Gravel Cyclist Frame build part 2
When Jayson of GravelCyclist.com got hold of our bamboo gravel kit, it was a collision of innovation and passion. This wasn't just a typical unboxing; Jayson embarked on an intricate journey of creation, culminating...
Gravel Cyclist, April 2021 — Part 2: The completed bamboo gravel frame build and ride review
"Bamboo as a frame material has unique vibration properties making it an ideal material to smooth out trails allowing for better handling and speed."
Gravel cycling popularity has exploded over the last few years. Cyclists' desire to get off the beaten track has led to some of the most exciting new trends in the cycling industry. Bamboo as a frame material has unique vibration properties — an ideal material to smooth out trails, allowing for better handling and speed.
"The current trend is for carbon frames that lack environmental credentials. Carbon uses more energy to produce than steel and is difficult to recycle. However, Bamboo is easy to grow and offsets its carbon footprint; combined with flax and bio composites it has the potential to offer a viable alternative."
The Makers: Patrick is a world-class photographer who, having seen some of the best gravel frames, wanted to build something unique. James Marr is the founder of Bamboo Bicycle Club — a community-led engineering project pioneering bamboo bicycles for over a decade.
Frame spec: Multi-discipline design for 650B × 52mm or 700c × 32mm. Dropped chainstays for a shorter wheelbase. Custom machined T47 bottom bracket. Custom dropouts: 160mm flat-mount disc and 12mm thru-axle. Laminated bio-composite bamboo tubing joined with flax fibre composite. 100% recyclable construction.
Build: Shimano GRX mechanical groupset, Praxis Zayante Crank, Reynolds ATR 650B wheelset with WTB tyres, Thompson Dirt drops handlebar and stem.
This frame proves that eco-conscious riders don't have to compromise on performance. See Part 1 of this series for the complete frame construction walkthrough.
Bamboo offers cyclists something that mass-produced carbon frames cannot: a frame that is uniquely yours, built with your own hands, using a material that has been sustainably harvested and will return to the earth at the end of its life. The Bamboo Bicycle Club believes that making your own bike is one of the most rewarding things a cyclist can do — and this gravel build with Patrick and James is proof of what's possible.
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Build your own bamboo bike — in a London workshop or from a kit shipped to your door. No experience needed.
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