Gravel Lugged Frame Build Kit
Our step-up gravel kit swaps free-hand carbon wrapping for pre-formed aluminium lugs the bamboo simply bonds into — cleaner joints, more repeatable geometry and a more refined finish. Same adventure-ready gravel geometry, built to the most precise, durable standard we make.
1-year kit warranty · 14-day returns on unopened kits · ships in ~2 weeks
Build your own — and help fund a place on our Build to Bond prison programme.
- No power tools required — just basic hand tools
- Illustrated manual + 15+ hours of step-by-step video
- Lifetime community of 4,000+ builders for support
- Cycle to Work accepted — save through salary sacrifice
built to fit you
| Frame size | Rider height | Inseam |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 148–163 cm | 68–74 cm |
| S | 160–173 cm | 74–80 cm |
| M | 170–183 cm | 78–86 cm |
| L | 180–193 cm | 84–92 cm |
| XL | 190–203 cm | 90–100 cm |
| 2XL | 200 cm + | 98 cm + |
Inseam is the better guide — measure barefoot, floor to crotch. Bands overlap on purpose: if you fall between two, choose the smaller frame.
Being between sizes is normal: build the smaller one. Outside these sizes? Build a custom frame.
Outside these sizes? Build a custom frameframe geometry
| Rider height | 160-170cm / 168-178cm / 178-187cm / 185-193cm (S/M/L/XL) |
|---|---|
| Seat tube (C-C) | 48cm / 52cm / 56cm / 58cm (S/M/L/XL) |
| Top tube (effective) | 52cm / 54cm / 56cm / 58cm (S/M/L/XL) |
| Head tube | 12cm / 14cm / 17cm / 19cm (S/M/L/XL) |
| Stack | 54cm / 56cm / 58cm / 60cm (S/M/L/XL) |
| Reach | 37cm / 38cm / 39cm / 40cm (S/M/L/XL) |
your build helps fund accredited skills courses — inside prisons and schools.
complete your build, the easy way.
The kit is the frame. Add a matched component pack — fork, wheels, groupset, finishing kit — and you're ride-ready. Or source parts from any bike shop; your frame fits all major groupsets.
Everything to build the bamboo lugged gravel frame.
Bars, wheels, drivetrain and finishing kit, chosen for your build.
A complete, one-of-a-kind gravel bike — built by you.
Add the component packPrefer to choose your own parts? Skip the pack — the frame works with any standard groupset, and we'll advise.
what you'll need at home.
basic hand tools
A hacksaw, files, sandpaper, a measuring tape — no power tools. Everything else is in the kit.
a bit of space
A sturdy table around 1200 × 600 mm and a spot the frame can sit undisturbed while joints cure.
a few weekends
25–35 hours across multiple sessions. No rush — bamboo is forgiving and most mistakes are fixable.
spec — BS ISO 22157:2019 · tensile 84.3 MPa · Swansea University
in the kit
Heat-treated Moso bamboo tubes (with spares), a full-size frame blueprint, a plywood alignment jig, the CNC metal parts that the steering, cranks and wheels bolt to (head tube, bottom-bracket shell and dropouts), carbon-fibre tow (the reinforcing fibre you wrap each joint with), two-part epoxy resin, and an illustrated manual plus 15+ hours of step-by-step video tutorials.
you'll add
Fork, wheels, groupset, handlebars, saddle and finishing components. Grab a complete component pack from us, or source parts from any bike shop.
you've got this — and we've got you
you can't really ruin it
The glue is slow and adjustable, each joint wrap is additive (more = stronger), and a cured joint simply sands back to shape. The kit even ships with spare bamboo — at no single point is a mistake permanent.
tools you'll need
- Hacksaw
- Files
- Sandpaper
- Tape measure
- A rounded wood file
- Electrical & masking tape
- A 1200×600mm board
- No power tools needed
you're never on your own
Stuck mid-build? Get help fast through our builder forum, step-by-step YouTube videos, WhatsApp and email. Most of our builders start with zero experience.
caring for your frame
Seal the bamboo and store it indoors; dry it after wet rides. A frame you built — and understand — is one you can maintain and repair yourself for years.
warranty, returns & shipping
- 1-year warranty on the kit materials
- Full refund within 14 days on unopened, unused kits
- Ships in ~2 weeks · UK £12 · Europe £25 · USA £45 · rest of world £75
See a frame come together.
The same hand-build every kit follows — start to finish, on camera.
Woody made the full 8,288 miles with virtually no mechanical issues at all.
Kate Rawles · author of 'The Life Cycle'
rated by the builders who made one
The lugged construction made it so much more approachable. I was nervous but the result is rock solid.
Gravel Lugged builder, Home kit buildAs lively as my titanium frame and as comfortable as my steel one — a real joy to ride. I always end up extending my rides.
Lylian · home-build gravelbefore you build.
What does "lugged" mean, and how is it different from the standard gravel kit?
Instead of free-wrapping every joint with carbon-fibre tow, the bamboo tubes bond into pre-formed aluminium lugs — sockets that hold each tube at a fixed angle. You get cleaner, more precise joints, more repeatable geometry and a more refined finish. It's the premium step up from the standard carbon-wrapped gravel kit.
Is the lugged kit easier or harder to build?
Easier, and faster. The lugs locate the tubes for you and there's far less wrapping, so the build is 15–25 hours versus 25–40 for the standard gravel kit — with just one overnight cure. It's our most beginner-friendly route into a full gravel frame.
Is a lugged frame as strong as the wrapped one?
Very strong for its weight. Bamboo is a light, hollow natural composite and every joint bonds into a pre-formed aluminium lug, giving a high strength-to-weight ratio. Our bamboo is independently tested at Swansea University. Builders ride these frames daily and tour continents — with proper care they last for years.
Can I still repair it down the line?
Lugged construction is the more repairable option: because each tube bonds into its own lug socket, a damaged tube can be replaced at the joint rather than rebuilding a hand-wrapped union from scratch — handy if you tour or bikepack hard.
Do I need power tools?
No. Just basic hand tools — a hacksaw, files, sandpaper, a measuring tape and a work surface around 1200 × 600 mm. The lugs, bamboo, epoxy, jig and 15+ hours of video tutorials are all in the kit.
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