Bamboo bikes, odd, linky

These frames are odd but interesting, I kind of like them apart from the paint / graphics, which are a bit yawn:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370393060430&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2903wt_804

is it supposed to look like it's growing out the ground?

That looks interesting. They call it 'laid up' bamboo - laminated, in other words, probably using epoxy. I suppose it's one way around the problem of natural bamboo, which is that the irregular size and diameter make consistent joints (and structures) difficult. Bamboo is said to be stronger that steel, weight for weight. It also shrinks less than timber as the moisture content changes, but it does still shrink a fair bit, and it tends to crack when it does shrink. I suppose their 'laid up' bamboo is kiln-dried, laminated up, then sealed with epoxy resin and polyurethane varnish on top to stop the UV from degrading the epoxy. Which would work, but all that work (and chemicals) might undermine any environmental and economic advantages, leaving an admittedly atractive conversation piece.
People in the surfing world are still waiting on a vegetable-based epoxy so that they can make more environmentally-friendly boards. There was some talk of a corn-based product but it hasn't come to anything yet.

That looks interesting. They call it 'laid up' bamboo - laminated, in other words, probably using epoxy. I suppose it's one way around the problem of natural bamboo, which is that the irregular size and diameter make consistent joints (and structures) difficult. Bamboo is said to be stronger that steel, weight for weight. It also shrinks less than timber as the moisture content changes, but it does still shrink a fair bit, and it tends to crack when it does shrink. I suppose their 'laid up' bamboo is kiln-dried, laminated up, then sealed with epoxy resin and polyurethane varnish on top to stop the UV from degrading the epoxy. Which would work, but all that work (and chemicals) might undermine any environmental and economic advantages, leaving an admittedly atractive conversation piece.
People in the surfing world are still waiting on a vegetable-based epoxy so that they can make more environmentally-friendly boards. There was some talk of a corn-based product but it hasn't come to anything yet.

My old uni has a biocomposites department working on precisely that sort of thing. Mst of the comparisons I studies were between jute and sisal and glass fibre though, the epoxy was not really covered.

Good stuff in this thread. My Uni had a visit from Lotus who had made car panels and interior parts from hemp fibres in some sort of resin. I suppose bamboo is more useful for something that needs a lot of tensile strength because the fibres themselves are very long. I guess they weave it into some sort of mat and lay it up like carbon fibre.

I've read that natural bamboo frames ride really well, a bit like carbon frames but with a little more flex. I wonder how that engineered frame handles.

I'm disappointed to see how heavy it is.

Here's the manufacturer's website which has some nice accessories too
http://www.organicbikes.com/about.html

The other bamboo bike I was reading about was the Masuelli All Black, RRP 1200 as a complete bike. It uses natural bamboo tubes rather than engineered bamboo. Cycling Plus magazine gave it a 6/10 and said that the frameset was excellent but let down by poor components. And it's pretty light too, at 8.3kg tested weight for complete bike.
http://masuelli.com/ although annoyingly the model tested doesn't seem to be on the website.

Here's another website about bamboo bikes
http://www.rawbamboobikes.co.uk/

I'm disappointed to see how heavy it is.

I was surprised at this as well, it seems fairly hefty for something that's essentially ally and bamboo?

It looked heavy to me too. The metal (steel?) lugs look fairly massive. Possibly they've used a heavier section for the bamboo tubes than they need to, so as to avoid having one fall to pieces on them.
It's not bikes, but if you're interested in bamboo as an engineering material, Simon Velez's work is just incredible:
http://www.organiclightsculptures.com/NNP/files/bamboo_chair_01.jpg
http://www.asd-realtime.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/ajay.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/i/20118ml8.jpg/

Yeah the lugs are chunky, they could be solid aluminium. And perhaps the engineered bamboo is much heavier than natural bamboo.

Great links btw, reminds me that one of my projects this summer was to build a chair and I haven't done it!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/22/bamboo-bike

hate to shamelessly promote myself but I make bespoke bamboo bikes using natural bamboo. I was dissapointed when I saw the organic bikes as they were just old frame cut and used as lugs with some bionic looking bamboo tubing glued in

Calfee makes amazing bamboo bikes - google calfee design

I have made a fair few but am uselss at updating my website - www.therisingbikes.com

They ride sweet, are pretty light when made right and natural bamboo looks rad when its a bit out of line etc

I used to shape surfboards and used epoxy and polyester resin alot, I have recently been experimenting with a natural resin made from nut oil but can't quite get it right. Hemp fibre is not too bad to use either but you need loads of it for it to be half as strong as glass or carbon

I used to shape surfboards and used epoxy and polyester resin alot, I have recently been experimenting with a natural resin made from nut oil but can't quite get it right. Hemp fibre is not too bad to use either but you need loads of it for it to be half as strong as glass or carbon

The bikes look great. I reckon there's a future in manufactured bamboo-fibre mat and fabric for epoxy lay-ups. They make bamboo socks and stuff now so someone in China must be almost geared up to make it now.

Did I meet you outside Audiogold in Crouch End? if so bike looks great

Might have done? Not sure tho...
As for using bamboo fabric - I think it'll be a while before it's anywhere near as strong as carbon. I have a bamboo fabric T shirt and I couldn't tell the difference between it and a cotton one. Might cut it up and use it on my next frame!
Carbon is super strong and light and looks pretty neat too

Might have done? Not sure tho...
As for using bamboo fabric - I think it'll be a while before it's anywhere near as strong as carbon. I have a bamboo fabric T shirt and I couldn't tell the difference between it and a cotton one. Might cut it up and use it on my next frame!
Carbon is super strong and light and looks pretty neat too

Not sure if it will ever be as strong as carbon but it might be possible to make it as strong as glass fabric. Bamboo is often said to be stronger than steel, weight for weight; I'm not sure how that's been measured but it's definitely a material with potential for more development.