Bio-Biking in Bamboo by Antoine Fritsch

When French designer Antoine Fritsch originally came up with this featured prototype of the T2O bamboo bike, he aimed to enrich his ongoing research project which explores changing patterns of behavior in light of the recent focus on sustainable development. The bike’s main frame is made of locally-harvested bamboo, and additional materials include cork, steel, aluminum and rubber. It features a small engine, which, minute as it is, should come as no laughing matter – it can reach a cruising speed of up to 35 kilometers per hour, at a range of circa 40 kilometers per hour. In many ways, the bike acts much like a scooter. The user imprints the initial speed by manual power, to get it going. Then the hybrid cork structure takes over, acting as a fusion element between the seat and backrest.

Not only is this bike ‘green’,  it’s also sleekly designed and elegant in a classical fashion. Forget metal alloys – wood is in, here to signal a return to the origins and to grace the streets of major metropolises with the charm of yore. Bamboo grants this design gem more than just visual appeal – it’s light to carry, durable and easy to customize, for an ultimate urban riding experience.

(Source: Fritsch-Associes.com)