Cardboard: The Building Material of the Future??

[bill440rt]

Thought this was rather interesting. A guy makes a bike entirely from cardboard, can support riders up to 485lbs. 

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670753/this-9-cardboard-bike-can-support-riders-up-to-485lbs

[Ponch ®]

what if it rains or you get attacked by sprinklers?

[cdr]

what if it rains or get attacked by sprinklers?

[Troy]

Thought this was rather interesting. A guy makes a bike entirely from cardboard, can support riders up to 485lbs. 

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670753/this-9-cardboard-bike-can-support-riders-up-to-485lbs

That's about 300 pounds more than a $60 bike from Wal-Mart...

I think it's a cool idea. I don't know that everything has to be cardboard though. If he's built carbon fiber bikes before he knows there are better materials to build spindles and bearings from. Of course, that increases the cost - but makes a more durable product. In this day and age, it's cheaper to buy a new bike than to replace any parts so this will just create more garbage. I didn't see what they were using for tires either (and I have no sound at the moment).

Troy

[Fred]

And does he wear a brown paper bag for a helmet?

[1969chargerrtse]

That was amazing, Thanks for posting.

[Old Moparz]

That cardboard bike is pretty cool.  

As far as strength, any material can be strong, it just depends on how it's used. In an architectural design class I took in college we had two projects that proved it. The first project was to build a 14' paper bridge with a 12' span that had to support a brick in the center. At first it sounded difficult, but after sketching several ideas, a truss style was the way to go. Large sheets of paper were rolled into tubes & one end inserted inside another to make longer tubes.

Some tube ends were pinched flat so each tube had a gluable surface. There were triangles inside two arches that were 14' long & "X" patterns between to connect them side by side. To hold the brick, a paper tray was made in the center like a hammock. There were several types, including a precast arch soaked in glue that couldn't balance & stay upright, but the truss bridge flexed the least, used the least amount of paper & glue, & held the brick without any trouble.

We also had to make a cardboard chair.  

The passing grade depended on three things. It had to be able to easily disassemble or fold up, it had to have a reclining position, & the final part was that it had to support the professor.  

I still remember him, Alvarez Aarnio, AIA. He was a big guy, probably 6'-2" or so, & about 250 pounds. The part where he sits in it was critcical.  

My chair worked fine, I used three ply cardboard, no glue at all & cut it so it went together like the interlocking sheets inside a box of wine bottles. It held the professor, too.  

I still have the chair.  

[Old Moparz]

The side view shows it reclined. My daughter Kate wanted to sit in it first but asked me if it would hold her up. I said sure it'll hold, it holds me, too.   

[skip68]

Very cool Bob.   

[resq302]

Sheesh Bob, you couldn't even hold up a Mopar Magazine?!??!?!?!?!        Nice job on the bridge and the chair project though.  Pretty cool!

[bull]

The side view shows it reclined. My daughter Kate wanted to sit in it first but asked me if it would hold her up. I said sure it'll hold, it holds me, too.   

Put some upholstery on that thing and I bet it will outlast 95% of the wooden Chinese-made chairs we get.

[Jaysick]

Wish my cardboard glovebox was as strong!

[lukedukem]

And does he wear a brown paper bag for a helmet?