When people say "my bike's frame is made out of exotic materials" you immediatly think of carbon fiber. It's so common now that people take it for granted. It is very expensive though and not many people can afford it.
We can all look up to a man who wants to change bike building for third world countries. His name is Craig Calfee and he had a brilliant idea. Teach people how to build bike frames from bamboo, so that they can have a mode of transportation and a job at the same time. The initiative is taking off and each bike built by people from poor african families is a piece of art. By buying one of these bikes, you help people support themselves.
The images of one of their models speak about the attention to detail given to the product. Each of these frames are hand built from pieces of bamboo tied together with rope, strengthened by resin and then coats of clear laquer are applied for the finishing effect.
This particular model could've been seen at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Austin, Texas this year.
More on bamboo bicycles
here, and more shots with this model can be seen
here.
