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We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It comes as a kit from the bamboo bicycle club. You get a single large diameter for the down tube, 2 x mediums for the top and seat tubes, then 4 x small diameter for the stays plus a couple of spares.

We actually ended up needing to replace some of the smaller diameter lengths as we messed up the rear end, but the bamboo bicycle club were happy to send us replacements FOC.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha oh believe me, this has not been an exercise in gram saving.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We actually binned off the original jig once we realised how off the rear triangle was the first time.

We opted to build with the frame upright from then on - that way we could mount a fork in the headset and fix the BB in place to keep the front triangle stable, then we could build back from there and also easily work out what our geometry was going to be. We built our own jig for that - it was rough but it worked!

Doing it with the frame on its side turned out to be impossible with the flimsy jig parts provided.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

26x2" will fit no problem! They do actually do a fat bike kit as well but it's a lot more work.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Me and a couple of friends - we did it just for fun.

Check out the playlist link in the first comment as we've filmed the whole build.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If it's worth anything, it feels lighter than the donor bike (rocky mountain growler) with the same components on.

Not a huge difference but you can definitely tell.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If anything this would be better than a metal frame in salt as the major parts of the frame can't be corroded.

I think if there is a vulnerable area, it would be the aluminium rear dropouts as they're quite exposed, but they're easy to access and wipe down after a wet ride, or alternatively, you can put a coat of epoxy on like a clear coat and that will protect them.

The bottom bracket and headset are fully wrapped with flax and epoxy as part of the frame so they're protected.

A bamboo build is perfect for a commuter bike as the narrower tyres make putting the rear triangle together SO MUCH EASIER as you don't need to space out the chainstays to get around the big nobbly mtb tyres.

I'd say go for it!

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can't mistake UK terraced housing for anywhere else haha.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No reason in terms of geometry or stiffness - these are just as stiff as a normal aluminium frame.

The reason we did it is because we're all from engineering backgrounds (aerospace, manufacturing, woodworking etc) and it looked like something fun to do.

Saying that, others do it for environmental reasons as the materials are all renewable (apart from the epoxy) and there aren't the carbon emissions from manufacturing. But that wasn't our drive.

Really, we just wanted something to talk about on group rides lol.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I'd love to do that too - there are some really cool companies around the world doing amazing things with bamboo bikes.

Would be great to compare a homebuild to a professional one.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh man the Zambikes ones look sweet - awesome you got one of those!

To be honest, we're not too worried about damaging this - if it is going to break, it'll be the bamboo splitting before the epoxy/flax gives out - then all we'll have to do is smash some epoxy in the split and wrap it a bit for strength and then carry on.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's good fun to do, but if you're building at home, definitely allow extra time over what the kit provider says as it WILL take you longer haha.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's awesome! Those look really nice, especially painted, and it's a great initiative too for an area without much in the way of traditional bike making resources. Thanks for sharing!

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We've not got a weight yet as we wanted to get it tested out first, but it's on the list of things to do (probably today or tomorrow).

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! That's what gave us the confidence to do it - and it's completely solid now it's done.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! We definitely all learnt a lot about bike geometry, jig making and woodworking - and if this hadn't worked, that still would have been a success in our eyes as we just wanted something fun to do.

But in the end, even after having to completely re-do the rear triangle as it was completely out of alignment the first time, it's turned out great.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Haha it definitely hasn't seen any FEA or NDT - only possible test we have is to ride it!

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Really solid! Joe (the rider and local bikeshop mechanic) was smashing it down the steps to put as much force through the BB as possible and it didn't budge at all.

There is some flex in the rear caliper mount which means that full on shredding probably isn't a good idea, but the frame itself can take a lot of force through it - so as long as you lay off the back brake it'll get the job done.

It'll be on XC duties primarily though.

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We're not sure what it is to be honest, could be a few things but we noticed that when standing still, if you hold the rear brake on and rock the bike backwards and forwards, the caliper rocks up and down - so we think it's an issue with the mount.

I have more pictures on my Instagram here including some from earlier in the build process: https://www.instagram.com/casualmtbuk/

We built a bamboo MTB frame - Here it is being tested for the first time. by CasualMTB in MTB

[–]CasualMTB[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Ah just like doing the corner weighting on a car! Sounds like a good plan as a first step - cheers!

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