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Wooden bike ready to set first land speed record | Wooden bike ready to set first land speed record |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A bicycle made entirely out of wood is being entered for its first land speed record attempt. | A bicycle made entirely out of wood is being entered for its first land speed record attempt. |
It is hoped the SplinterBike will reach speeds of more than 30mph (48.3kph) when it is cycled around a velodrome before the end of August. | It is hoped the SplinterBike will reach speeds of more than 30mph (48.3kph) when it is cycled around a velodrome before the end of August. |
The bicycle, which is held together only by wooden joints and glue, was made by Norfolk carpenter Michael Thompson after a £1 bet with a friend. | |
"It's been a very long road but we're just about at the end now," he said. | "It's been a very long road but we're just about at the end now," he said. |
"Fingers crossed, within the next two months we'll have the speed record in our hands." | "Fingers crossed, within the next two months we'll have the speed record in our hands." |
Mr Thompson completed the 30kg (4.7 stone) SplinterBike in May after spending around 1,000 hours hand-building it in his shed in Potter Heigham on the Norfolk Broads. | Mr Thompson completed the 30kg (4.7 stone) SplinterBike in May after spending around 1,000 hours hand-building it in his shed in Potter Heigham on the Norfolk Broads. |
While spurred on by a bet, he was also inspired to build the bike after watching the Tour of Britain race pass through his village in September 2010. | While spurred on by a bet, he was also inspired to build the bike after watching the Tour of Britain race pass through his village in September 2010. |
The bicycle will be ridden by Mr Thompson's friend and triathlete James Tully. | The bicycle will be ridden by Mr Thompson's friend and triathlete James Tully. |
The venue for the record attempt has yet to be finalised but Manchester's velodrome is a likely candidate because of its wooden flooring. | The venue for the record attempt has yet to be finalised but Manchester's velodrome is a likely candidate because of its wooden flooring. |
The record cannot be attempted on roads because of the fragility of the bike's wheels. | The record cannot be attempted on roads because of the fragility of the bike's wheels. |
Although a speed record for any wooden bicycle has yet to be set, Mr Thompson said it has been "geared to obtain speeds of around 31 miles an hour". | Although a speed record for any wooden bicycle has yet to be set, Mr Thompson said it has been "geared to obtain speeds of around 31 miles an hour". |
The bicycle will be displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London from September. | The bicycle will be displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London from September. |
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