Hi guys,
This is a tryout for me.
I watched a awesome movie the other day called "Porco Rosso" and got into a great conversation with a friend and fellow nerd about World War One planes.
Wood, steel, oil, craftmanship, danger and freedom. I think that makes for a great concept.
I instantly got ideas for a wooden bicycle and wood/steel joinery. I searched for inspiration on pinterest and here I am writing a thread with plans to build a wooden bicycle.
So what are my intentions? Geometry? Style? Practicality? Use?
I'll let it evolve while planning and building, but my first ideas and thoughts are as follows:
-Antique style in looks and build. You have these beautiful modern laminated bicycles, but I am not going for that. I am aiming for antique, rough, oily, greasy used looks. Antique screws/bolts and nuts. Steel joinery by brazing or rivets if the budget allows it.
I would love the "Elgin Twin" in wood aswell.
-Geometry. Not fully decided on that too. I absolutely enjoy my Porucho build and my self built "Pope Roger" bike. So I measured both, pictures below.
-Use/Practicality: Able to ride hundreds of kilometres on a day with it. Just for fun sunny-day tours. Not necessarily a rack for luggage.
Haven't decided on fenders, although I love the looks of my mahogany wooden fenders.
Inspiration pictures (not mine) and then my notes and parts pile:
Found this picture on Ratrodbikes. I just really enjoy that rough look and shape. Thanks!
Industrial looks, awesome!
Not antique, more vintage, but potential!
Very similar and simple build found on instructables.
Not rough, but gorgeous nonetheless!
Checkout that left cruiser.
This looks antique, oily. 1898 I believe. This picture alone makes me drool.
My own notes and ideas so far:
Geometry comparison between my bicycles.
My parts pile:
1940 Wooden wheelset with Torpedo coasterbrake hub.
Choice between candle lamps.
Stem, very old and nice!
Stamp brake!
So lots of thoughts and ideas.
I enjoy restoring a bike, but then a crucial piece of creativity is missing for my experience. I enjoy design freedom.
It will certainly be a large bicycle.
First I will make more concepts and notes. And plan for materials, wood type and joinery.
Then I will think of a assembly JIG. The most crucial parts need alignment: Bottom bracket shaft.
The wheel axles and their frame dropouts.
Seat tube (if there is a seat tube). Seat log?![grin :grin: :grin:](/forum/styles/fusion/xenforo/smilies/grin.gif)
Thanks for reading!
This is a tryout for me.
I watched a awesome movie the other day called "Porco Rosso" and got into a great conversation with a friend and fellow nerd about World War One planes.
Wood, steel, oil, craftmanship, danger and freedom. I think that makes for a great concept.
I instantly got ideas for a wooden bicycle and wood/steel joinery. I searched for inspiration on pinterest and here I am writing a thread with plans to build a wooden bicycle.
So what are my intentions? Geometry? Style? Practicality? Use?
I'll let it evolve while planning and building, but my first ideas and thoughts are as follows:
-Antique style in looks and build. You have these beautiful modern laminated bicycles, but I am not going for that. I am aiming for antique, rough, oily, greasy used looks. Antique screws/bolts and nuts. Steel joinery by brazing or rivets if the budget allows it.
I would love the "Elgin Twin" in wood aswell.
-Geometry. Not fully decided on that too. I absolutely enjoy my Porucho build and my self built "Pope Roger" bike. So I measured both, pictures below.
-Use/Practicality: Able to ride hundreds of kilometres on a day with it. Just for fun sunny-day tours. Not necessarily a rack for luggage.
Haven't decided on fenders, although I love the looks of my mahogany wooden fenders.
Inspiration pictures (not mine) and then my notes and parts pile:
![214683-blair-postcard-0.png 214683-blair-postcard-0.png](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221727-214683-blair-postcard-0.png)
Found this picture on Ratrodbikes. I just really enjoy that rough look and shape. Thanks!
![1cd5619e393e53578bc5d4ec2274ce74.jpg 1cd5619e393e53578bc5d4ec2274ce74.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221728-1cd5619e393e53578bc5d4ec2274ce74.jpg)
Industrial looks, awesome!
![5806e8ebfd35458aafb30a08861a244e.jpg 5806e8ebfd35458aafb30a08861a244e.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221729-5806e8ebfd35458aafb30a08861a244e.jpg)
Not antique, more vintage, but potential!
![71bdb88687e615866720cfe80d0fdd46.jpg 71bdb88687e615866720cfe80d0fdd46.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221730-71bdb88687e615866720cfe80d0fdd46.jpg)
![6d921e51fd688f9c6fc8c3ef3a3a7369.jpg 6d921e51fd688f9c6fc8c3ef3a3a7369.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221731-6d921e51fd688f9c6fc8c3ef3a3a7369.jpg)
Very similar and simple build found on instructables.
![a636088c2634aecee117b42c6211d24b.jpg a636088c2634aecee117b42c6211d24b.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221732-a636088c2634aecee117b42c6211d24b.jpg)
Not rough, but gorgeous nonetheless!
![176a2841ea65594f902552f7a6b4b09a.jpg 176a2841ea65594f902552f7a6b4b09a.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221750-176a2841ea65594f902552f7a6b4b09a.jpg)
Checkout that left cruiser.
![372ee2f5600f8ced77d29ecc2c9c96c7.jpg 372ee2f5600f8ced77d29ecc2c9c96c7.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221735-372ee2f5600f8ced77d29ecc2c9c96c7.jpg)
This looks antique, oily. 1898 I believe. This picture alone makes me drool.
My own notes and ideas so far:
![20221225_122624.jpg 20221225_122624.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221738-20221225-122624.jpg)
![20230110_115622.jpg 20230110_115622.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221739-20230110-115622.jpg)
Geometry comparison between my bicycles.
My parts pile:
![20221216_164913.jpg 20221216_164913.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221740-20221216-164913.jpg)
![20221216_165026.jpg 20221216_165026.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221741-20221216-165026.jpg)
![20221216_165021.jpg 20221216_165021.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221742-20221216-165021.jpg)
![20221216_203304.jpg 20221216_203304.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221743-20221216-203304.jpg)
![20221216_203721.jpg 20221216_203721.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221744-20221216-203721.jpg)
![20221216_203733.jpg 20221216_203733.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221745-20221216-203733.jpg)
1940 Wooden wheelset with Torpedo coasterbrake hub.
![20230110_174001.jpg 20230110_174001.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221746-20230110-174001.jpg)
![20230110_174010.jpg 20230110_174010.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221747-20230110-174010.jpg)
Choice between candle lamps.
![20230110_174132.jpg 20230110_174132.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221748-20230110-174132.jpg)
Stem, very old and nice!
![20230110_174104.jpg 20230110_174104.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/221/221749-20230110-174104.jpg)
Stamp brake!
So lots of thoughts and ideas.
I enjoy restoring a bike, but then a crucial piece of creativity is missing for my experience. I enjoy design freedom.
It will certainly be a large bicycle.
First I will make more concepts and notes. And plan for materials, wood type and joinery.
Then I will think of a assembly JIG. The most crucial parts need alignment: Bottom bracket shaft.
The wheel axles and their frame dropouts.
Seat tube (if there is a seat tube). Seat log?
![grin :grin: :grin:](/forum/styles/fusion/xenforo/smilies/grin.gif)
Thanks for reading!
Last edited: