Photos: The one-of-a-kind wooden bicycle

The bicycle isn't all wood. Many of the components are made of steel, and the tires are rubber, as on any standard bike. Individual components include an eight-speed hub and a 120-millimeter disc brake. And it's no lightweight--this first effort tips the scales at a ponderous 52 kilograms (114 pounds).

A weight loss program could be in the offing--Eichler is ready to try his hand again with a "Renovatia II" design. "My goal for the second frame," he writes on his Web site, "is to develop a (safe) and lighter frame for the bike market."