We’ve been steam bending 1-inch wooden dowels to make wooden bicycle handlebars for a replica of a Wright “Van Cleve” bicycle. In the 1890s, just as bicycles became popular, cyclists had to put up with constant shocks when riding over unimproved roads. Some bicycle manufacturers, like the Wright brothers, used wooden handle bars to help smooth out the bumps – the wood gave slightly with each impact, just like the wooden handle on a hammer gives each time you strike a nail. Check out our YouTube