Sandwich Bike by Bleijh
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 09.15.08
The Sandwich Bike, designed by Pieter Janssen and Basten Leijh of Bleijh Concepts and Designs of Amsterdam, was such a hit at the Salone de Mobile in Milan that someone broke in and stole the prototype.
From the designers: The design
"Inspired by the concept of flat packing and home assembly made popular by companies like IKEA we finally made a bike out of two wooden plates. Hence its name; The Sandwich Bike. The absence of welding joints makes the frame very easy to produce and what's more: the materials used, can vary according to the clients' demand. This way the bike can be kept simple and cheap, or aesthetically and structurally supreme and therefore reasonably expensive. Just like an IKEA product the bike will be delivered in a flat cardboard box and can be assembled at home with a single tool, instructed by an exploded view, reducing distribution and assembly costs."
"The two wooden plates are held together by four identical "smart cylinders". These cylinders house all the technical parts needed: the crank axle, the head tube and the seat post. The contemporary design and the large surface of the frame is ideal for graphical expression and make the design very attractive for organisations who feel committed to the whole concept and want to let the public know they are involved."
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I like the easy assembly, with just just one wrench, and the common parts.
For me however, I'd need fenders to keep my clothes clean and gears. Not a lot of gears - but at least 3, to make going up small hills a bit easier.
I like the easy assembly, with just just one wrench, and the common parts.
For me however, I'd need fenders to keep my clothes clean and gears. Not a lot of gears - but at least 3, to make going up small hills a bit easier.
This is an interesting concept. This is obviously the prototype as there are no brakes, reflectors or chain guard. The inability to adjust the handelbars will need to be addressed as one hight does not fit all. In order for this to be anything more than a novelty, it will need the as good or better than the status quo.
Great concept. One tool to fix them all:)
Think about it - if assembly is fairly simple and quick, you can actually take the bike with you on trips (even board a plane with it) in a luggage case and assemble it when you arrive - transportation problem solved. And fun, green sight-seeing vehicle is born.
As for adjusting, it can be done but also these things can be custom made - this can be an ideal downloadable design project for your local rapid prototyping shop:P
A hub gear mechanism can be integrated easily. Also, this space frame makes room for mounting batteries for your bike EV kit.
Good job, Bleijh!
one thing I noticed though - the sandwitches seem to be parallel, right? So that would mean they have to twist the chain to get the placement seen on fig. 1. or the frame panels need to tilt to form the rear fork.
Just an observation, won't make the concept any less ingenious...