R.I.P. Bamboo Bomber [Archive]

AllenG

04-08-08, 04:44 PM

I'm finally (almost) done with my bamboo utility bike. I'm still going to make some fenders and a chainguard.
But it's on the street and so far so good. She rides surprisingly like a bicycle.

Here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=376129&page=2) is the tread about its construction. Take a close look at ChiapasFixed's longtail, damn that is a nice utility bike.

She is a bolt upright, 700c balloon tire cruiser, 70º head and seat tubes, 31 inch stand-over, 24 inch effective top tube length.
Black bamboo and hemp fiber lugs.
One thing I've noticed, it does not trigger traffic lights at all.

http://awcg.com/Allen/Bicycle/X1/Side.jpg

http://awcg.com/Allen/Bicycle/X1/Front.jpg

http://awcg.com/Allen/Bicycle/X1/Rear.jpg

Internal gear hub
Dynamo front hub
Twin headlights
Frame mounted front & rear racks
Platform/Clipless pedals
Center pull Canti brakes
Albatross handlebars

The cable guides popped off during construction, they are glued back into place. I used the white tape to hold them as the glue dried and did not remove it because I'm going to change the guides out for a different type that are on order. If I leave the tape in place I'll change them out because it bothers me. If I removed the tape I would not change them out for the better set, out of sight out of mind.

vik

04-08-08, 04:55 PM

Wow - very nice...:D

0o0o0o

04-08-08, 05:03 PM

Waaaaaaaa? deng. That's dope.

Kimmitt

04-08-08, 05:36 PM

Nice

Corcis

04-08-08, 05:43 PM

Clean piece - I like how the lugging is covered and made to look nice. We need a side shot, though!

AllenG

04-08-08, 06:14 PM

Thanks.

Clean piece - I like how the lugging is covered and made to look nice. We need a side shot, though!

My server is a little slow today, the top image is a side shot. You may have to hit the refresh button.

legot73

04-08-08, 08:23 PM

Beautiful bike! The frame building thread got me hooked, I want to try a few. Sounds like a very affordable project, too. You've inspired me again. With every trade I've tried, my second product is always much better than my first, so I'll plan for 2 or 3. Can't wait to see your next one!

kyakdiver

04-08-08, 10:18 PM

AllenG,

That thing is sooooooooooo kick ass...

Great Job!

kyakdiver

cman

04-09-08, 12:23 PM

Very cool.

Maxwell

04-09-08, 06:27 PM

Cool bike! You mentioned in the construction thread about not being able to run a front disc cable around that fixed front rack. What about running it through the steer tube like so;

http://sheldonbrown.org/iro/pages/iro-boing5.html

The cantis are definitely pretty though!

Lamplight

04-09-08, 07:16 PM

Very nice Allen! I've watched your bike as it's progressed and the finished product is quite impressive.

AllenG

04-09-08, 07:37 PM

Thanks guys.

Cool bike! You mentioned in the construction thread about not being able to run a front disc cable around that fixed front rack. What about running it through the steer tube like so;

http://sheldonbrown.org/iro/pages/iro-boing5.html

The cantis are definitely pretty though!

I loved St. Sheldon's approach to problem solving.

donnamb

04-10-08, 11:43 PM

What an utterly beautiful bike. :)

James H Haury

04-11-08, 06:27 PM

She( Bicycle) rolls in beauty like the night.And all that's lovely dark and bright meets in her Frameset and her lights.( please note This is based on someone elses poem I do not claim credit)

Maxwell

04-11-08, 07:56 PM

Any details on the front rack?

AllenG

04-11-08, 08:01 PM

Thanks again guys, too kind.

AllenG

04-11-08, 08:14 PM

Any details on the front rack?

It is made by Azor (http://www.azor.nl/). I bought it from one of their American distributors.
It attaches to the frame and not the front fork. With the double leg kickstand it always stays level, very handy. I glued the attachment plate to the frame, and the rack proper, pressures fits into the plate so one can attach/remove it from the bike in a second.

http://awcg.com/Allen/Bicycle/X1/Rack.1.jpg

http://awcg.com/Allen/Bicycle/X1/Rack.2.jpg

Maxwell

04-12-08, 12:51 PM

Ah, that's how I thought it worked, thanks for the detail shots. I've been scheming about welding up something similar.

AllenG

04-22-08, 07:48 PM

Update:

I'm on assignment and I insisted on carrying my bike with us so I could have independent transportation (saw no reason to have to rent a car).

I've learned that the panniers on this bike look good but suck in function. This is the first time I've had the chance to give them a good trial and I mean they seriously suck.
The bottom attachments come loose in a heart beat, and the top (the part that straddles the top of the rack) bunches into a wad, or worse when the tightening straps slip, which is easily if there is weight in them, the bottoms of the bags meet spokes. And if my rack did not turn up at the end the bags would work their way forward and off the rack, landing on my rear wheel.

Frost River Panniers. If you only wish to carry a sweater or the paper they are functional, any real weight though--forget it. I've had to stop and readjust or reattach them at least three times today.
Real shame, I'm going to modify them and see if I can make them useful. I like the way they look and would hate to just throw them out, although I've been sorely tempted to sling them under the wheels of a truck.

AllenG

04-22-08, 07:54 PM

Oh, the bike has been a joy. Smoothest riding bike I've ever ridden. Bamboo really is impressive at deadening road vibration.

gnome

04-26-08, 03:22 AM

That's a very very nice bike.:D Hope it gives you many miles of enjoyment.

Artkansas

05-13-08, 03:55 PM

Love the twin head lamps. :thumb:

AllenG

05-15-08, 11:55 AM

Thanks guys.

So far the bike has been a very enjoyable ride.

The next time I do twin lamps I'll use a SON hub instead of the Shimano. I really need to be doing about 15 mph before both lamps are at full bright. Supposedly the SON hub can burn both at full brightness at about 10 mph.

Monkeykun

05-15-08, 12:02 PM

awesome bike!!:thumb:

Elkhound

05-15-08, 12:17 PM

I take it that where you ride it is as flat as a pancake? I can't imagine trying some of our hills on a singlespeed.

ETA: Sorry, didn't see the part of an internal gear hub.

vik

05-15-08, 02:16 PM

cerewa

05-16-08, 06:54 AM

I'm way jealous of that bamboo bike.

vik

05-16-08, 07:33 AM

BTW - Allen if you do get to the point where those panniers are under a passing truck...:eek: Carradice makes some that look nice and work really well.

AllenG

05-16-08, 11:57 AM

Glad you are having fun with your bike. I haven't heard of any difference in power generation between the SON & Shimano dynohubs from the randonneur crowd and they usually uber picky about such things.

I've had both and still own a Shimano - works fine. I'd buy another without hesitation.

This is my fourth Shimano dynohub, but the first time I've tried running twin headlamps. I'm going to swap out one of the lamps and see if I can get better preformance. I've been more than happy with all my other Shimano hubs.

One side of the panniers is in a St. Simons landfill (the bike has been on in the ocean now--had to replace all the rack bolts, they rusted by the end of the day). I'm going to put a stiffening board inside the surviving one and put some Ortlieb attachment hardware on it. After that it will be much more functional.

And I'm going to have to get off my but and build some fenders for this thing. Good lord, it leaves the most impressive of skunk stripes down my back.

dwainedibbly

05-17-08, 12:28 AM

What? No bamboo spokes? :)

Seriously, she's a beauty, that's for sure. I've sort of been considering making a trailer out of bamboo. Time to get planting!

donnamb

05-17-08, 09:38 AM

One side of the panniers is in a St. Simons landfill (the bike has been on in the ocean now--had to replace all the rack bolts, they rusted by the end of the day).
I smell an interesting story here.

AllenG

05-17-08, 09:21 PM

I smell an interesting story here.

It was riding along the surf line when the crappy snap attachment let loose, got caught in my spokes, and I ended up falling over in the waves. My bike does not leak, and fortunately, rust either.

AllenG

05-17-08, 09:27 PM

BTW - Allen if you do get to the point where those panniers are under a passing truck...:eek: Carradice makes some that look nice and work really well.

I like those Carradice bags.

If I find a North American dealer I would not mind giving these Basil (http://www.basil.nl/) panniers a shot.
http://awcg.com/Allen/RandomImages/Basil.jpg

AllenG

05-19-08, 11:55 AM

http://awcg.com/Allen/Bicycle/X1/TheEnd.jpg

Wrecked today. If it were made of metal, all I would have done is pick up my bike and keep going.
I'm livid, so I'm not sure that I'm thinking straight, however I am thinking bamboo is nothing more than a novelty.

I could salvage the frame, but right now, I don't think it is worth the effort.

*Would a mod be so kind as to change the title of this thread? Bamboo Bomber Lives is no longer appropriate, nor are my current thoughts about bamboo as a building material.

Elkhound

05-19-08, 12:14 PM

I like those Carradice bags.

If I find a North American dealer I would not mind giving these Basil (http://www.basil.nl/) panniers a shot.
http://awcg.com/Allen/RandomImages/Basil.jpg

I think that these people have them, although not (yet?) in their online store. (http://clevercycles.com/#)

Elkhound

05-19-08, 12:16 PM

*Would a mod be so kind as to change the title of this thread? Bamboo Bomber Lives is no longer appropriate, nor are my current thoughts about bamboo as a building material.

I don't have the technical knowledge to be able to tell you what, if anything, you did wrong, but these people (http://www.bamboobike.org/Home.html) might.

I trust that you are OK.

AllenG

05-19-08, 12:22 PM

I went down in some sand on the road.
The front rack snapped off taking the down tube with it.

I'm ok, just some scrapes, and a truly foul mood.

Thanks for the Basil link. I've got to put a lot of though into whether I'm willing to use bamboo as a frame material again. I may go take a class in welding instead.

donnamb

05-19-08, 10:40 PM

Thanks for the Basil link.
I can go look at them if you want. They're a mile and a half from my house. They do mail order - that's where vik got the padded seat for the Xtracycle snapdeck.

surfimp

05-19-08, 11:56 PM

What about some epoxy? Maybe wrap it in fiberglass or even (gasp) carbon fiber for some nice stiffness? No reason it couldn't be made stronger than before, IMHO.

Steve

cman

05-20-08, 08:59 AM

Wrecked today.

That sucks....Such a beauty in its time. I might rethink using that style of front Rack on anything but steel.

AllenG

05-20-08, 04:46 PM

That sucks....Such a beauty in its time. I might rethink using that style of front Rack on anything but steel.

Agreed.
It's going onto an old, rigid Gary Fisher, turned beater/commuter of my brother's.

AllenG

05-20-08, 04:48 PM

Haven't decided if I'm going to use this frame as a destruction test mule, or try to repair it.
There will be more. They are too fun to build not to.

Sirrus Rider

05-20-08, 06:55 PM

Haven't decided if I'm going to use this frame as a destruction test mule, or try to repair it.
There will be more. They are too fun to build not to.

Allen, I like the lines on that frame; however, I don't think bamboo is the best of material. I can understand the original concept of building bikes from low cost renewable and local resources for third world countries, but as your mishap underscores bamboo is a brittle material and you were riding in relatively gentle conditions.

I'd love to see that design in a more conventional frame material. You might even have a MARKETABLE frame and design if it were steel.. :eek::love:

maddyfish

05-20-08, 07:09 PM

That stinks. Sorry to hear about your bike. Interesting project. Is there any difference in the flexability/strength in different species of bamboo? Maybe a different type would be better?

AllenG

05-20-08, 07:54 PM

Allen, I like the lines on that frame; however, I don't think bamboo is the best of material. I can understand the original concept of building bikes from low cost renewable and local resources for third world countries, but as your mishap underscores bamboo is a brittle material and you were riding in relatively gentle conditions.
I've been hesident to learn to weld because I am a photographer by trade; my eyes are my money makers.
The low cost of bamboo is one of the reasons I'm using it for my first building experiments. I can move the components from frame to frame until I get my skills honed.

I'd love to see that design in a more conventional frame material. You might even have a MARKETABLE frame and design if it were steel.. :eek::love:
I would make it a single speed with a Schlumpf mountain drive (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/schlumpf.html), and call it the Birchmore (http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/HistoryTechnology/pdf_lo/SSHT-0024.pdf) or the Bucephalus (http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/meta/html/dlg/vang/meta_dlg_vang_clr050.html?Welcome).

http://awcg.com/Allen/RandomImages/Bucephalus.jpg

AllenG

05-20-08, 07:58 PM

That stinks. Sorry to hear about your bike. Interesting project. Is there any difference in the flexability/strength in different species of bamboo? Maybe a different type would be better?

I used Phyllostachys nigra for this bike. I might try Tonkin for a future bike.
Both species have been used by others successfully in the past.

I'm going to concentrate on different curing techniques and see how they effect strength.