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NAHBS 2013: Connor Wood Bicycles’ Ash Wood Cruiser Bike

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Connor Wood Bicycles ash wood cruiser bike

Connor Wood Bicycles are built with ash wood, which has been used in high stress applications for ages in things like axe handles, Louisville Sluggers, weapons, etc. It absorbs vibration well, too, making it a great material for bicycles

Builder Chris Connor hollows out the front tubes to create butted shapes. Wall thicknesses vary from .27″ up to about half an inch at the junctions. He then layers Kevlar/wood sandwich structures for the stays. They’re steam bent to shape, then bonded with an aerospace epoxy with woven Kevlar sheets between. Click through for detail pics and more info…

Connor Wood Bicycles ash wood cruiser bike

Connor Wood Bicycles ash wood cruiser bike

Connor Wood Bicycles ash wood cruiser bike

The wood is seasoned and cured, so it won’t warp or change shape over time. The bonding of several plies at different angles also negates the likelihood of it getting out of whack. A marine spar varnish protects it from the elements.

Connor Wood Bicycles ash wood cruiser bike

Frames start at $3,000, but he generally sells complete bikes because some of the parts need to be pretty particular for the frame. This “hot rod” 29er cruiser would run about $4,500. Frame weight is about 6.5lbs.

Connor says he drove his car onto the curved piece and it only deflected about 3mm, adding that it would have to be crushed almost flat before it would fail.

Connorcycles.com

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tommy
11 years ago

the bike is stunning.. but the fork?? try again please

Nash
Nash
11 years ago

Are the bars made from an old broom handle? Or does he have a line on wooden bars on the way as well?

Bayard
Bayard
11 years ago

This bike gave me a woody

Jack
Jack
11 years ago

Just because you can do something does not mean you must. Wooden bikes are over man, hear me OVER!

Mark M
Mark M
11 years ago

I agree with Tommy. The bike is perfect except for the fork. Needs something a bit fatter to balance out the wood. I wooden fork would look awesome! The Japanese mahogany bike builder did it, so why not?

Quinn
Quinn
11 years ago

I like the fork, it goes along with the cranks and seatpost, and being a FORK, I would rather deal with metal than wood

Mike
Mike
11 years ago

Stop. Making. Wood. Bikes.

Gary
Gary
11 years ago

You are all overlooking the fact that this is an important reference point for bike reviewers who refer to cycles as having a “wooden feel”.

Walt
11 years ago

Man, the bamboo guys aren’t weird and cool anymore. Who will step up with a pasta frame next year? Seashells and freerange gull vomit? Masonry? There are plenty more terrible materials still available!

As an aside, someone needs to do a photoshop mashup of this and the Ogre.

hollywood
hollywood
11 years ago

donky

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