluminum bars.

mikedy26

Cool, Thanks for the info!

Chombi

Who knows,.....maybe someone somewhere in the world is gluing together some Evian and Fiji water bottles right at this moment trying to find out......

Chombi

due ruote 

It's nicely made and an attractive object, and I don't see any problem whatsoever with strength. Laminated wood is very strong, and I would hope the maker chose an appropriate hardwood like ash, oak or hickory. Personally, though, I think a wooden part looks out of place on most bikes. I generally feel the same way about wooden fenders. On a bamboo bike, maybe pretty cool.

zebede

I agree with your points, strength, weight, comfort, durability are arguably less than metal bars. But you gain a TON of style and the some of these factors (strength, comfort) may be made competitive by a good design. I like the idea and would ride a good implementation of the concept. As far as environmentally friendly come on trees are renewable resource and aluminium is the most recycled material. This would not factor into my decision.

Captain Blight

I've thought about doing this myself. I think if you "unfolded" a set of drop bars, as it were, that would give you the shape for the veneers; steam, stack, clamp in form (I think building the form would be more of a challenge than actually making the bars), let dry; remover from form, glue, re-clamp, let dry; trim, shape, install.

I think a set of wooden (perhaps mahogany) Lauterwassers on a DL-1 would be very, very chic. Pair with a russet saddle, saddlebag, and handlebar bag, with brass or copper trim, and that would knock the eyes right out of the haters' heads.

Velognome 

Stylish yes, but perhaps a bit hard to work. The bars that have lasted from the 1890's seem to be steam bent Hickory. Maybe Hichory with a Honey brooks and grips on brown frame with brass fenders?

oberthecat

Here some more
https://sportsvibe.com/wooden-bicycle...rs-by-bellboy/
https://www.officinemilanifirenze.it/
This is the brand I have.

bibliobob

It's all about the fashion.... It's been done many times but I'm afraid that I don't see the point in it, other than to be fashionable or to have something to talk about.....

MarkusForest

Here is a company out of Montreal that make gorgeous wooden bars https://fny.bigcartel.com/

KonAaron Snake 

+1 - why? If someone thinks it looks really unique, OK...on their bike. It's really not something I understand, aluminum works just fine.

Velognome 

The first wooden bars were made by Old Hickory Cycle in the 1880's. Their slogan was that the bars were "Non Vibratory" so that was the point, it dampend road vibrations.