Bamboo Bicycle Frame « Pros and Cons

Bamboo bicycle frames have become popular for bicycle manufacturers due to their low weight and many other benefits. Here are the pros and cons of a bamboo bicycle frame:

This table shows the pros and cons of bamboo bicycle frames

Bamboo brings a lot to the table in bicycle frame manufacturing, and here I will talk about all that. 

This blog will look at the benefits and drawbacks of the bamboo bicycle frame to help you decide whether a bamboo bicycle frame would be best for you. — Read on to find out!

Also Read: Titanium vs. Carbon Fiber in Cycling

What Is a Bamboo Bike?

A bamboo bicycle has a frame made of bamboo. But this does not include the components that link the bamboo tubes to create the frame.

As the world becomes more and more conscious about the environment, more and more businesses are beginning to offer more sustainable options for their customers.

One such product is the bamboo bicycle frame. Bamboo is a woody plant that is not only strong and durable but also environmentally friendly because it can flourish in a wide range of conditions and can grow in direct sunlight.

Road bikes, mountain bikes, touring bikes, tandem bikes, electric bikes, and cargo bikes can all have frames constructed of bamboo.

How Are Bicycles Made of Bamboo?

The bamboo that is used to construct bicycles is carefully selected. It is then assembled by wrapping the joints with fiber after being trimmed to size. The lugs are made from sturdy, moldable materials.

The bamboo used to build the frameset is often polished. This ensures that issues like rotting or corrosion won’t affect the frame.

This is what goes behind the construction of a bamboo bicycle frame.

Are Bamboo Bikes Durable?

A bamboo bicycle is extremely durable. This is brought on by bamboo’s rapid growth, which facilitates rapid regeneration. With very little water, bamboo can thrive.

Because bamboo absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide and releases a lot of oxygen into the air, growing it is sustainable. This helps to halt harmful climate change.

Do Bamboo Bikes Perform Well?

Bamboo bikes are a solid, trustworthy alternative to those constructed of carbon or metal. Because they are more eco-friendly, they are better for the environment.

People claim that riding bamboo bikes is highly comfortable since the bikes can absorb shocks and flaws in the road.

Though it’s crucial to keep in mind that the flex of bamboo bikes may reduce power transfer, they are not suggested for high-performance rides. This function is crucial for high-end, performance-based motorcycles, like road or time trial bikes.

How Long-Lasting Is a Bamboo Bike Frame?

Bamboo bike frames can last up to 10-20 years. They are exceptionally strong and difficult to shatter or break. Therefore, any collisions or knocks shouldn’t injure the bike, unlike carbon, which may readily snap.

Bamboo is more flexible than some other materials used to make bike frames. As a result, bamboo would not allow for the best power transfer and would not be the stiffest material for a bicycle.

For bicycles not designed with great performance, bamboo’s compliant nature results in a significantly more comfortable ride than materials like carbon fiber.

» Maybe this also could be of interest to you: How-To Guide: (Correctly Measure a Bike Frame) — Bicycle

Pros of a Bamboo Bike Frame

Comfortable Ride

Bamboo has excellent vibration control and shock absorption qualities due to its low density and organic fibers. 

The ride quality of a bamboo frame is comparable to that of carbon fiber. The ride is less harsh because bamboo is less rigid than aluminum.

Smooth Handling

Bamboo handles well because it doesn’t flex too much. You can maintain your line and corner in this way with excellent predictability. Carbon fiber and bamboo bikes handle similarly.

Eco Friendly

Bamboo is eco-friendly and sustainable because it has a small carbon footprint. It thrives in many climates and grows quickly. 

It doesn’t need a lot of water, fertilizer, or pesticides. In addition to producing oxygen, the plant also absorbs carbon dioxide. Harvesting and processing it are also simple.

Socially Impactful

Building bamboo bikes in underdeveloped or underemployed rural communities of the world has a positive social impact. Framebuilding supports the local economy by creating jobs.

Quick and Efficient

Bamboo frames are torsionally stiff and quick. This makes it possible for your legs to effectively transfer power to the back wheel. Because of this, bamboo bikes have good acceleration and ascent.

Lightweight

High-end bamboo frames weigh a little less than steel frames and are about the same as aluminum frames.

» Read more about this in my post: Weight of Bicycle by Type: Here’s How Much a Bike Weighs!

Sturdy

Bamboo is strong and doesn’t wear out or corrode. It has a higher tensile strength than steel thanks to the stiff fibers.

A bamboo bicycle can withstand a more intense impact than a carbon fiber bicycle without breaking or malfunctioning.

Long-lasting

A bamboo frame should last almost as long as a titanium or steel frame if properly cared for. The substance doesn’t rust, wear out, deteriorate, or corrode for 10-20 years.

A bamboo bicycle frame is something you will purchase once and use for years to come.

However, bamboo frames can crack because of an accident as they are brittle.

Aluminum frames shouldn’t last as long as bamboo frames.

Lovely Appearance

Bamboo is lovely because it has a wholly organic appearance. The grain is highlighted by the varnish. The bamboo frame certainly is an intriguing fusion of technology and nature.

Do It Yourself

You can construct your bamboo bike because working with bamboo doesn’t require specialized skills like welding.

Additionally, bamboo frame DIY kits are offered. Anyone can construct a bamboo frame on their own with a little effort.

Repairable

A tube that cracks can be fixed with fiber and resin. You can make a carbon fiber patch out of your dented frame. Another option is to swap out the tube entirely.

» I have covered more on this subject in this blog post: How-To: (Change a Bike Inner Tube) — Easy Guide

Cons of Bamboo Bike Frame

Lack of Available Choices

If you decide to buy a bamboo bike and are thinking that there must be a tonne of businesses trying to sell these bikes, then you should probably re-evaluate your decision. 

There are very few bamboo bike frame manufacturers out there and due to this, the options are very limited.

In general, there are thousands of different bikes available for purchase. However, if you want to limit your search to only bamboo bikes, you will have to face limited selection options.

Aerodynamically Poor

Compared to steel or carbon frames, bamboo bike tubes have a larger diameter. The tubes are also rounder. You move slower as a result of their increased wind resistance.

Less Durable

Metal frames are more resistant to damage than bamboo frames, which can crack in an accident. 

If you crash, it is much more likely to crack than a steel or aluminum frame. Another way to damage your frame is to overtighten a component.

Costly

Due to their handcrafted nature, bamboo bikes are more expensive than comparable carbon and metal bikes.

Expect to pay around $2000 or more for a nice bamboo bike.

Hardly Any Reviews

Bamboo bikes do not have many reviews compared to other bikes. If you are planning to research some bike ratings before buying, then you probably will be disappointed.

What Is the Price of a Bamboo Bike?

A typical adult-sized hybrid-style bamboo bicycle could range from $1800 to $4000, which is much more expensive than your typical aluminum bike.

Bamboo bicycle prices will vary depending on the type of bike you want to buy.

For instance, the least expensive model offered by many bamboo bicycle manufacturers is a child’s balance bike. Of course, there are fewer materials in this smaller bike.

Having said that, you should consider purchasing a product only once so that it will last longer when making sustainable purchases. 

Compared to “buying cheap” and replacing frequently, this way of thinking is much more environmentally friendly.

All bamboo bicycles are handcrafted. Consequently, their value shouldn’t diminish as much as it would with a regular bike. When you take this into account, the higher cost doesn’t seem so bad.

Can Bamboo Hold Its Own Against Carbon Fiber?

Perhaps even more durable than carbon fiber is bamboo. However, compared to bamboo, which cannot be altered in the same way, carbon fiber bikes can be made much stiffer.

Compared to a carbon bike, you will experience a ride that is more cushioned as a result. The bamboo’s flexibility dampens the vibrations caused by the surface you are riding on.

Carbon can also be harmed by minor bumps and knocks. Damage to a bamboo frame is comparably much more difficult.

How Does a Bamboo Bicycle Frame Look?

Bamboo bike frames have a natural aesthetic that many cyclists find appealing. A bamboo bicycle is similar to a work of art. The beautiful natural grain of the bamboo is highlighted by the varnish used to finish the bicycle. 

The natural nodes along the stem are visible on many models. You can see faint burn marks on some frames from the tempering process. All of this gives character and distinguishes each bamboo bike.

The fact that bamboo bicycles combine technology and nature is another factor in their appeal. A frame made of a material that grows entirely naturally can be equipped with the newest, most advanced cycling components. 

Although the bike has a primitive appearance, it performs as well as or even better than many contemporary bicycles.

Bamboo-based bicycles are a fascinating and distinctive option. It is something that lots of people have never witnessed before.

While you’re riding, you might encounter both cyclists and non-cyclists who stop and inquire about your bamboo frame. It’s a great topic for conversation.

Of course, this could also be a drawback. On occasion, people will stop to talk to you about your bike or stare at you as you ride by. You should probably avoid bamboo frames if you like to blend in.

» This could also be something for you: Is Cycling Actually Good For Abs?

Is Bamboo Bike Frame Repairable?

You can usually fix a bamboo frame if you accidentally dent or crack it or if you see a crack appearing after prolonged use. Repairing bamboo frames is frequently simpler than repairing metal ones.

The degree of damage determines the repair procedure. Drilling a hole at the crack’s pointed ends is the first step in fixing a crack. 

Distributing the stress around the hole instead of the edge of the crack prevents it from expanding any further. 

The Stop Drilling Method of Repairing Bamboo Bikes

The term “stop drilling” refers to this method. After drilling, you should reinforce the cracked area with some sort of resin. You could, for instance, use epoxy, eco resin, or even some powerful glue.

You might be able to take out the harmed material and replace it with a patch to fix a dent in a bamboo tube. It would be effective to use a resin-sealed carbon fiber patch. 

You could also try injecting some epoxy inside the tube if you’re concerned that it’s weak.

It is also possible to replace a single bamboo tube if the damage is so severe that it cannot be repaired. 

Depending on which tube is harmed and how the tubes were bonded together, it may or may not be worth the time and money to do this.

Connect New Tube to the Frame

To connect the new tube to the rest of the frame, new joints would need to be made. Although difficult, it is doable. 

It’s critical to remember that fixing a bamboo frame involves risks. The frame could unexpectedly fail if you don’t know what you’re doing or if the repair is done incorrectly. 

This might result in severe harm. I advise against performing your repairs. Instead, bring the frame to a specialist.

There aren’t many bamboo frame builders who can fix a bamboo frame, which is one disadvantage of bamboo frames. Your bamboo frame won’t be repaired by a typical bike shop. 

If the repair is unsuccessful, there is simply too much at stake. This implies that you will either need to ship the frame to the maker for repair or do it yourself. The only other choice you have is to perform the repair yourself.

Of course, not all dents and cracks are fixable. If a crack widens, riding the bike becomes risky. 

Without warning, the frame could collapse catastrophically. You would be better off replacing the frame and retiring the old one in this situation.

» Read my blog post: Mountain Bike vs. Road Bikes

Conclusion

A lovely and distinctive alternative to bikes with carbon, aluminum, or steel frames is the bamboo bike. They provide a smooth, effective, and stable ride. Additionally, they are strong and long-lasting. 

Additionally, bamboo frames have a negligible carbon footprint. Numerous bamboo bike manufacturers also have a significant positive social impact in the region where they are made. 

Of course, not everyone likes bamboo frames. They are more expensive, heavier, and perhaps not as strong as steel and titanium frames. Attention may be drawn by the distinctive appearances.

A bamboo frame should at least be taken into consideration when purchasing your next bicycle. 

Hopefully, this post helped assist you in determining whether or not a bamboo bike is the best option for your riding style, regardless of the frame material you select.