The bicycle conjured from nylon powder

Aerospace company EADS has built a bicycle from a bag of nylon powder to demonstrate its latest technology for making strong and lightweight components.

The Airbike has been made from nylon using a process called Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM), which generates components from a fine powder of metal, nylon or carbon-reinforced plastics.

The process is similar to 3D printing in that it builds the object in a succession of very thin layers.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The ALM process has the potential to offer savings in weight of up to 65 per cent, but whether or not this process has any real-world application for cyclists it is exciting to see a bicycle used in an example of cutting-edge manufacturing.”

Growing your own bicycle

Building the Airbike using layer after layer of material reduces wastage in the manufacturing process, but an even more environmentally-friendly way of growing a bike is to order a bamboo frame.

Bamboo has been used to make bicycle frames for more than 100 years, but while the material is lightweight, environmentally friendly and cheap to produce, its use is usually confined to basic models for the developing world or prohibitively expensive designer bikes.

The latest range of bamboo bicycles from California bike builders, Masuelli, is ‘grown to order’ using a local supply of bamboo.

The bikes can hardly be described as cheap, but while the ‘All Black’ track bike costs £1,500 it promises to be far more exclusive than other bicycles at this price.

Fully-comp bicycle insurance

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes new-for-old cover for theft and accidental damage (race events included), third party insurance, personal accident cover and if you breakdown, they will even come out and recover you and your bike.