Very cool

But what are the short 'Cut fingers' for?

@Compact: Its the rachet.

For less than the price of a cup of coffee each day, you can help Marco, or another child like him, buy a real bicycle with an aluminum frame and steel chain links that won't come apart the moment he tries to pedal.

@Compact: The cut fingers were originally as long as the other fingers in the ratchet, but he found that with that many fingers the ratchet was too hard to turn - which would mean that although he could cycle, he couldn't freewheel (the whole point of having the ratchet system in the first place). So he shaved the fingers first (to make them more flexible), then when that wasn't enough he just shortened every other finger so that it didn't engage. (His explanation is on page 3 of the LeeValley article).

...watch out for them holes on the road, Marco!!!

That thing must make a hell of a clacking noise when it's freewheeling! Which would be cool, of course.

After a hard rain and some drying time, it even achieves warp(ed) speed!

Amazing project! That takes lot of time and patience. He will do great in life.

Hey, wait a minute... wouldn't that thing go up in flames if you go too fast?

Jeez, for my IB project I built a thermocouple calibrated for use as a thermometer.

@Kludge: (His explanation is on page 3 of the LeeValley article).

You actually read the article? You must be new to the internet.

He should be grateful.

Rubber shortages is the reason he was born in the first place...

As a life long woodworking hobbiest I have to salute this kid. That is one fine piece of woodworking. Nicely done.

@jamstigator: You beat me to it.
Awesome!

This is worth putting in a museum, seriously.
Beautiful work, but as stated, perhaps you shouldn't get it wet. :)

That bike gives me a woodie! Nice work!

Sweet thing! Must've taken a lot of patience.

Wut, no spokes for the baseball card?

Ouch! That seat looks painfull. Where is the gel pad?

That is a beautiful piece of work... I'd pay a lot for that if I had money. I don't know why he didn't just make a fixed gear though. That would have taken out a lot of complexity.

HAH - It's only a one speed. LOSER

Can you say, "virgin"?

BTW, LOL, dcartist!

Now he gets to tell all the girls he is good with wood.

very creative!! may be he can start a wood bike company with seniors as his target consumers in mind and a life insurance in case the cut fingers breaks...:D

He should have made it fixed gear. Freewheeling is for losers.

Why is this newsworthy?

@Marty200: Don't worry, he'll learn sooner or later.

Now, on a completely unrelated note... what are those "cut fingers" for??

It looks like he did a great job. but still, that must shit must ride hard.

@tobedetermined: A hand made wooden bicycle isn't a gizmo?

Wow that's busting balls.

What the hell man..I did IB and never got to do anything cool like that, just write essays and more essays. :(

@tobedetermined: Why did your mother not hold her water and drown you?

That may be a bit harsh, but seriously, how is this not a newsworthy gizmo?

Epic Win for 16 year old Marco.

a local vampire was killed today when his wooden bicycle broke-apart upon impact with a curb, he was impaled through the heart with his own handlebar... And now the weather!

For 16 years old, this is quite an accomplishment. Take that, you overweight, Guitar Hero playing, Wangsters!

"Wut, no spokes for the baseball card?"
Lol, no need, not with those clackers he's got on there.

50 years later....

"Did I ever tell you kids how I built a bike entirely out of wood when I was 16?"

"Grandpa, WTF? They didn't have metal back then? How old ARE you?

Next he should make a recumbent version. Props to Marco

splinters must suck.. since bike seats ride the groined.

@impliedsurprise: I agree.
Aren't we in the 21st century?
In other news, high school st-o-o-dent invents Fire! Stop the presses!

I's put some holes in the wheels just for the weight reduction... except no one seriously rides this thing, right? I didn't RTFA - how are the bearings on these things? or is it just a snug fit with a lot of grease? lacking ball bearings, he can't be freewheeling for long.

It's not really 100% wood if there's joints and glue on it, is it?

@tobedetermined: "Why is this newsworthy?"

Cuz yo' happy ass didn't come up with that superwidget the Giz editors were waiting for. That's why.

Seriously? My IB program required the project to be of use to the community to keep mastrubative projects like this out of the picture.

Neat bike, but it irritates me that it's practically useless on a community or global scale.

Wow. What a bunch of jealous pessimists here.

Lighten up, the kid built a wooden bike. Jebus.

Release the termites!!!

Dang dude. thats amazing. nice job!!!

Gilligan built one of these in the 60s using only the materials he could find on the island. This is hardly innovative.

I love all things with two wheels. That freewheel and chain are amazing. Seat will probably take away your ability to have children.

Good work Dude....

i dont mean to be an ass but its not 100% wood if there's glue in it.

@your_boring: I think in this case, it's a pretty sure bet that the bike is at least well over 95% wood. That given, I think we can simply round it.

Where's the wooden helmet? He's under 18. At least here in California (and probably many other states), under 18 year olds have to wear a helmet.

Seriously though, this is an impressive piece of work. I doubt the wooden chain would stand up to much though.

@Escamotage:
100% Non-metallic bicycle would be a slightly more accurate description.

When I was 16 I had way more wood than that.

from the article: [marco says] "There was to be no metal used in its construction, only wood and glue."... the 100% wood was gizmodo's add, not marco's... and "I am required to complete a 'personal project' on a non-academic topic that is of interest to me."... not one of use by the community. given the objectives, it seems he certainly met them (and exceed them, perhaps, by making a freewheel)... very impressive, methinks.

@halfro: LOL. That could be said for about everything on this site.

@nutbastard:
Boy Scouts?

/peace M8 couldn't resist

I read about some guy in Africa who made an all bamboo bike awhile back, and wood bikes are somewhat common in Africa (from a casual web search). Composite bikes with wood frames and other parts made of metal come up in the same search. There's even one here in Gizmodo somewhere (Jana?) ;-)
(But yeah, for a 16 year old, this is quite a feat.)

He's ready to take the Professors place on Gilligan's Island.

I love this project and the level of work that went into it is impressive for any age. Working out the ratchet for downhill coasting is cool too, but I have a question:

Where are the brakes?

Brings a new meaning to "Want to ride my woody?"
Nice work of art.

I want this man to do my joinery! I really want to see what he's building ten years from now.

Ouch!!! Watch out for those butt splinters!

That ratcheting system is ingenious! I would love to hear it while he back pedals... Good work kid!

"HAHA! Screw you, Magneto! Wring your gloved hands in frustration as my all wooden bike negates your power over all things metal as I flee from your malign presence!"

Epic Win for DaVinci Junior!

+++ CAN YOU DEAL WITH THAT, -Norm Abram!!!!!!!!!!

I want a video of him taking it downhill. :)

Water-based wood glue, is it?

This made my IB Personal Project look like a crock of shit.

This guy needs to work for Ikea, maybe some the the furniture would be built better.