Since the unveiling of the first Sandwichbike prototype in 2006, it's been a long road to commercial production for its Dutch designer Basten Leijh. The wood-framed bike is due to officially launch in Amsterdam on Sunday, and will be available for shipping thereafter.
The attractive wooden bicycle became available for pre-order back in April. In a similar vein to Ikea, the bicycle's design is inspired primarily by the concept of easily transportable packages and home assembly. As such, the Sandwichbike comes shipped as a flat-packed box.
The entire package contains 52 parts in total and is accompanied by the tools to assemble the bike, which can apparently be completed in 45 minutes with relative ease – the company website stating, "if you can make a sandwich, you can surely build a Sandwichbike."
Two pieces of weather-coated beech plywood form the frame of the bicycle, bonded together by aluminum cylinders, with Bleijh's custom-made components forming the meat in the "sandwich." The stainless steel chain, 14G stainless steel spokes and Schwalbe 26-in Big Apple tires will set the bike in motion, and the Shimano single speed coaster brake will (hopefully) bring it to a halt.
The completed bike weighs 17 kg (37.5 lb) and measures 175 x 62 x 95 cm (69 x 24 x 37 in), a size which, according to Sandwichbike, would provide people between 160 and 200 cm (5 ft 3 in - 6 ft 6 in) tall with a comfortable ride.
The Sandwichbike costs €799 (US$1,087) direct from the makers and is available for shipping within Europe from December 1. Worldwide shipping starts in January 2014.
You can see how the bike fits together in the video below.
Source: Sandwich Bikes
