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via Bicycle Design by James on 9/9/09
Thomas Pascoli Scott is a product design student at Centro Universitário da Cidade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He recently built this wooden bike as school project and submitted it to me in hopes of getting some feedback. I'll let Thomas explain his idea behind the design in his own words below... let him know what you think about it in the comments.
The point of this product (besides transporting one from a place to another) is to point out that we can reduce our dependence on metals and other non-renewable materials when we replace them with more sustainable ones. The design itself, is the result of an attempt to create a strong structure with an aesthetic form, enabling a greater appreciation of the incredible material that wood is, emphasizing its colors, grain patterns and texture.
In the native Brazilian language (tupi-guarani), Embira means wood fiber. The 3kg frame is structured like a box. The walls are made of 4mm plywood and are structured internally with a simple truss of plywood which is later filled with the *mamona p.u foam for extra strength. No screws or nails are used to assemble the frame, only wood joinery and glue.Although the main target was the frame alone, other parts of the bike are composed of biodegradable products, such as the Brooks leather saddle and grips. The handlebars were picked up free of charge from a bicycle scrap yard and then refurbished.
Materials used for frame:Freijó wood
Goiabão wood,
cedar plywood,
Mamona based polyurethane foam
Pva based glue
Old metal tubes (steel and brass)
*Mamona = Brazilian plant which produces oil similar to castor oil
*Embira = native brazilian language (tupi-guarani) word for wood fiber
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