Frequently Asked Questions

None at all. 95% of our builders have never built a bike frame before — most haven't picked up a hacksaw since school. Our workshops give you hands-on guidance at every step, and our home kits come with video tutorials that walk you through the whole thing. If you can follow instructions and aren't afraid of getting your hands dirty, you can build a bike.

In our workshop: 2 days (Saturday-Sunday, 9:30am–4:30pm each day). We also run 3-4 day workshops that include custom paint finishing.

At home with a kit: 20-40 hours total. Most people spread this over 2-4 weekends. Pre-lugged kits are quicker — you could do one in a weekend if you're keen.

Stronger per gram than steel. Bamboo has a tensile strength of 28,000 PSI — and the natural fibre structure absorbs road vibration better than metal, which means a smoother ride. Our frames have a failure rate under 1%. People have toured continents, raced ultra-endurance events, and commuted daily for 10+ years on frames built from our kits. Kate Rawles rode one 8,288 miles from Colombia to Ushuaia.

8-12 years with proper care — and we've got builders still riding frames from our first year (2012). The natural oils in bamboo plus our UV-protective clear coat keep things solid. Store it indoors, avoid leaving it in extreme heat, and it'll outlast most of the components you put on it.

Yes. The frame is sealed with epoxy resin, making it water-resistant. Ride in the rain, commute through winter — just dry it off afterwards and don't leave it submerged in a puddle. Common sense stuff.

We're not selling bikes — we're teaching people to build them. That's been our focus since 2012. Over 4,000 builders across 36 countries. Our kits and workshops are designed for complete beginners, and we back everything with lifetime expert support. We're also a social enterprise: our Bamboo Mobility Project CIC runs Build to Bond, teaching bike-building in prisons to strengthen family bonds.

Just yourself and old clothes you don't mind getting dusty (especially Day 2 — epoxy work). Closed-toe shoes are essential. We provide all tools, materials, safety equipment, tea and coffee. Optional: a camera to document your build, and lunch or funds for local cafes.

Three locations:

London, UK — Our primary workshop at Argall Works, 7 Argall Ave, London E10 7QE (5-minute walk from Lea Bridge Station).

Amersfoort, Netherlands — Our European hub.

Toulouse, France — Our French location.

Each builder works on their own frame, so your friend would need their own booking. We keep groups small to ensure quality instruction. Couples and friends often book together — it's a great shared experience.

Yes. We're registered with all major Cycle to Work providers — Cyclescheme, Bike2Work, and others. This can save you 25-39% on your workshop or kit purchase. Just contact us for a quote compatible with your employer's scheme.

Absolutely — we regularly host international visitors. Workshop price includes shipping the frame back to you. For accommodation near our London workshop, we recommend the Olympic Park area (Stratford) — great hotels and easy connections to central London.

A bare frame fits easily in most car boots. If you're using public transport, we can provide a frame bag. For international visitors, we ship the frame to you — it's included in the workshop price.

Yes — 36+ countries and counting. Kits are carefully packaged to protect the bamboo during transit. UK delivery is 2-3 days, EU 5-7 days, international 10-14 days. Full tracking on every shipment.

International orders may be subject to local import duties and taxes — these vary by country and are the buyer's responsibility. We declare accurate values on customs forms. EU customers: since Brexit, VAT and duties apply. For Germany, we sometimes ship via our Netherlands branch to simplify customs.

Unused kits in original packaging can be returned within 14 days for a full refund (minus shipping costs). Once you've started building, we can't accept returns — but we'll help you troubleshoot any issues until you're happy with the result.

Full refund up to 14 days before your workshop date. 50% refund 7-14 days before. Within 7 days, we offer a date transfer rather than refund (subject to availability). Life happens — just let us know as early as you can.