I have problems keeping carbon, ti and aluminum components under me - cardboard would NOT hold up.

Lizard_King

@OMG! Ponies!:
Heh, that's what I thought when I was writing it. Sorry I didn't reply to your email this week, Mr Ponies, I've been a bit busy, like. ;-)

AddyDugdale

um...don't bikes these days have pedals? maybe one of the problems he's talking about is going uphill

mr_bigglesworth

I have to be the first to say I couldn't care less about how green anything is, but his ultimate green machine has NOTHING green!!! it either kill trees or pollute one way or another...I'm missing something here too.

WD40

I think 168 pounds is kinda light for many Americans....

If he could just get this thing up to 220 pounds for the US model! Otherwise I think it looks pretty good for being made out of Cardboard!

LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M

" Supporting anyone up to 168 pounds"

OK, well that pretty much counts out 95% of the American public.

I actually have no doubts that this design could easily support people under 150 lbs (kids). Industrial cardboard is quite strong when it's limitations are taken into account (ie. don't try to bend it, etc). And it's probably also wax-coated which means it can take water without falling part. I wouldn't dunk it in water, but a little rain shouldn't kill it either.

Hazdaz

What's the point of this? It makes no sense as a green initiative. A metal bike will last for 5-10 years, and even then, potentially longer if you keep good maintenance. This thing will die in about 1 month and then you'll have to go and kill more trees to build a new frame.

Am I missing something here or is everyone taking crazy pills?

bartek

Someone left a bike out in the rain...

Nope, still a crap song.

OMG! Ponies!

@jrghoull: You mean like bamboo or wood?

They've tried making bikes out of every conceivable material, to varying degrees of success. The problem with these bikes is they still rely on a lot of other components which, because of the nature of the materials, simply can't be made out of wood or cardboard (head tube, cranks, etc). Carbon fiber isn't degradable and is expensive, I'd be interested to see someone cast a frame out of cellulose and see how it'd perform.

It is a good idea, but the biggest issue is raised by the title- what happens when it rains? I'm sure it's sturdy enough for a while (though, at 215 lbs it won't be hauling my carcass around) but I guess it's basically a temporary disposable bike- which kind of defeats the purpose of using recycled materials.

lpranal

On his website, he acknowledges that the bike is only practical for people who also happen to be made out of cardboard.

frigg???

i have a hard time beliving that this thing could really hold up under my weight (135 pounds). even if it did though, how long does it last. lets say it doesnt rain, so what? the card board is going to be substnacially weaker the 2nd time you ride it (providing the first time you really put the pedal to the metal...i mean cardboard).

a good idea..but its gotta be possible to make some biodegradable material that has a strength similar to that of the strength of regular bycicle frames.

@Michai: (snickers) touche'

jrghoull

Now all I need to do is find a real bike, strip apart it's chain and wheels, buy a dozen milk boxes and I'm off. Genius and tasty!

Groggy Banana

so those kids there are really starting to get high alot,seems like they landed new shit........i wana taste it!...puff puff

techcolllide

Looks just as useful in the rain as the cardboard box toilet that I saw posted somewhere.

Rick36

Upon reaching your destination you can build a clubhouse.

Michai

Sustainability also include using materials that do not disintegrate in a relatively short amount of time, forcing you to buy yet another, assuming you didn't wise up after it fell apart in a week. This is so structurally unsound that you'd end up buying / making dozens of these, while your regular tube-steel bike frame might last for 50 years.

schultzeworks

Hmm, quite innovative. I don't see how it's in any way PRACTICAL, but it's quite a feat of engineering.

Can someone remind me what is so UN-green about using, erm...metal ? I realize you have to produce steel, aluminum, magnesium and such in smelting plants/refineries, but you can pretty easily tear down and rebuild a quality metal bike every couple years, and/or simply melt the frame down and build something else with it when it's totally unusable as a bike any more. Seems pretty easy on the eco-sphere to me...

Also, isn't there some truth to the statement that the lions share of industrial pollution actually stems from the production of paper products (of which cardboard is one)? I heard that somewhere...don't remember if I ever verified it was true, but either way I don't see how a conventional bike is in any serious way detrimental to the environment...

OddManOut

@AddyDugdale: Your departure makes me sad in the heart.

OMG! Ponies!

Ok, when you start picking up speed aren't you applying more pressure to the bike, like adding more weight just based on the speed? I dunno.

NumberFiveIsAlive

How is that the ultimate green?

The Ultimate Green is the usage of bamboo which is already be done by one company and it's tougher than cardboard.

Mr.DuckSauce

How's this for green. WALK!! :D

Barry99705

I think the point is that it's green because its cheap and it doesn't burn fossil fuel. As the kid says (the quote is right there in the post)one reason people may not purchase a bike is because a decent one costs a lot. His solution was to make one that is dirt cheap. If it only costs 30 bucks, then more people will be likely to buy one. If they have one, they are more likely to use it than, say, a car.

TomHayden

On what is ostensibly a very serious nerd board I am really surprised no one has yet to mention Chevette Washington's paper core Japanese messenger bike from William Gibson's Virtual Light.

The hilarious bit is that the novel is set in 2005. HA! 3 years later and this dude's paper bike is clearly not what Gibson had in mind.

Maybe it's because he isn't Japanese.

Jasontrainer

He does seem to suggest that this is intended for a person who is considering using a bike on a regular basis, but doesn't want to put the monetary investment into it without really knowing.

For THAT purpose, I think it's great. I can see a lot of people buying a $30 bike -- maybe even two or three times -- and then deciding that cycling around town is a good idea and buying a more expensive, metal bike.

tyskkvinna

WHY?!?!?
You can get a real one at Walmart for 10 dollars more.

Somadis

@Somadis: That's what I was thinking. You buy expensive bikes because they are nicer and much more fun to ride than cheap ones. If you want a cheap bike, they have real ones for around $40-$50. Also, it costs $30 to make this cardboard bike. If it hits retail, that's not what they're going to sell it for.

Petezah

I've got a feeling that this kid doesn't know a lot about bikes, and that's a pretty important prerequisite for designing one to be "revolutionary."

AHemp

@Somadis: The cardboard one is less likely to fall apart during use.

recklessinoz

Let me guess - single speed?

I prefer my bikes in unobtainium.

dbc

A "Men's Bayview Cruiser Bike" at Target is $79.99, can hold someone my size (230 pounds), and will work in the rain at least once.

Meanwhile, I just dropped another $200 for a GOOD set of 700mm Shimano-hub wheels for my "real" bicycle (a Giant Cypress - great machine), and it'll be good for another few thousand miles. You can find bikes just like it for $50 used.

For 95% of the riding public, a $100 bicycle is more than good enough (ten to fifteen miles a week on the weekends, or running errands near the house). If you get serious about it, buy the $400 to $600 models. If you're semi-pro, or just insane, buy the $2000+ models...

cirby

yeah at 6'3 210, ill stick to a regular bike thanks

Rizzuh

Why does the body have to be biodegradable? A bike should be made out of the toughest, most long lasting materials available so it can be ridden for a lifetime and passed on to someone else.

AdmNaismith

This bike is all the rage with the NYC bums.

danjuan

What about the cost of the tires and rims. You can buy a used bike for less and probably live to ride a second time, as opposed to the green machine.

BiZarRroBALlmeR

What about the seat? I don't want to ride across town sitting on a little square cardboard box.

zed0

the concept is interesting.. but overall flawed

here in america, I could go to walmart and pick up a half decent 24" for ~$30

JuiceDaddy

@JuiceDaddy: there is no such thing as a half decent bike at walmart, or half decent anything for that matter

skiterr

Where are the pedals and brakes? None in the pic.

danjuan

Oh come on. U can't call this the "ultimate green machine" it's not even practical. Thats like if I went out and bought a large box, slapped on four bicycle tires and called it the "ultimate green car". First of no pedals, the bike sprockets for the chain alone will cost around fifteen US dollars. He also spend six dollars on the cardboard frame which he could have probably gotten for free from numerous places. Not to mention the time wasted in building the dam thing. No way this is around thirty dollars by his design if you buy all new parts, unless mass produced.
Also 200 pounds ( 400 US) for a bike. You can find on Craigslist in UK most bikes for around 20 pounds.
The right so called " green" thing to do would have been to just clean-recycle an old bike and ride it.

danjuan

@danjuan:

recycling (ba dum chhhh) an old bike IS the way to go. so many people get rid of old bikes that are perfectly functional. I got 2 beautiful road bikes last month sitting on the side of the road. All they needed was some cleaning and air in the tires. One was a vintage Raleigh and the other was some x-mart road bike from the 70's, but still perfectly functional.

this guy is on crack, just to reiterate what everyone else is saying.

evan_phi

Coolest part: The paper helmet.

strider_mt2k

If we Americans would bike more, then the 168 lbs limit wouldn't be a problem. It's not like we are "genetically" big-boned or anything :-)

RainyDayInterns

hmm $30 for a cardboard bike or you could go to walmart and get a real one for 50

Crrusherr

What's with all the criticism aimed at a 21 year old doing something that while not exactly earth-shattering, is still innovative?

M. Night's The Halfshafting

Around Watkins Glen, NY they have a cardboard boat competition every year. Water and cardboard are only a problem if you don't seal the cardboard with paint, glue, or some other cheap material.

drsmith

Reminds me of the skit they did on SNL once with "the Adobe" car,lol

I don't suppose he chains the bike up when he is out,since the bike thief will just take it with a pair of scissors!

FiveLiters

$24 for two wheels and tires is very cheap!

Knirfie

I have actually been to the degree show where this bike was shown, so I've had the chance to see it up close. The image of the bike here seems to be an unfinished version, (its missing pedals and seat). I think its unfair to call it green just because it's made of cardboard, as many other commenters have pointed out a metal bike would have less impact in terms of resourses over a 10 year period.

Another blow to its green credentials are that to make it waterproof as claimed by the designer he has probally had to make a composite struture using a plastic coating for waterproofness followed by a layer of craftcard and finally a core of honeycomb cardboard. This probally means a broken bike (which is highly likley to happen given the nature of the design) would be as hard to recycle as tetra packs (very difficult) or other composite cardboard materials.

The other issues are the steering which bends on a bolted on flexible plastic sheet rather than having a axis. This must surely add stress to the structure. Finally the location of the chain in the prototype I saw actually ran through the triangle in the back fork, where it rested on the cardboard, this means that it would act like a chainsaw cutting into the structure weakening it further. And then the braking comes from back peddeling again putting further stress on one of the weakest areas of the bike.

It's a nice idea but trying to claim its both green, cheap, waterproof, structually strong and have a real target market is a bit much for the design concept at its current stage in development.

MSB87

@Knirfie: Agreed. And if the price only reflects the frame, I can pick up a used steel cruiser frame on ebay for about $30 anyway, and that'll last a lot longer...

alpacalypse

When I was a kid I loved making those submarines out of cardboard boxes with a halfgallon milk carton and two mirrors for a periscope....think he'll try doing a carboard sub next? no? well i will keep hoping for one of those or a flying car whichecver comes first.

VideoVampire

Metals are highly recyclable.

DystoposB

1980? Peugeot Carbolite 103 = $5 used
New Tires/Lighter Alloy Wheels/Tune-up/Re-taped Handlebars = $60
Far >30 lbs, and about as green as you can get considering that I'm re-using it.

Human Bomb