Bamboo is a grass, and there are approximately 1,450 species in the world. A lover of tropical conditions, bamboo became known to western gardeners in the first half of the 19th century. Many species are now well established in the UK.
Why is it good for frame building?
All its fibres run in one direction only – lengthways – resulting in the stress of riding continuously travelling through the frame without being passed to the rider. This is why riding bamboo feels smoother and quieter. It offers a much more comfortable riding experience, enabling the rider to focus on the handling.
We love working with bamboo, and here are some of our favourite reasons:
- Bamboo has a higher tensile strength than steel – 28,000 per square inch vs. 23,000 for steel
- Bamboo is extremely absorbent of vibrations and bumps in the road & trail
- Absorbing impact well, bamboo performs well riding such as mountain biking
- Bamboo grows fast – some species can grow up to 1m in 24 hours!
- Bamboo releases up to 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere than an equivalent stand of trees
- Minimal water and pesticides are needed to grow bamboo – particlularly when compared to a crop such as cotton which needs a lot of water
- Our designs maximise the natural stiffness of bamboo making amongst the stiffest frames out there
Bamboo Bikes XC MTB – Tech spec
- Bamboo tubes have extremely consistent properties from one to the next & so make an ideal natural material for high tech applications like bicycle frames
- Aesthetically beautiful, each of our frames is unique due to the markings on bamboo
Coming soon – bamboo bikes and their aesthetics
