A product design student at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK wanted to address the problem of prevalent bike theft so he created this bike for around US$30. It doesn't say whether this was just for the frame or for everything. And no, it doesn't melt in a rainstorm. He used hexacomb board, which is waterproof. No much to look at, but if it gets your groceries home...
Cardboard bike aims to put brakes on theives [via Inhabitat]
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jul 2, 2008 12:00 PM
Bicycles, Green, Made On Earth |
Permalink
| Comments (6)
| Email This |
| Digg this!
Oldest comments listed first.
Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!
Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.
$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)
Check out all of the episodes of Make: television
 |
MAKE on Facebook Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE! |
 |
MAKE on Twitter Follow our MAKE tweets! |
 |
MAKE on Flickr Join our MAKE Flickr Pool! |
Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!
Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Gareth Branwyn
Senior Editor
Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
| AIM | Twitter
Becky Stern
Associate Editor
| AIM | Twitter
Marc de Vinck
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter
John Park
Contributing Writer
| Twitter
Sean Ragan
Contributing Writer
| Twitter
Matt Mets
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter
Dale Dougherty
Editor & Publisher
| Twitter
Shawn Connally
Managing Editor
| Twitter
Goli Mohammadi
Associate Managing Editor
Kip Kay
Weekend Projects
| AIM | Twitter
Collin Cunningham
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter
Adam Flaherty
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter
More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)
Weekend Project: Making Char Cloth
Learn how to make a cheap and effective fire starter made from an old t-shirt. To download The Char Cloth video click here and subscribe in iTunes. See Char Cloth in action with the Fire Piston from William Gurstelle....
More...
www.flickr.com
|
www.flickr.com
|
Help | Write for MAKE | Contact Us | Subscribe | Advertise with Us | Privacy Policy| About MAKE | FAQ
© 2009 O'Reilly Media, Inc.
All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing on makezine.com are the property of their respective owners.
RSS
Cool looking bike, but I don't see how this could be made for around $30, maybe $30 in cardboard.
The price for tires, tubes, seat, chainring, chain, cog, hub, chainring bolts is well above $30.
-Joe
Reply to this comment
Yeah, I bet it was $30 for the board and he used hardware from an existing bike. I looked around online and Hexacomb sheet goes for around US$8-10 for a 40" x 48" sheet.
Reply to this comment
The cheapest walmart bikes start at about $60, and they're actually hobbled by things like multiple gears and shock absorbers. A single speed coaster brake version of these bargain bikes would be cheaper, more reliable and theoretically compete quite well with the idea of a $30 cardboard bike. The big question is who would buy such bicycles? You'd think outfits like Walmart and Target have run the numbers already and already know what most folks would buy.
Reply to this comment
Cool idea, sucks it has to come to cardboard bikes though.... we have a bike library here in Arcata CA pick up a ride for $20; I often leave my bike unchained.
Also are your roads smooth? to many potholes here...people cracking their Al frames :( Id be concerned with developing creases around the post.
Reply to this comment
Is there an actual ridable prototype out there? It would seem not from reading the links.
Reply to this comment
man, you are screwed if you leave this thing in the rain,
there's no way this can last more than a few months. at the most.
engineering feat though.
Reply to this comment