Michigan man's wooden bicycle proves to be tough
<p>Stephen Ziegenfuss works in his basement and woodworking space, in Jackson, Mich., April 16. "I just love building anything with my hands," said Ziegenfuss. "Building something that's functional, that you can use to do something you love to do."</p>
<p>Stephen Ziegenfuss stands in his basement and woodworking space with a wooden bicycle that he built, in Jackson, Mich., April 16.</p>
JACKSON, Mich. (AP) - In the early 1800s, the first bicycles, called dandy horses were invented in Mannheim, Germany and made almost entirely of wood.
Since then, bicycles have come a long way. Today, they are modern machines, built for travel, leisure and sport. Some people even use bicycles for everyday commuting.
Stephen Ziegenfuss, who builds his own bicycles, has reverted back to using wood as the main component. In his home wood shop, he builds modern mountain bikes - with frames made entirely of wood according to the Jackson Citizen Patriot.
Starting with a large chunk of hickory or ash, he cuts the wood into strips, then presses them together to form a solid, yet light 5-pound frame. The projected cost for a frame is $800 to $1,100, he said, depending on the rider's specifications.
Ziegenfuss has one finished product and seven bikes in the works that will go to a group of local riders.
"I just love building anything with my hands," Ziegenfuss said. "Building something that's functional, that you can use to do something you love to do."
An avid racer, Ziegenfuss started building wood-framed bikes because the traditional aluminum and steel frames weren't able to withstand his vigorous riding.
He built his first model two summers ago. It has since been through eight races, including the Iceman Challenge, Ore 2 Shore and the Barry-Roubaix.
"It's held up really well," he said. "There's only a few chips on the frame."
Riding across the country also is something Ziegenfuss is planning to do in the near future. With a few friends, he will ride from the east coast, most likely starting somewhere in Virginia, he said, all the way to Oregon - using bicycles he will make. The trip all together will average around 3,000 miles.
The group is planning to complete the cross-country trip in no more than 30 days, riding 100 miles or more each day.
"Part of the reason why I love riding so much is because it's one of the things I do to feel alive," Ziegenfuss said. "When you get out in the woods or even just get out on the dirt roads around town here, you can get away from it all. You can bear down, you can exercise and also enjoy what you're doing."