Carbon v Aluminium v Steel v errrr Bamboo

sparkins1972
sparkins1972 Posts: 252
edited September 2010 in Road beginners
Well that is a new one on me - would anyone want to pay out £1900 for this other than maybe a uniquely skilled panda?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bamboo-Road-Bike-54cm-frame-Ultegra-SL-Ritchey-kit-/220666503743?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3360bfa23f

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    A Calfee for only £1900! If it was from anyone else, I'd ignore it but Craig Calfee has a bit of 'previous' including making Greg Lemond's Tour Winning bike in 1990.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • sparkins1972
    sparkins1972 Posts: 252
    I bow to your vastly superior knowledge, but, errr, it's made out of twigs :lol:
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    It's actually made from grass :?
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • dmch2
    dmch2 Posts: 731
    There's this one too http://bicycledesignblog.blogspot.com/2005/12/bamboo-bike.html

    bamboo1.jpg

    Original site seems to be here: http://www.bmeres.com/bambooframe.htm
    2010 Trek 1.5 Road - swissstop green, conti GP4000S
    2004 Marin Muirwoods Hybrid
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    Has anyone here actually ridden one of these? Do they really work as proper bikes, I mean, are they stiff enough and could you race on one? Seem to remember checking the weights once and discovering that they are relatively heavy.

    What happens if they get wet, does the frame end up being out of alignment when it dries and possibly warps??
    maybe a uniquely skilled panda?
    :lol:
  • lae
    lae Posts: 555
    Bamboo is a pretty good material for making frames actually.

    See this thread on LFGSS
    http://www.lfgss.com/thread50316.html

    Apparently the weight and flexibility of a good bamboo frame is comparable to good quality steel, but with better ride quality. It won't win races, but for touring/leisure bikes it makes sense, especially if you're after something a little different. Plus it's got decent eco-credentials. Bamboo frame joined by recycled aluminium lugs, for example.

    Annoyingly though, I can't find anything on lifespan. Bamboo fences, though, have a lifespan of about 20 years (according to one manufacturer) so you'd expect a frame to last at least that long given that a fence is outside permanently.

    I just found this interesting link too
    http://thesustainablecyclist.com/2010/0 ... -bicycles/
    Their frames have a 10-year warranty!

Categories