Gravel Bike by Justin

Design: Gravel bike
Build: Gravel home build kit
Duration: 5 months

What made you decide to build a bamboo bike?

I was looking to up my bike building skills but didn't want to have to get into welding.

 

Did you enjoy building the bicycle from scratch and would you recommend the experience?

A really satisfying, occasionally scary experience, but I wasn't in any hurry and the whole process took about five months, which I was happy with.

What did you find most difficult about your bike build?

Working up the nerve to get started on the wrapping stage.

What was the easiest part of the build?

Building the jig was straightforward. The sanding stage was a lot easier with a finger sander.

How would you describe the ride of your finished bike?

Planted.

What would you improve about the build experience or your finished bike?

I decided not to to build the chain-stays in three sections with the guide supplied. Instead, I have since cut and strengthened the stays to increase tyre clearance, but next time I would add reinforcement from the beginning. I would also use a hole saw to cut the mitre joints. The build process is very forgiving and the frame is very amenable to modification. The result is a bike that is a pleasure to own and ride.