You are here

Knock on Wood for Young Bike Builder

Published January 27, 2008

LAGUNA HILLS, CA (BRAIN)—Sixteen year-old Marco Facciola built this completely wooden bike for a school project, managing to avoid using any metal at all.

Yes, this wooden wheeled wonder even has a chain and gearing made of wood, held together with wooden joints and glue.

The detail in the free-wheeling ratchet and spacers between the chain links, pinned with tiny dowels, is amazing. Facciola had to complete this as a non-academic project for his International Baccalaureate, and inspiration came from his grandfather, forced to make wooden wheels for his bike during the war due to rubber shortages.

Join the Conversation