PRODUCT: SANDWICHBIKES
IS THIS THE BIKE THAT COULD LEAD THE WORLD TOWARDS A CONVENIENT AND CREATIVE CYCLING LIFESTYLE?
AN EASY TO ASSEMBLE FLAT-PACKED BIKE
As far back as 2006, when Basten Leijh of Bleijh (www.bleijh.com) created the first concept of the Sandwichbike, his aim was to create a bicycle that re-examined materials, manufacturing and distribution of the common bike. Inspired by the concept of flat packing and home assembly, Leijh and Pieter Janssen, designed a bike made out of two wooden plates. Apart from the obvious advantages flat packing has for shipment, the use of two wooden plates gives freedom of printing and cutting techniques, making it possible to give each bicycle its own unique identity.
Fast forward to the present day, Bikezilla kept having impressions that this bike could be that one bike design that would change the way people view bicycles.
In our envisioned cycling Utopia, people could easily just buy an easy-to-assemble flat-packed bike anywhere in the city should they not have one with them. It would be super affordable and super convenient to purchase, park, transport and service them. And it can be customized and personalized easily too. That's a vision.
The Sandwich bike may not be exactly that "affordable" or conveniently-purchased bike that we mentioned but it comes together artistically and holds the essence to what we envisioned for the future of commuter cycling.
A RECAP OF THE SANDWICHBIKE!
This bike is not exactly considered a "new" design, the prototype was first developed and showcased to the world as far back as 2006. During this period, the Sandwichbike went through more fine-tuning and improvements. And only approximately a year and a half ago did the designers of the bike decided that the bike was ready for mass market sale. What we see now is a fully fine-tuned model – ripe for the picking now! . For those who had not met the Sandwichbike, this 3 videos would get you acquainted with the bike.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Driven by the will to create exceptional products of high quality with attention to detail, Sandwichbikes uses sustainable materials and collaborates with the finest local craftsmen. “We know exactly which trees from the sustainable managed forest in Germany are being used and how passionate the handcrafted parts were made. Creating a beautiful and durable product that makes people feel proud of their bike and motivated to take better care of it, is what makes Sandwichbikes an ultimate sustainable bike that is durable as well as an eye-catcher.”
ONE DESIGN, ENDLESS VARIATIONS
It’s the combination of the craftsmanship of the wood and high-tech aluminum parts that makes Sandwichbikes an exciting product and nothing like anything out there. The wooden frame that is engineered as a ‘sandwich’ of two weather coated frames of layered plywood, bonded together by ‘smart cylinders’ is Sandwichbikes signature characteristic and offers endless variations. This time it’s Walnut Veneer and the Van Gogh paintings, but with the drive to innovate and passion to create, the sky is the limit for Sandwichbikes.
SOME SANDWICHBIKES PROJECTS
SANWICHBIKE VAN GOGH SERIES
For this year’s Salone del Mobile, Sandwichbikes presented two special editions at the exhibition “NEED – When design empowers human potential”. Both the Sandwichbikes Walnut Veneer limited edition and the Sandwichbikes Van Gogh Series endorsed by Van Gogh Museum will be displayed at the exhibition. This is to show how design can play a fundamental role now and in the future in redefining and reshaping needs, now, and in the future. More information at http://sandwichbikes.com/pages/sandwichbikes-van-gogh-series
SANWICHBIKES WALNUT VENEER LIMITED EDITION
Handcrafted polished aluminum parts combined with Walnut Veneer panels, form the Sandwichbikes Walnut Veneer limited edition. This luxurious bicycle features a complete set of manually crafted parts, a fully integrated electric hub and is completely manually assembled. The Sandwichbikes Walnut Veneer limited edition is a Dutch Design original of exceptional refinement and with sophisticated use of materials. It makes this bicycle a true collector’s item. More information at http://sandwichbikes.com/pages/walnut-veneer-limited-edition
PERSONALIZED SANDWICHBIKES PROMOTION
Being exceptionally easy to customize and personalize, festival goers at the Kermis Velodroom in Utrecht, an event that took place due to the start of the Tour de France in this city in the Netherlands, were given exactly this opportunity! They could apply their own picture or image to the wooden frame parts during the event. The unique design of Sandwichbikes and the possibility for personalization make the Sandwichbike a collector’s item. The personalization promotion last until the end of the Tour de France at the 26th of July and also people who are not in the opportunity to visit Kermis Velodroom can take advantage of this opportunity at www.sandwichbikes.com/customsandwichbike. Participating visitors receive an impression of their personalized Sandwichbike and can apply this personalization free of charge when they purchase a Sandwichbike before the 27th of July.
SANDWICHBIKES TOUR DE FRANCE EDITION
Especially for the Grand DeÌpart in Utrecht, Sandwichbikes has developed a Tour de France version. This version took part in the ‘Yellow Tour de France bicycles’ tour on Sunday the 28th of June. This tour ended at Griftpark in Utrecht, but for the special Tour de France Sandwichbike version, the tour really ends at Gallerie Kunstliefde, (Utrecht, Netherlands) where it is part of the exhibition ‘Demarrage’; an exhibition about bicycles and mechanisms.
GET YOUR SANDWICHBIKE
The efforts from Sandwichbikes shows their focus in art, creativity and the cycling lifestyle. We certainly hope to see such events available in Asia. Sandwichbikes can be shipped to anywhere around the world, so cyclists from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines can order their Sandwichbike online at http://sandwichbikes.com/collections/sandwichbikes.
More information about the bike at their website http://sandwichbikes.com and if you wish to know about their warranty, here's more information.
All information, photos and videos by Sandwichbikes