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Have you ever seen a wooden bicycle before? If not, then you’re in for a treat! Wooden bikes originated centuries ago, and their popularity is on the rise once again.
What Are Wooden Bikes?
Wooden bikes are bicycles made primarily out of wood. They can be made from a variety of different woods, depending on the manufacturer.
Hardwoods like ash, beech, bog oak and walnut can all be used for bike frames. While you might have heard of bamboo bikes, bamboo is actually classed as a woody grass rather than a type of wood.
What Is The Origin Of Wooden Bikes?
Baron Karl Freiherr von Drais created a human-powered wooden vehicle with wheels in 1817. Known as the Draisine or dandy-horse, this unusual invention was the precursor of the modern bicycle. Without pedals or a bike chain, the contraption was powered by the user walking or running.
Wooden bikes were popular for a brief period of time and manufactured up to the 1940s.
However, with the advent of the modern bike, wooden bikes fell out of favour. Although children’s’ balance bikes are often made of wood, carbon frames became predominant for adult bikes.
In recent years, however, there has been a resurgence of interest in wooden bikes for all ages. They are now becoming more popular than ever before.
What Are The Advantages Of Wooden Bikes?
Wooden bikes have many advantages over traditional metal bikes. They are more durable, eco-friendly, and stylish.
Wood absorbs more vibration than any other type of bike frame. In fact, it absorbs four times as much as carbon frames.
As long as wood is correctly sealed, it won’t be affected by temperature changes or wet conditions. Wooden bicycles are also low maintenance. Wooden bicycles are eco-friendly if made from sustainable wood.
And finally, these bikes are sure to get people talking. They’re perfect for anyone who wants to make a statement on the road.
What Should You Consider When Buying A Wooden Bike?
There are a few factors you need to consider when buying a wooden bike. The most important thing is to make sure that the bike is made from a durable wood, such as oak or ash.
You also need to make sure that the bike is fitted with quality components, such as Shimano or Sturmey-Archer gears and Tektro brakes. Wooden bikes can be heavier than traditional bikes and slightly harder to lift. Therefore, they’re more suited for road usage than off-road riding.
The cost of a wooden bike can be more expensive than a traditional metal bike. However, maintenance is generally less than for traditional bikes, so over the long term the cost should even out.
If you’re interested in buying a wooden bike, make sure to do your research first. There are a number of quality manufacturers out there, so you’re sure to find the perfect bike for your needs.
What Is The Cost Of A Wooden Bike?
Wooden bikes can vary in price, depending on the quality of the bike and the materials used. They tend to be more expensive than metal bikes, particularly if they are hand-made to order.
The type of wooden bicycle that you choose will also determine the price. Expect to pay more for a wooden e-bike – from $6500 (£5,000) to $10,000 (£7,670).
Wooden pedal 7-speed bikes can cost from $700 (£530) and go up to $5000 or more (£3,800). 2-speed wooden bikes are significantly cheaper. Wooden folding commuter bikes are quite rare. COCO-MATBIKE.UK makes the Mentor Foldable 2-speed which costs £1,990 (around $2595) and the Mentor Foldable 5-speed, retailing at £2,350 (around $3,064).
Children’s wooden bikes vary in price but a handmade version can cost upwards of $600 (£460).
COCO-MATBIKE.UK Wooden Bicycle Test Drive
COCO-MATBIKE.UK was founded by Paul Efmorfidis in Athens in 2016. After his carbon bike broke in the Alps, he decided to create a robust yet sustainable wooden bike.
Each of these wooden bikes is handmade in Greece from American ash (Fraxus Americana). Every adult ash tree provides enough wood to make 50 bikes. What’s more, COCO-MATBIKE.UK will plant a new tree in the UK for every bike purchased, which will be tagged with the owner’s name.
We recently took their Penelope E-Bike out for a spin. Firstly, this wooden bike is quick to charge, in around 3 hours.
It also has a really stylish look which is a conversation starter – you’ll lose track of the amount of people saying “nice bike” as you cycle past! The tyres are rubber but due to their pale color, from a distance they look like they’re made from wood too ;-).
There are wooden mudguards, which comes in handy if driving through muddy or wet terrain and a digital display which shows your speed, the temperature and the level of pedalling assistance selected.
This ranges from zero, if you wish to pedal without using the electric motor to 5. We found that a setting of 3 or 4 gave a really good boost to our pedalling. With this bike, the motor doesn’t take over completely so you’ll still get a good workout.
Cycling over old cobblestones and bumpy surfaces, we were amazed at how smooth the ride was. You definitely experience significantly fewer reverberations in your arms and legs than on a traditional bicycle.
We tried the bike with an optional saddle lining seat cover which makes longer rides comfortable. You can also purchase a bike lock, wooden box to fit on the integrated front luggage rack, bike ring, rear rack and child seat and a wooden bench storage rack.
For an additional cost, it’s possible to engrave your wooden bike with your name or a logo or brand.
In Conclusion: Wooden Bicycles
If you’re looking for a unique and eco-friendly bicycle, then COCO-MATBIKE.UK is the brand for you. They offer a wide variety of wooden bicycles that are sure to turn heads.
These are some of the most beautiful bicycles on the market today. They are eco-friendly and sustainable. Not only do they look amazing, but they also ride like a dream!
Whether you’re looking for a road bike, e-bike, or even a folding commuter bike, they have something that will suit your needs. And because they’re made of wood, you can be sure that they will last for years to come.
Read next: The Best Women’s Cycling Kit for Stylish Riders
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