Bicycled project transforms junkyard cars into bikes
February 20, 2013
A former car transmission belt serves as a chain
Image Gallery (9 images)Once a car is relegated to the junkyard, its usefulness as a vehicle generally comes to a close. However, Spanish design firm Lola Madrid has created a new project dubbed “Bicycled,” which transforms unwanted scrap cars into bespoke, handmade bicycles.
As highlighted in the promo video below, the frame is sourced from various car parts. A transmission belt serves as a chain, for example, and a vehicle indicator light is repurposed as a safety reflector. In addition, car upholstery is utilized to create a bike seat.
Being environmentally responsible is clearly a major concern of the Bicycled team and the metamorphosis of a former gas-guzzling vehicle into an emission-free mode of transport is a concept which can be appreciated on several levels. The project also sits well with like-minded ventures that seek to re-use materials otherwise destined for a landfill, such as Short Circuit.
Gizmag reached out to Lola Madrid for a chat about future plans for Bicycled, and we were informed that the first prototype has now been completed and is currently being refined. The final specifications and measurements of the bikes are yet to be revealed, though since Bicycled is made from scrap car parts, no two models will be identical.
There’s no word yet as to availability or price, but the company did report that it’s considering ways to step up production in order to meet demand.
Source: Bicycled via Inhabitat
Adam is a tech and music writer based in North Wales. When not working, you’ll usually find Adam tinkering with old Macintosh computers, reading history books, or exploring the countryside with his dog Finley. All articles by Adam Williams
Junked cars eventually go to a smelter.
Slowburn20th February, 2013 @ 08:01 pm PST
Well, my first reaction is shouldnt we start to recycle old bikes into usable bikes first? In every city I have lived in thousands and thousands of easily repairable bikes are thrown out because people dont want them or cant be bothered to repair them and I have 10 proofs sitting in my backyard.
CityFarm, an environmental organization in Perth, Australia, had a guy (nicknamed the professor) who collected bikes from the annual big rubbish collection that happens once a year, with the aim of repairing them and I think donating them to Africa or trying to promote cycling in Perth..until they ran out of room to store the blooming things, there were that many!
mgb20th February, 2013 @ 09:45 pm PST
The problem is: Unless people are volunteers working for free because they have another source of income, it's likely those used bikes will be more expensive than new ones at the store.
Freyr Gunnar21st February, 2013 @ 04:29 am PST
Of course they will be more expensive!
But wouldn't it be nice to say I had a Roget in 61 and it was magnificent until stolen. Can you replicate that.
Bespoke, of course.
Bill
Lewis M. Dickens III21st February, 2013 @ 09:07 am PST
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Excellent idea. Maybe on should treat junkyard cars just as carcass was treated in prehistoric times - let nothing go to waste
Eddie Baki20th February, 2013 @ 05:34 am PST