environmentally friendly, with sustainable woods, bamboo and low VOC finishes.See our customer's comments here.WHY WOOD?We chose wood not because it's different, not because it's sustainable, but simply because we believe its engineering properties suit the requirements of most bicycle applications better than any other material. The performance of wood in applications more structurally demanding than bicycles has been well proven over many years. The most successful fighter bomber of WWII was the all-wood 400 mph British Mosquito, of which some 7500 were built. The all-wood unlimited hydroplanes Slo Mo Shun, Miss Budweiser and their brethren pounded through the water at well over 150 mph for many years through the '70s, and the fastest unlimited hydroplane ever at 511 mph is all-wood.But over the years, wood in high performance applications has mostly been replaced by metals and plastics because wood is far more costly to work with. Designing is difficult because it's properties vary among species, and woodworking is demanding and difficult, so mass production is generally a non-starter. But where production is limited, and the properties of wood are matched to the product, it is difficult to surpass.But, we dont claim wood is the solution for everything, or even very much for that matter. As a lightweight structural material we know its also good for airplanes, boats, and a few other things. We're often asked to make wheels, handlebars, forks and more, but these each have practical or engineering drawbacks. So, while we may make something in addition to bicycle frames, it will be just as conservatively designed and engineered. Hoodoo Time Trial / Triathlon bike raced at Ironman World Championships, 2010RENOVO FRAMES ARE MADE COMPLETELY IN OUR SHOP IN PORTLAND, OREGONRenovo frames are a sublime blend of high-tech magic and fine craftsmanship. They're created on computer and machined by a computer controlled machine. But the majority of time in a frame is handwork; the real beauty is revealed only by caring craftsmanship wielded by computer-age people with a deep commitment to fine craft and fine bicycles.FUNCTIONAL ART THEN...Some folks view these frames as works of art, too nice or delicate for daily use, but they aren't your mom's dining room table. We chose wood for it's ride quality and sustainability, and got beauty as a bonus; but it's not a weakness. An impact that will dent and ruin a butted metal or carbon frame merely bounces off the Renovo frame leaving a small dent.Wood is tough stuff; from axe handles and baseball bats to the walnut stocks of the 1903 Springfield rifles, the U.S. Infantry rifle from WW1 through the Korean conflict. These rifles were thrown from trucks, dragged through sand, rivers and hell, used as pry bars, clubs, crutches and still functioned as rifles. After the wars, civilians bought these battle-scarred relics and refinished many of them into gorgeous sporting rifles.A RENOVO FRAME WILL OUTLAST YOU AND STILL BE LOOKING GOODLike the Springfield gunstock, or any bicycle frame, a Renovo can be dented and scratched. But, like those gunstocks, andunlike other frame materials, the Renovo is easily refinished, because it's