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Would you ride a wooden bike?

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Old 09-02-16, 11:54 PM
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Would you ride a wooden bike?

This seems like amazing craftsmanship.
https://www.cycleexif.com/lyrebird-cycles-tonewood-project-2

Would you want one?
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Old 09-03-16, 12:02 AM
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Yes, and yes.
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Old 09-03-16, 03:00 AM
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Would I pay the premium for buying/owning a wooden bike - no.
Would I use one if I was given one? Sure.
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Old 09-03-16, 03:02 AM
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I woodn't.

I can't say I like the way the joins on the frame look.
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Old 09-03-16, 04:57 AM
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A RENOVO....YES and twice on Tuesday!!! My wife said she would buy one for me.

https://renovobikes.com/

https://renovobikes.com/pages/aerowood

https://renovobikes.com/pages/astoria
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Old 09-03-16, 05:37 AM
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Craig Calfee who makes top end carbon frames also builds Bamboo frames. Bamboo is sort of a wood.
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Old 09-03-16, 05:51 AM
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Bamboo is actually a grass, but "woody" in a manner of speaking.

I think they look pretty slick and wouldn't mind having one at all.

Last edited by bobwysiwyg; 09-03-16 at 06:04 AM.
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Old 09-03-16, 06:27 AM
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Originally Posted by OldTryGuy
A RENOVO....YES and twice on Tuesday!!! My wife said she would buy one for me.
You definitely won the lottery in the wife And the bike departments then. Bravo.

I love the Renovo. I doubt I will ever own one, but it is the only "aspirational" bike I have ever seen.

I don't need some $18,000, 12-lb carbon-fiber racer-replica ..... but those wooden frames .... I don't even want to know the weight, I just don't care. I want one of those bikes.
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Old 09-03-16, 07:22 AM
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It's really a carbon fibre/ wood veneer bike from what I can deduce, not really a "wooden" bike at all.
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Old 09-03-16, 07:24 AM
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Based on this page: https://lyrebirdcycles.com/category/frame-building/ it looks like the guy uses CF tubes with a wood veneer. Renovo uses just wood.

EDIT: AlexCyclistRoch beat me to it.
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Old 09-03-16, 08:50 AM
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OMG--I want one! Make mine in Brazilian rosewood, please!

Last edited by Scarbo; 09-03-16 at 09:06 AM.
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Old 09-03-16, 09:09 AM
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Nice bicycles, I wouldn't mind having one if I could fit larger tires on it (700 x 32's would work for me).

If you look down about three images there's a link to an image of a tube cut-away showing how the layers are built up; looks like a mash-up combo of wood laminate and carbon fiber all layered together.

FWIW: Some surfboard manufacturers tried making boards with a wood veneer look a few years ago. They had a nice 'retro' look, like the wooden surfboards of long ago, and were no heavier than a common fiberglass-coated board. The surf reviewers found no real difference in ride quality, but he pricing (about 20% more than a regular comparable sized surfboard) dissuaded a lot of folks from buying them, and they aren't produced anymore.
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Old 09-03-16, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by smarkinson
I woodn't.

I can't say I like the way the joins on the frame look.
100% agree. Makes it look cheap.
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Old 09-03-16, 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by OldTryGuy
A RENOVO....YES and twice on Tuesday!!! My wife said she would buy one for me.

https://renovobikes.com/

https://renovobikes.com/pages/aerowood

https://renovobikes.com/pages/astoria
Those are awesome! Rolling art.
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Old 09-03-16, 10:51 AM
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I don't like the way the joints look on the one from the OP, I have been interested in a bamboo bike but probably stick to steel for my next bike.
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Old 09-03-16, 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Maelochs
Based on this page: https://lyrebirdcycles.com/category/frame-building/ it looks like the guy uses CF tubes with a wood veneer. Renovo uses just wood.

EDIT: AlexCyclistRoch beat me to it.
Ain't a wood bike then. I don't say my bike is made from paint.
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Old 09-03-16, 11:24 AM
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I've made four bamboo bikes and happily ride them.

Making a wood one would be fun one day.
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Old 09-03-16, 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Maelochs
You definitely won the lottery in the wife And the bike departments then. Bravo.

I love the Renovo. I doubt I will ever own one, but it is the only "aspirational" bike I have ever seen.

I don't need some $18,000, 12-lb carbon-fiber racer-replica ..... but those wooden frames .... I don't even want to know the weight, I just don't care. I want one of those bikes.
https://renovobikes.com/pages/hoodoo-triathlon That is the bike she said I could have for my 2013 Ironman Florida since it was my first 140.6.
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Old 09-03-16, 01:15 PM
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Not a fan of the Renovo looks. The tubes are too thick and the slopes are a bit much. Plus with the tri bike the color choice of the wood contrasts weirdly with the black aero rims. The bike in the OP looks pretty cool though. Not amazing but cool. Wouldn't mind taking one for a test spin.
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Old 09-03-16, 01:35 PM
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I'm With Dabac... Got one ?, Bring it by and I'll give it a test ride , then Give It Back.
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Old 09-03-16, 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Moe Zhoost
Ain't a wood bike then. I don't say my bike is made from paint.
If I was going to redo the surface of a bike, using the existing frame, I'd be more apt to do what this guy did.. IMO looks great.
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...rbea-orca.html
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Old 09-03-16, 02:28 PM
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Not a scientist nor an engineer, but am a hockey player masquerading as a cyclist (though lately I've been cycling a lot more than playing hockey).

That said, any hockey player who's been around a while knows that wood sticks are utter shyte compared to modern composites, a cousin of the carbon fiber some of our bikes are made out of (I wouldn't be surprised if both were made in the same Chinese factories).

The problem with wood sticks even when covered with a laminate is that eventually water seeps in and the blade (the bottom part of the hockey stick you shoot with) becomes akin to a wet noodle; so soft it literally falls apart. Given that we generally ride our bikes outdoors I'd be concerned with the frame getting wet over time, as no sealant is perfect and the joint where the wood connects with other parts of the bike like the forks would make me nervous about its longevity.

As I said, I'm no engineer but these claims raised my brow:

1) The Renovo wood frame has much greater damage tolerance than other frame materials.
2) Although tough, if damaged, Renovo frames are usually easily and inexpensively repaired
3) Wood is as stiff pound for pound as the metals, even as it excels at absorbing vibration.

If anyone more knowledgeable than me had any thoughts on them, I'd be interested to hear their opinion.

The bikes are certainly attractive-looking bikes, no doubt, and my curiousity is piqued at being able to test ride one.
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Old 09-03-16, 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by cyclist2000
I don't like the way the joints look on the one from the OP, ...
Yes, it would've looked better if he'd just left the CF uncovered there, or maybe colored to match the wood...
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Old 09-03-16, 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Sy Reene
If I was going to redo the surface of a bike, using the existing frame, I'd be more apt to do what this guy did.. IMO looks great.
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...rbea-orca.html
Definitely like this. I have a 90's Bianchi frame I had planned to start painting tomorrow. Your post has me thinking subversive thoughts.

I wonder how this would look on a more traditional frame.
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Old 09-03-16, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Scarbo
OMG--I want one! Make mine in Brazilian rosewood, please!
$18,000 price just went to $180,000!

I know a lutherer here in Australia who makes guitars for many prominent players around the world. His most valued possessions are his small stocks of Brazilian rosewood.
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