Cardboard Bicycle

[neptune]

I do not have the necessary skills to create a link, but go on google and search Cardboard Bicycle. Perhaps someone else can post a Link, please. This bicycle has been designed by Izhah Gafni,an Israeli Engineer. The claim is that it is made from cardboard apart from the brakes and chain [what about the tyres?] The bike is allegedly waterproofed by a resin coating. It costs £10 to manufacture, so dont expect high end components. It is said to be capable of carrying a 34 stone rider. Oh, and there is an optional electric motor. It is claimed to be "durable". Whilst this is an interesting piece of engineering, it is not going to do much for the image of cycling. Any comments?

 

[eddieo]

here you go...well it looks like a bike unlike some discussed on here

The amazing cardboard bike project | Kaid Benfield's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC

Cycle on the Recycled: A $9 Cardboard Bike Set to Enter Production in Israel | Transportation on GOOD

video

Izhar cardboard bike project on Vimeo

 

[neptune]

Eddieo, thanks for the link. I am torn two ways here. I admire the skill and determination of the designer/builder. Over a long period of time, I feel a steel bicycle would be more cost effective for third world countries. However, the way that the world works, is that the best bargains are only available to the rich. To flood the world with cheap disposable bikes, is to undermine the idea of a bike as a very valuable long term possession. This kind of thinking is all too prevalent amongst young people today. Many teenagers today seem to be incapable of keeping and maintaining a bicycle. I used to fall into the trap of lending my spare bikes to my grandsons. They would always come back punctured, or bent and broken. Or not come back at all. The attitude seems to be "Well, they are only old bikes." To me, third class biking is better than first class walking. OK, rant over.

 

[GaRRy]

loads of images here of this and other cardboard bikes.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cardboard+bicycle&hl=en&pwst=1&prmd=imvnsu&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ODhbUPqPNYqFhQexs4HYCQ&ved=0CDoQsAQ&biw=1260&bih=749

Only issue I have is with its so called green credentials as there are plenty of ways already to recycle cardboard that are far more usefull and that it does not use old cardboard but stuff specfically manufactured for the purpose (so why not just turn into new box's)

oh and a final retail price of $60-$90 by which time you can buy a low end metal one (made from recycled metal).

 

[jerrysimon]

Agree with most of the comments here, but it is an inspirational project all the same.

The final bike design actually does not look too bad

Thanks for sharing.

Regards

Jerry