Tandemswiss family tandem
Three-person bamboo tandem for the school run. Built at home in Switzerland.
Read the build
bamboo, measured
Every workshop opens with the same question. This is the material, measured.
84.3 MPa: bamboo tubing tested at Swansea University to BS ISO 22157:2019.
01the science
a ride you can feel
Bamboo's fibres turn road buzz into a trace of heat — so less of the rough road ever reaches your hands.
A bamboo frame significantly improved ride comfort over an equivalent aluminium one.
tested, not asserted
the numbers we were given, not the ones we liked
standardBS ISO 22157:2019
labSwansea University
These are material-test results for bamboo tubing, not tests of a finished frame or a prediction of its service life.
- ultimate tensile
- 84.3MPa
- 84.3 MPa: bamboo tubing tested at Swansea University to BS ISO 22157:2019.
- ultimate flexural
- 70.96MPa
- 3-point bending, 300 mm span.
- ultimate compressive
- 57.7MPa
- Bamboo tubing compression result.
- young's modulus
- 6.4GPa
- Bamboo tubing stiffness result.
Tensile on 180 × 8 × 3 mm specimens. Our own tubing, sent to an independent lab.Published 23 Feb 2023 — full results →
02strength & ride
bamboo tubing, tested
84.3 MPa: bamboo tubing tested at Swansea University to BS ISO 22157:2019.
Read the test results →Tested
watch: bamboo under test
Filmed in the materials lab at Swansea University.
We sent our own bamboo tubes to Swansea University for three-point flexural bending tests to BS ISO 22157. They behaved like a high-performance engineering material — because they are one.
The evidence
the research behind bamboo
We don't just build with bamboo — we study it, and we teach it. A decade of testing, student projects and peer-reviewed research.
The studies.
- Swansea University (2023) — our frame tubing tested to BS ISO 22157:2019: ultimate tensile 84.3 MPa, flexural 70.9 MPa, compressive 57.7 MPa, modulus 6.4 GPa. Full results.
- Thite et al., Vehicle System Dynamics (2013), Oxford Brookes University — peer-reviewed ride-comfort study: a bamboo frame significantly improved comfort over an equivalent aluminium one.
- Arango Fierro et al. (2019) — structural & fatigue analysis: a bamboo frame modelled to outlast around 26× its intended service life.
- Sharma & Harries (2015) · Wegst & Ashby, Philosophical Magazine (2004) — the published property ranges our comparison table cites.
- Amiri et al., Proc. IMechE (2018) — flax-fibre composites, the joint material.
The programmes. University College London — the “Pedal Progress” cargo-bike project, winner of the IMechE Group Project Award · University of Manchester — bamboo-composite materials R&D · London South Bank University — jig-equipped engineering-lab teaching · Coventry University — UK Bamboo Summit keynote · University of Portsmouth — bamboo species study · University of Cumbria — Kate Rawles’ 8,288-mile “Woody”.
the engineering
bamboo tubing, measured
84.3 MPa: bamboo tubing tested at Swansea University to BS ISO 22157:2019.
84.3
MPa · ultimate tensile
Swansea University · BS ISO 22157:2019
70.96
MPa · ultimate flexural
Swansea University · BS ISO 22157:2019
57.7
MPa · ultimate compressive
Swansea University · BS ISO 22157:2019
6.4
GPa · Young's modulus
Swansea University · BS ISO 22157:2019
These are material-test results for bamboo tubing, not tests of a finished frame or a prediction of its service life.
Read the Swansea University test results (23 February 2023).
what we won't claim
the material, measured*
84.3 MPa: bamboo tubing tested at Swansea University to BS ISO 22157:2019. These are material-test results for bamboo tubing, not tests of a finished frame or a prediction of its service life.
- the material
- Tubing. 84.3 MPa: bamboo tubing tested at Swansea University to BS ISO 22157:2019.
- the joints
- Kit construction. Wrapped kits use bamboo joints wrapped in flax fibre and two-part epoxy. Lugged kits use bamboo tubes bonded into pre-formed aluminium lugs.
- the craft
- Teaching. Teaching bamboo bicycle fabrication since 2012.
Proven with science
We don't ask you to take "bamboo is good" on faith. We test it, we teach it, and we work with universities to understand it better.
why this matters
understanding is the real sustainability*
the greenest material is the one you understand.
* understand what bamboo is, how it grows and how it's joined, and you use it better — you waste less, repair instead of replace, and keep improving. that's why everything we do is teaching.
03accessibility
anyone can build one
No welding, no moulds, no factory — just bamboo, a jig and hand tools. Most builders start with zero experience and finish in two days.
I knew nothing about bikes. Building the whole thing myself, I finally understand how to fix it.
Design versatility
any design. any rider.
You can't shape steel in your kitchen or cut carbon in your garage. Bamboo you cut with a hand saw and join with flax wrapping and bio-resin — so you can build any frame you can draw.
Tandem
adam's cargo bike
Long-tail cargo built in a London flat. "Surprisingly solid, takes quite a load."
Read the build
Aero Road
Graveltim's gravel explorer
First-time builder from the Netherlands. "My hands are itching to build a second."
Read the build
home buildGood to know
bamboo bike questions, answered
How strong is bamboo tubing?
84.3 MPa: bamboo tubing tested at Swansea University to BS ISO 22157:2019. These are material-test results for bamboo tubing, not tests of a finished frame or a prediction of its service life. Read the tubing test results.
Does it crack, or mind the rain?
Wrapped kits use bamboo joints wrapped in flax fibre and two-part epoxy. Lugged kits use bamboo tubes bonded into pre-formed aluminium lugs. Follow the care guidance supplied with your kit. Contact us if you have a question about a particular frame.
Do I need experience to build one?
Start with the kit pages or workshop options to choose your build and check what it involves.
How long will a bamboo frame last?
We do not give a general lifespan for a home-built frame. Build method, condition and use vary. Follow the care guidance for your kit and contact us about a particular frame.
What types of bamboo bicycle can I build?
Any type — road, gravel, mountain, cargo, tandem, balance bike. The geometry is defined by your jig setup, so the design is up to you.
Is bamboo a sustainable material for bicycles?
Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable material; our frames use bamboo and natural fibres in place of more energy-intensive frame materials. Ask us about the materials in a particular kit.
start your build
build your bamboo bike
Most builders start with zero experience — the manual and video course carry you the whole way.