RAW Bamboo Bikes have launched their first British-built bamboo mountain bike. Designed by Oxford Brookes University, the frame is assembled using natural materials wherever possible, including flax fibre composite lugs.
Bamboo has a higher tensile strength than steel and its flexibility offers a vibration-absorbent quality particularly well suited to bicycle frames.
The bike pictured right was one of two ridden in this year’s 8-stage gruelling Transalps race – an annual 385-mile race through Germany, Austria and Italy.
Bamboo bicycles
Bicycles are an extremely efficient and environmentally-friendly way of moving people and cargo, and in the developing world bamboo bikes offer many advantages over the traditional steel-framed variety.
Bamboo requires significantly less land and water to grow than other trees, and can absorb up to 5 times more CO2 and release up to 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. It can be harvested after 4 – 5 years, and re-grows easily
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Bamboo is plentiful and grows well in dry areas with little irrigation. Bamboo-framed bikes are already built in the developing world because the process does not require electricity or expensive equipment and is labour intensive, so provides much-need skilled employment and apprenticeships.”
Cycle insurance
Cycle insurance from the ETA includes new-for-old cover for theft and accidental damage (race events included), third party insurance, personal accident cover and if you breakdown, they will even come out and recover you and your bike.
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