‘A piece of fine furniture on wheels’ is how the publicity material describes the wooden bicycle designed and made by Flat Frame Systems. It certainly looks different from other bicycles. Where other bikes have as thin a frame as possible or a retro sit-up-and-beg look, the flat frame bike looks neither utility nor retro.
The frame is made from engineered wood – sheets of birch ply which are bonded together as a board. The frame is then cut out from that board, making it one continuous unit. So unlike with a conventional steel tubular frame, there are no joints and so no weak points. “Wood is known to be three to four times stronger than steel by weight,” says Mike Cubbage, the designer. And wood, being slightly flexible, unlike metal, has a natural suspension able to absorb the bumps and undulations of the road.
Mike’s flat-framed bicycle is a thing of beauty. The frame can be covered with a wood veneer of your choice including American black walnut, ash, cherry, oak or zebrano. The zebrano-covered bike that I saw at Tent London design show really would make heads turn. Accessorised with a tan leather Brooks’ seat and leather-covered handlebars, white-walled and brown tyres, it is an object that would complement your hallway if you had to store it there, rather than make your home look like a bike shed. In fact, get yourself one of those indoor exercise bike stands and it could take centre stage in your living room.
Each bike frame is made to measure and Flat Frame Systems is now working on a ladies’ bike.
