darwin
Well-Known Member
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Dunno the jury's still out on this one. Kinda cool but with reservations. http://innovationforendurance.msn.com/articles/detail/cycling/256393567
Clear plastic bike
- Thread starter darwin
- Start date
grinningremlin
Active Member
It would make a great wall-hanger at a bike museum.I don't trust things that can't be repaired, I'm assuming if it ever went beyond prototype, like aluminum it's disposable.Or what UV does to plastic, you'd have to paint it, losing the "neato" factor.I have thought it'd be cool to have a fiberglass frame, who needs suspension with a fishing rod for a frame?
MotorBicycleRacing
Well-Known Member
You obviously didn't read the article.
Do they paint helicopter windshields and fighter jet canopies? lol
grinningremlin
Active Member
Not to be a d.i.c.k., but your assumptions of the obvious are way off.No, they do not paint canopies, at the first sign of fracture or UV degradation, they REPLACE them.Are you gonna replace your frame every time you see a tiny white streak in the plastic?
roughrider
Member
I thought the bike was gorgeous. It's a great concept and worth pursuing. Who knows what final applications might result?
Remember the first carbon fiber bikes? All the gainsayers were saying, "Carbon reinforced plastic can't handle point loads; it's weak in compression; it's cost prohibitive..."
And now look.
Remember the first carbon fiber bikes? All the gainsayers were saying, "Carbon reinforced plastic can't handle point loads; it's weak in compression; it's cost prohibitive..."
And now look.
Happy Valley
Active Member
Imagine the internal lighting schemes possible with LED! Actually I love innovative stuff like this.
As the creator states "It could be the perfect material for creating a low-cost bicycle that's easy to manufacture and has a very unique style." Nice concept there.
When carbon fiber first showed up to make bikes many thought it out of place but it has taken over just about every aspect of the bicycle industry from frames to wheels to crank arms and brakes.
Check out this short vid on 3D printing bike frame lugs, simply beautiful.
[video=vimeo;34293503]http://vimeo.com/34293503[/video]
As the creator states "It could be the perfect material for creating a low-cost bicycle that's easy to manufacture and has a very unique style." Nice concept there.
When carbon fiber first showed up to make bikes many thought it out of place but it has taken over just about every aspect of the bicycle industry from frames to wheels to crank arms and brakes.
Check out this short vid on 3D printing bike frame lugs, simply beautiful.
[video=vimeo;34293503]http://vimeo.com/34293503[/video]
grinningremlin
Active Member
If it was lugged somehow, with a solvent or heat cured glue (for repair ability) it would be something viable.Other than that I see a very pretty dixie-cup frame, though I love steel.
Happy Valley
Active Member
The benefits achieved with carbon fiber is so far deterred by the cost of working with the material.
As the creator of the bike in the OP said: "It could be the perfect material for creating a low-cost bicycle that's easy to manufacture....."
Here's another plastic bike made from an epoxy like resin, weighs 17 lbs.
As the creator of the bike in the OP said: "It could be the perfect material for creating a low-cost bicycle that's easy to manufacture....."
Here's another plastic bike made from an epoxy like resin, weighs 17 lbs.
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Samdallas214
Member
lets see it 5 10 years from now will it hold up.
And the scratches how would you get rid of them?
And how would 1 hold up with a 2/4 stroke on it?
And the scratches how would you get rid of them?
And how would 1 hold up with a 2/4 stroke on it?
