A functional bicycle, made entirely of wood

The Italian newspaper La Repubblica published photos of an all wood bicycle (everything, including a working chain with plates, pins, and rollers) created by the 16 year old American student Marco Facciola.

The photos are pretty amazing. Despite the current fixed gear trend, he made things difficult for himself and created an all wood freewheel.

The chain is a real marvel. It appears he used a few different types of wood. Note each pin has its own cotter.

Here’s what the complete machine looks like. Perhaps the Perpenduum crew will run into him at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Portland next week.

I wonder how it rides.