Shropshire pupils build their own bikes

But students at Newport's Adams' Grammar School have upped the ante – by unveiling bikes they have made from scratch.

The bikes have been made as part of the revamped design and technology GCSE course and have been tested on a portable BMX track set up in the playground.

The teenagers who made them have been invited to show them off at the UK's handmade bicycle show, Bespoked 2014, from April 11 to April 13. It will take place at the Lee Valley Velodrome in London, where the London 2012 Olympic track cycling events took place.

The DT department's bike project, known as Life Bikes, was launched in September last year. Staff have claimed it is the only project of its kind in Shropshire.

Andrew Jones, head of DT at the school, said: "We wanted to create a course with a lovely balance of traditional skills and an innovative use of the latest available technology. As we started to plan it, we very quickly realised that we can actually teach all of the elements of DT through the design of bicycles, and so in September we launched our new GCSE in product design."

The year 11 students used their own measurements to make their bike frames from steel.

Mr Jones said: "Steel was once thought to be an outdated material with the extensive use of carbon fibre in the bicycle industry. However, recent developments in metallurgy have led to the production of tubes that are so thin and strong they can be used as an alternative to carbon in the professional world of bike racing.

"In building a bicycle from scratch our students have been learning about structural engineering, graphics, marketing, CAD/CAM, electronics and much more.

"We believe we are the first and only school in the country to be doing this."

Mr Jones said: "The enthusiasm and commitment from our students throughout the year has been overwhelming.

"They should be very proud of what they have achieved, especially as we are the only school to be exhibiting at Bespoked 2014. We are all really looking forward to it."