Designed and built by Brit Michael Thompson with no apparent reason, the bike will be ridden by James Tully in what is hoped to be a record-making ride. The creator of the bike plans no more and no less than to break the land speed record for wooden bikes (we're not convinced a previous record exists). Or, how the guy getting ready to ride it says, at least 30+ miles per hour (48 km/h). Provided the bike doesn't splinter, of course.
Now, featuring only wood and using no metal meant that building the bike was no easy task. Especially because bikes in general are equipped with a little chain that helps the motion of the pedal be sent to the wheels and propels the bike forward.
In the case of the SplinterBike, the chain was replaced by a 128-tooth cog linking the chainring and gear on the wheel. The bike is made of a mix of hardwoods and plywood, tipping the scale at 71 pounds. It has one fixed gear and, hold on, no brakes.
There is only one problem stopping the two guys going for the record: money. Complying with the various rules the Speed Record Club has for those planning to break a speed record would cost the pair $12,000, money which they don't have.
“When James and I started this journey, we didn't realise that setting a land speed record involves certain unavoidable costs. We thought that we could knock up a wooden bike and run it down the road, follow along in a car, check the speedo and hey presto... we've just set a land speed record!” said Thompson.
You can help the two guys raising the money they need by following this link.
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