I've got wood

After my current guitar commission is out the workshop I'm going to start prototyping some wooden bike parts. There seems to be a market for these bits, and Max at Tokyo Fixed seemed excited when I mentioned that I think I could easily make some of this kit. I'm also in early talks with Ricky Feather at Feather Cycles about doing a showpiece tourer with wooden bars, guards and racks. I suppose this thread is a little bit of market research…

Bars
I'm interested to see what profiles of bars people would suggest I manufacture. Drops are out of the question, of course. But I think I could manage to produce bars with both a rise and a sweep (something I've not seen any of the other makers do). Any suggestions of bar profiles that are popular and a nice all rounder? I was thinking of some nice sit up and beg type ones, and perhaps some standard hipster risers. Mentions of specific bar profiles would be great, so I can try and get my hands on some for jig making purposes.
Clamp diameters - which is the standard?

Racks
Now this is a subject I know little about. I'll be working with Ricky to make the racks for that bike, but I think I should be able to make my own racks to retrofit on to most bikes. What are the best retrofit racks available (both front and rear)? And what do you like/not like about them?

Guards
There's a lot of talk about these in another thread, I know. Short fenders to bolt on to brake holes will be easy, no problem. I think I should be able to do race-blade type retrofit ones too. Full guards will be more difficult though as I'll have to work out a way to get past brakes. Compound curvature has been mentioned in the other thread and I'm still working on a way I could do that cost effectively. Are flat guards really that much worse?

Any other suggestions/ideas would be appreciated.

Big suggestion: don't make wooden handlebars. I'm sure your a proffesional, but I would hate to see you test your wares with your face, so to speak.

Make nice non-load baring stuff, IE mudguards, chainguards, maybe even a bolt on grip. Bottle holders. I may sound harsh, but I'm also paranoid.

Have you got any vegan-friendly wood substitutes?

Go for the kill..make a frame! http://fudder.de/artikel/2009/03/12/waldmeister-design-fahrraeder-aus-holz/

Big suggestion: don't make wooden handlebars. I'm sure your a proffesional, but I would hate to see you test your wares with your face, so to speak.

I must admit it's worried me a little bit. I do know a lot about structurally loading wood being a guitar maker though.
I would of course have to do some destruction testing with my wooden bars and steel/alu ones for comparison

The real issue is that wood's tolerance changes more rapidly than metal's (unless you are talking about extreme hard woods, like the ones they make bearings for the space shuttle out of).

The Attack rule of bike mechanics is Thou shalt not fuck with things that are load bareing. But, as I say, I am paranoid.

+1 To a decent (crud catcher style) rear mudguard

Some laminates are extraordinarily strong, with a pre-determined amount of deformation.

i.e. strong handlebars that flex in a specific direction to absorb road buzz/chatter?

The right materials, laminated with the right adhesive would be plenty tough I'm sure. You'd probably want to stick a steel sleeve at the clamping point.

http://www.f8cycles.com/ use bamboo bars, though they're proper short hipster stylee

Some laminates are extraordinarily strong, with a pre-determined amount of deformation.

i.e. strong handlebars that flex in a specific direction to absorb road buzz/chatter?

Laminate/glue line direction will be more dictated by the profile actually, as it's what makes making the shapes possible. Fortunately the stronger dimensions happen to line up with the higher loads in most cases

The right materials, laminated with the right adhesive would be plenty tough I'm sure. You'd probably want to stick a steel sleeve at the clamping point.

http://www.f8cycles.com/ use bamboo bars, though they're proper short hipster stylee

I like the idea of a steel clamp section, but that would mean I'd more than likely have to go for an oversize stem. Not ideal.

For handlebars you could take a leaf from the Mongels book and use horn reinforcement a la the recurve bow?

I like the idea of a steel clamp section, but that would mean I'd more than likely have to go for an oversize stem. Not ideal.

I was thinking of rebating the bar and sticking a sleeve in, though I realise now it'll probably serve fuck-all purpose. Perhaps it'll stop any rough spots on the inside of the stem clamp cutting into the bar and setting up a potential fracture line.

For handlebars you could take a leaf from the Mongels book and use horn reinforcement a la the recurve bow?

Composite laminates are defiantly a possibility. I have a friend who specialises in carbon fibre/kevlar manufacture, so I could have a chat with him.

Composite laminates as used in bow limbs are used where a large amount of flex is required.

I'm sure it would be do-able with wood laminate only.

I would fucking love a set of wooden bars. Get on with it!

The hoop is stronger than the rod in terms of wooden forms I'd think?

And in answer to your question I don't know, but I've bent alluminium bars before, and (at that point in my life) I was approx 70 kgs.

I think its a great idea but like has been said I would stay away from wooden handlebars. Unless you have thoroughly tested them and got sufficient insurance to cover yourself for if you do have a failure. Remember if you sell them and they snap and someone hurts themselves badly they can sue you for a lot of money.

I know wood is strong enough but if your not properly protected its not worth it in my eyes.

Sell them with a disclaimer saying that they are for decorative purposes only?

That way the person buying/using them has to take responsibility for what happens if they use them.

I'd say they'd be fine on a high days and holidays build, I would not put them on the everyday bike.

Nhatt, is your broomstick titanium?

jammy,

let me know if you require a partner.....

i've got a reasonble workshop (planer, thickness, bandsaw, etc) and also can use CAD for 3D modelling (Architects) and have considered trying to produce wooden mudguards,etc ..... also based in Manchester.

Not a problem if this is something you want to do on your own..... good luck

Sell them with a disclaimer saying that they are for decorative purposes only?

That way the person buying/using them has to take responsibility for what happens if they use them.

I don't like that idea at all. I wouldn't market something that I wasn't confident was safe.

@cliveo

I'm sure Ms Attack! will tell you this: It's not load bearing, since witches are weightless (that's why they float).

Duh!

I don't like that idea at all. I wouldn't market something that I wasn't confident was safe.

Fair enough- and I am sure that you would not do so anyway.

I was just thinking about the colossal expense of testing many many samples to destruction that would be required to properly certify them as safe/meeting British Standards etc, and thought it might be easier to go the limited use route.

Lots of companies issue limited use restrictions- i.e. "You are on your own if you weigh over 85 kgs" (thanks Speedplay)

Im sure a laminated bar would be more than strong enough on a weekend bike. At and inch in diameter and on a site up and beg bike there should be any problems. A skateboard is on 7 ply approx 10mm thick and that can handle a lot of load. Obviously proper insurance, care instructions and disclaimers would be needed.

Possibly include a couple of layers through the centre of glass fibre and epoxy resin, just for reasurance.

fastboy cycles made one
http://www.fastboycycles.com/index.html