Austrian bicycle manufacturer esel has presented its latest model, the eUrban, alongside a rebranding of the company. Formerly operating under the name My Esel, the brand is repositioning itself with a focus on design, material development and urban mobility. A key aspect of this strategy remains the use of wood-composite materials in its bicycle frames.
WOOD-COMPOSITE FRAMES IN BICYCLE DESIGN
Eselâs bicycles are characterised by frames made from a proprietary wood-composite material. Produced in Austria using a combination of CNC machining and manual assembly, the frames are designed to provide both structural stability and vibration damping. Compared to conventional metalframes, wood-based composites can offer different mechanical properties, including a degree of natural flexibility.
The use of wood as a primary material introduces a renewable component into the product. In contrast to materials such as aluminium or carbon fibre, wood-based composites can have a lower energy demand during production, depending on sourcing and processing methods. The visible grain of the material also contributes to the visual identity of each frame.
EURBAN MODEL FOR CITY USE
The eUrban model is developed for urban environments and incorporates an integrated electric drive system. The motor is housed within the rear hub, contributing to a streamlined appearance. The overall weight starts at approximately 16.5 kg
Its an interesting looking thing, I donât know that it advances the breed or bestows riding benefits. I have run on self-powered wood frame treadmills and there is undeniable damping and noise suppression due to the construction material and this might share those qualities. Close to 40lbs is too heavy for a bike.
So - good styling exercise. Would like to try riding it. Would not purchase. Dumb thing to base a company around.
Doesnât plywood trigger your aesthetic spidey-sense? Iâve seen only a handful of designs, of any type, overcome the visual baggage of plywood. And the practical aspect - the sharp edges, the boxy volumes - why havenât they eased those here, on a thing you regularly brush your legs against and carry on your shoulder?
The website shows that this e-bike isnât the first model; sounds like the founder is really tall, couldnât easily find bikes in his size, and decided to make a big road bike from plywood. All respect to that endeavor.
Somewhat let down to not see any detail on type of wood or sourcing (virgin Austrian forests?) nor pressure-bending into appropriate shapes. And yeah, how about a sanded-round lower edge of the top tube so you can carry the 20kg up to your 3rd floor EU apartment.
Seatpost is a missed opportunity for making a more integrated wood mechanism.
At least it uses a standard off-the-shelf seatpost, it keeps costs down and allows customization by the customer. Where I see an opportunity is personalized geometry, the frame could be made to fit the userâs size and riding preferences.
The same could be said for all the other components on the bike. A seatpost makes more sense because 1) no bearings 2) other road bikes incorporate âmastsâ which allow minimal adjustment 3) it looks like they bond-in a sleeve which makes me question all the âsustainabilityâ claims 4) this thing is already $5000
totally agree. I posted it here because I figured it would elicit some good chuckles and responses. Seems like not the right material to use but even if it was some kind of manufacturing parameter the material doesnât seem to be used to its true benefit or pushed outside of something you can CNC easily. For some reason it seems like it would be a fun project to me though.
yeah 100% to this - many fun experiments around âwhat can I build a bicycle out of?â
Thatâs the beauty of the device, where even marginal materials can create a functioning product that can actually be of use.
