James Latham plc and A&W Cushion Ltd are among the sponsors of an attempt to set a new world speed record for an all-timber bike.
Glue manufacturer Evo-Stik has also joined the list of companies backing the efforts of Michael Thompson and James Tully, who started work on the £7,500 project in their Norfolk workshop last September.
The wheels and frame are made from plywood, with a thick layer of glue applied to the edges instead of tyres.
“We thought that we could knock up a wooden bike and run it down the road, follow along in a car, check the speedo and hey presto, we’ve just set a land speed record,” said Mr Thompson. “Well, it’s not as simple as that and we need to do things properly and officially!”
The aero bars on the bike will be made from ekki.
Various all-wooden bikes have previously been made, with the intricate chain often proving to be the most difficult to construct.
For more information on the Splinter Bike project visit www.splinterbike.co.uk.
