We opened our doors for the Blackhorse Lane design weekend
Over one September weekend, anyone who walked past our Walthamstow studio could pick up a piece of bamboo and have a go at building a bike — no experience needed.
The context
Each year, makers and creatives across Blackhorse Lane and the Argall Industrial Area in Walthamstow throw their doors open for a weekend of design, craft and making. In 2024 the weekend (20–22 September) ran as part of the London Design Festival, and we took part — turning the workshop into a drop-in space for the public.
What we did
We ran our "Introduction to Building with Bamboo" sessions and demonstrations across the weekend. People of all ages and backgrounds dropped in to see how a bamboo frame actually comes together: handling the material, seeing the joints, and getting hands-on rather than just watching. It is the most accessible version of what we do — no welding, no machinery, just bamboo and a bit of guidance.
The outcome
A busy, well-attended weekend of public demonstrations as part of the London Design Festival — and a lot of people who had never thought about building a bike leaving with the idea that they could.
In our own words
"What a weekend!! Many thanks to all those who participated in our 'Introduction to Building with Bamboo' workshops and dropping in to check us out for the London Design Festival."
— Bamboo Bicycle Club, September 2024
Why it matters
Open weekends like this are how people first discover that a bike can be built by hand, from a plant — the same spark that runs through our schools, university and rehabilitation work.
Links
- Blackhorse Lane / Argall open weekend — part of the London Design Festival, 20–22 September 2024
- Our workshops: bamboobicycleclub.org/pages/workshops