Ride a bamboo MTB for the ultimate in sustainable offroad cycling

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Can you make a bicycle from grass? Well, strictly-speaking sure, since bamboo belongs to the grass household and people who make two-wheeler frames utilizing this strong materials are eager to sing its praises.

Advantages embody an extremely excessive strength-to-weight ratio, glorious vibration absorption qualities, which make for a smoother journey, and distinctive sturdiness.

The environmentally pleasant manufacturing side is one other plus level and on high that, bamboo is definitely higher than metal in phrases of tensile energy. It additionally takes much less electrical energy to make a bamboo bike than a metallic one and the body is totally recyclable.

Making bikes from bamboo just isn’t new. The know-how went out of vogue years in the past when metal grew to become fashionable for making frames and it was later supplanted by aluminium.

The world’s first bamboo bicycle was manufactured in London in 1894 but it surely was not till 2005 that American Craig Calfee ushered in a new period of bamboo frame-building.

Numerous corporations have now specialised in utilizing bamboo for a bicycle’s most essential element, together with German corporations My Boo, Pine and Faserwerk. Swedish maker Eker (“spoke” in English) has been promoting such bikes since 2021 and we selected considered one of their fashions for nearer scrutiny.80 hours: That's how much manual labour goes into each bamboo frame, according to Eker, from harvesting the cane to painting it. 80 hours: That’s how a lot handbook labour goes into every bamboo body, in keeping with Eker, from harvesting the cane to portray it.

Who is it geared toward? Eker markets its Stark mannequin as a cross-country mountain bike which makes it a form of race-ready MTB.

The know-how: The manufacturing course of is uncommon and it takes round 80 hours to finish a body, says Eker co-founder Stefan Krisch. It begins when the bamboo is harvested in Uganda the place appropriate canes are minimize by hand. The body is assembled in the capital Kampala.

The manufacturing technique: The bark of the Mutaba tree is used with a pure epoxy glue to connect the canes to one another.

“We minimize the bark into strips and wrap it round the tubes utilizing a sure sample which ensures most all-round rigidity,” mentioned Krisch.The darker color makes the bark sections stand out “and since every body is exclusive it’s a actual problem to provide constantly good frames to our strict specification,” mentioned Krisch.

No two tubes are the similar so for instance, the take a look at bike’s body weighs 2,905g, however the Eker can vary in weight from 2,400 – 2,800g for dimension M. The firm provides a five-year guarantee on the body.

“Because of the excessive fibre content material, our bamboo body won’t break even beneath heavy load or by means of direct impression,” mentioned the man from Eker. The materials can also be extremely immune to wind and climate.The tree bark parts are hand-shaped. To make the frame weatherproof, it is coated several times with clear varnish. The tree bark components are hand-shaped. To make the body weatherproof, it’s coated a number of occasions with clear varnish.

To enhance general resilience, Eker not solely coats the inside the tubes but additionally provides the body with 4 high layers of clear varnish at the remaining manufacturing stage.

The largest benefit over widespread body supplies reminiscent of aluminium or metal is an ecological one: According to a report by Duke University in North Carolina, the manufacturing of a bicycle body manufactured from aluminium generates about 250kg of CO2, whereas even that of a carbon body produces 67kg.

The reverse is the case with bamboo. As a renewable useful resource, it really binds CO2.

“According to our calculations, the bamboo used for an Eker body is equal to absorbing 773kg of CO2 from the environment,” mentioned the Eker co-founder.Equipment, equipment, peripherals: The bike options parts from well-known manufacturers, in this case Sram. The hydraulic disc brakes and the shifting parts come from the American provider. Rear derailleur, crank, sprocket set and chain-ring (32 tooth) derive from the MTB entry-level GX Eagle group.

The suspension fork with 100mm of journey comes from Rockshox (mannequin Judy Gold) and the 29-inch wheels are mounted on via axles.

Michelin studded tires are mounted on the take a look at bike, mannequin Wild Racer (29 “x2.1”). However, fancier gear may be specified. Eker additionally accepts particular requests for customized needs.The darker frame parts, as seen here on the seat tube and chain stay, are made of wrapped strips of tree bark sealed with an epoxy resin that the manufacturer claims is ecologically produced. The darker body components, as seen right here on the seat tube and chain keep, are manufactured from wrapped strips of tree bark sealed with an epoxy resin that the producer claims is ecologically produced.

The driving impression: “Our bamboo body is mild, sturdy and provides the rider a diploma of flexibility with out being too tender,” says Krisch. And certainly: In the saddle, you all the time have the feeling that your leg energy is being translated straight into ahead movement. The bike is nice to journey and because of the fats tires, it absorbs many slight bumps in contrast to a stiff aluminium hardtail.

The look: The bamboo look additionally makes the MTB an eye-catcher and passers-by usually ask you the place they will purchase one.

The worth: The Stark prices from €3,900 (RM17,707) upwards. Pedals (from €63/RM286) and bottle cage are further (from €15/RM68). If you do not fancy the pure bamboo look, you possibly can order the body in black for an additional €110 (RM499).

To sum up: This is the good bike for eco-minded MTB racers who wish to make a assertion too. It’s dear, however does wonders for your private carbon footprint. – dpa



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