Plywood and ekki bike breaks speed record

A bicycle made entirely from wood and glue, sponsored by James Latham plc and A&W Cushion Ltd, has broken the land speed record for a 100% timber bike at 11.25mph.

Michael Thompson and James Tully, who started work on the £7,500 SplinterBike project in their Norfolk workshop last September successfully established the new record on August 18 at Quibell Park Velodrome, Scunthorpe.

The wheels and frame are made from plywood, with a thick layer of glue applied to the edges instead of tyres. The aero bars on the bike will be made from ekki.

Various all-wooden bikes have previously been made, with the intricate chain often proving to be the most difficult to construct.

For more information on the Splinter Bike project visit www.splinterbike.co.uk.