Re-Cycle Cardboard Bike

It has to be seen to be believed, but riding on the success of their award-winning Paper-Pulp Canoe, German engineers Zeug and Unsinn have created the Re-Cycle Cardboard Bike – set to revolutionise the way we get around city spaces forever!

Made from the equivalent of two hundred red-top tabloids, the Re-Cycle is light, easy to carry and simple to assemble. In the time it would take you to flag down a cab, just follow the step-by-step instructions* to pop, fold, score and tear the pieces you need to assemble your bike in a flash. No glue, tape or staples required.

Calling on their experience of the paper pulp industry, Zeug and Unsinn have designed the Re-Cycle’s saddle using the same technology that protects hens’ eggs in transit. The rounded contours and soft material “intuitively” adapt to each rider’s unique eggs. What’s more, this innovative design also doubles as a secure place to store your keys, wallet, or bike-lock.

But what makes this the perfect city bike? The answer is three-fold. Firstly, the Re-Cycle’s stylish travel bag lets you transport it with ease. Carry it discreetly on the tube, the train, the bus, in taxis, as hand luggage on aeroplanes, or store it in the boot of your car until it's needed.

Secondly, the “unpoppable” corrugated wheels make riding on uneven surfaces feel exactly the same as riding on a completely level surface – reducing vibrations, muscle strain and paper cuts. Thirdly, the saddle and wheels can be quickly released using patented Rip/Tear technology. With these valuable parts removed, the bike can be left securely taped to a wall without the risk of theft.

Finally, capitalising on cutting-edge advances in vending machine cup manufacture, the Re-Cycle’s eco-friendly cardboard is plastic coated to make it almost completely impermeable to moisture – making it the most durable and hardwearing cardboard bicycle on the market.

However, when you’re finally ready to dispose of your bike, simply crumple it up and throw it in the bin, or onto your compost heap. The Re-Cycle will naturally degrade over the same period as a typical disposable coffee cup**.

* twelve steps for “Boris” setup, thirty-seven for “Racing” (includes helmet)
**75-80 years (approx)