The lubricant-free bicycle made from recycled plastic arrives in Spain after crossing half the world.

Valeria López Peña

Madrid (EFEverde).- The world tour of the igus:bike, made with more than 50% recycled plastic and requiring no lubrication, is coming to Spain to tour the country from Barcelona to Granada. The bike has already ridden the streets of Germany and Asian countries such as China and India during its tour.

Whether it's orange, green, or any of the other three available colors, its structure is eye-catching. Composed of 90% plastic, parts such as its wheels, handlebars, and frame contain 50% recycled plastic, while its pulleys and pedals are made with motion plastics from recycled materials.

igmus's vice president in Spain, Diego Jiménez, explains to EFEverde that for large-scale projects like this bicycle, they pay to recover their products that have reached the end of their useful life. They also collaborate with recycling companies to collect fishing nets or waste from rivers.

"They're bikes designed for cruising, for urban movement," says Jiménez, because while they're not made for competition, where other types of stress can occur, their construction means they don't need lubricants.

The idea came to me when igmus CEO Frank Blass was in Florida and, taking a walk, noticed people not using bicycles because the salt and sand on the beach could cause corrosion, which is prevented with lubricants, which are typically petroleum-based and generate waste. "That's when the idea came to me to say, 'I know polymers very well. Why not make a bicycle that's corrosion-free without lubrication?'" says Jiménez.

The vice president recalls that they had never made a bicycle before, but were accustomed to manufacturing cable chains, bearings, and lighting structures. The design required the collaboration of the Dutch company MTRL, which also manufactured the first 100 units, while igmus is building the plant for this purpose in Cologne, Germany.

World tour

To demonstrate the capabilities of the igmus:bike, they decided to take it for over 6,000 km around the world. It has already visited Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, South Korea, Japan, China, and Germany. It has overcome snow, sand, and rain on its routes.

The next stop is Spain. On May 15th, he'll visit the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and eight more cities await him. Among them is Madrid and the trails of its Retiro Park on the 22nd. Afterward, he'll return north to explore Basque routes, bidding farewell to Spain at La Concha Beach in San Sebastián on the 28th, before continuing on to France.

vlp/al