The Wooden Bicycle Advantage

Why Choose a Wooden Bicycle Frame?

When it comes to selecting a bicycle frame material, the options appear limitless: steel, aluminium, titanium, and the ever-popular carbon fiber. However, there’s one material that stands out for its unique blend of performance, craftsmanship, and aesthetics: wood.

The first recognized bicycle, crafted by Karl von Drais in 1817, was constructed almost entirely from wood. Weighing a mere 22kg, it marked the dawn of a new era in transportation. As the industrial revolution progressed, wooden bikes gradually gave way to steel frames. Today, carbon fiber dominates the world of frame building. Its impressive strength-to-weight ratio allows for lighter, stiffer bicycle. Moreover, carbon fiber can be moulded into virtually any shape, resulting in super aerodynamic and lightweight race frames.

But what if we told you that modern wood bikes can now rival carbon fiber in stiffness and weight? Thanks to advanced adhesives, our HTech Bikes machined frames—such as the Aeriform—are only 800g heavier than the average carbon fiber road frame. That’s equivalent to the weight of a 500ml water bottle or just 1% of an 80kg rider and their bike. Our HRP frames achieve comparable weights while offering unparalleled ride comfort. And our Puissant W, tipping the scales at just 1000g, creates a featherweight complete bike at 6.2kg.

Wood’s natural structure provides exceptional durability. As trees grow, they withstand forces from all directions, resulting in a naturally stiff and robust material. At HTech Bikes, we exclusively use hardwood timber—the strongest and densest type. Our wooden frames, constructed with relatively thick walls, excel in impact resistance.

Timber isn’t limited to furniture alone. Some car manufacturers build vehicles with wooden frames, and sporting goods like bats, tools, hammers, and axes are also made of wood. Unlike carbon fiber, which can be brittle and shatter under heavy loads, wooden products offer a dampening effect, allowing repeated use with less fatigue. The same principle applies to our wooden bicycles. However, the most significant advantage lies in their ability to absorb vibrations. Wood’s cellulose structure, with varying density fibers (seen as light and dark rings), vibrates at different rates, resulting in a whisper-quiet, super-smooth ride that reduces road vibrations. Our wooden bicycles truly shine on Australia’s rough and coarse roads.

At HTech Bikes, we seamlessly blend the artistry of woodworking with cutting-edge performance. Our wooden frames not only deliver exceptional performance but also turn heads with their exquisite appearance. Ride the best-looking bike on the road while enjoying unparalleled performance.