In partnership with the American Renovo Hardwood Bicycles, Audi revealed their new line of hardwood Duo bicycles. This time instead of carbon fiber, you get a monocoque hardwood frame.
The hardwood bikes are very cool as they are a blend of style and craftsmanship, and now thanks to Audi sophisticated engineering. These retro-looking but high-tech bikes are available in three City, Sport and Road models to satisfy different needs.
The wood monocoque not only looks good, it has many advantages. It offers the smoothest ride of any bike frame material thanks to its superior ability to absorb shock and vibration. Plus, it is much lighter than say aluminum while being equally stiff and durable.
Audi is also very proud of the fact that these bikes recyclable and biodegradable. Other features of the duo apart from the wooden structure, include innovative drive train components such as a belt drive, aluminum and carbon fiber components, disk brakes and LED lighting, as well as woods selected to match the look of Audi vehicle interiors.
The bikes are hand-made at Renovo’s Portland, Ore., studio. As you expect thy are hugely expensive! Check out specs and pricing here:
- duo City – A cafe/leisure bike, urban explorer and all-weather commuter; the most approachable bike for casual cyclists. Features include an upright position for short distances, comfort and traffic vigilance; wide puncture-resistant 32mm tires; LED lights; fenders; rack; The duo City drivetrain features the smooth, quiet and grease-free Gates CenterTrack belt drive coupled to the Shimano Nexus 8-speed internal hub gear, for effortless and maintenance-free shifting. Price: $6,530*
- duo Sport – A fitness, long-distance all-weather commuter, perfect for cyclists seeking long-distance comfort and safety. The Sport drivetrain features the smooth, quiet and grease-free Gates CenterTrack belt drive coupled to the Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal gear hub, for effortless and maintenance-free shifting. Other features include drop bars for long distances; minimum fenders; medium width and puncture-resistant 28mm tires for less rolling resistance. Price: $7,350*
- duo Road – A performance road bike, good for club and century rides. Features include narrow tires; no fenders; minimal accessories; and SRAM Red, compact 20-speed gear train. Price: $7,460
