[CR]Wood frame vintage lightweight bikes?

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2004)

Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:02:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Don Wilson" <dcwilson3@yahoo.com>
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Wood frame vintage lightweight bikes?

I've been reading about the use of wood in boats at the link given below. The author says pound for pound wood is vastly stronger and lighter than metal, even more so than most alloys. I know there are many other variable also driving materials choice, but this assertion triggered my recollection that wood rims were once used on vintage lightweights in racing. Does anyone know if anyone tried to build a bike frame out of wood? It may be an odd thought, but today wood is still used in certain racing boats, because it is lighter and stronger than metal.

http://books.google.com/books?id=y2GT5JyVrzAC&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&dq=monel+boat&source=web&ots=wvJKOTyamv&sig=Euwrt1rLpqzWzsRknP57EQizBSU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PPA83,M1

D.C. Wilson dcwilson3@yahoo.com
Los Olivos, CA/Bandon, OR
USA