Bamboo Bike

Bamboo bike kind to planet and pocket

THESE days being environmentally aware is as important as being cost-efficient, and a Gisborne man has managed to combine both with his prototype of a bamboo bike.

Using treated bamboo, bound with flax and epoxy, Freddy Salgado has designed a bike that is kind to the planet and the pocket.

"The bamboo bike is by no means a new idea but I'm using a slightly different design," he said.

"Usually these bikes are bound with hemp but I've found flax to be much stronger and readily available. Once I get the construction figured out, this could be one of the strongest bamboo bikes available."

Bamboo has been used in Asian countries for over 3000 years for a multitude of purposes.

The fastest-growing plant on earth, bamboo reaches full height within a year -- making it an enduring natural resource that can be selectively harvested annually.

Mr Salgado, owner of bike outlet and repair shop Bikeys, was inspired to develop a prototype after noticing the abundance of bamboo growing here.

Once he fine-tunes construction, the next step is developing an economical way of manufacturing on a larger scale -- to keep costs down without compromising quality.

"With the Earth going into crisis, people are searching for sustainable resources that have less impact on the environment. There are always ways of doing things here instead of buying from China."

Steel, aluminium and titanium frames all require high levels of energy to produce before being suitable for bicycle manufacture.

Bamboo simply requires a curing process to strengthen it. Once reinforced,bamboo is comparable to carbon fibre, says Mr Salgado.

"EverythingI've used is sourced locally. There is such a strong DIY culture herein New Zealand, it would be a shame to turn into lazy Americans."

Having grown up in America, he just gets away with this statement -- but does not fit into that "lazy-American" category.

"That's why it's all turning to squish in America, because people have been so lazy."

Aside from the obvious benefit of using a natural resource for transport, the increasing cost of fuel makes pedal-power a much more viable option.

Mr Salgado has seen a marked increase in business over the past fewmonths, with more people opting to have old bikes fixed or invest in anew one to avoid record-high fuel prices.

"I'm noticing there are a lot more commuters . . . there is definitely a lot more of a buzz with biking.

"It's becoming more popular as people become more environmentally-conscious."

On the subject of the council's cycle and walkway strategy, Mr Salgado said it was a great idea but he hoped to see council staff and the Mayor promote its use and lead by example.

"They need to get involved with people who do ride and make sure it's actually used.

"There's no point spending all that money if people don't use it."

[ Last edited by jamie at 2008-6-16 13:44 ]

How to buy a bicycle

Whether you've never bought one before or need a smart new upgrade, these quick tips should help you make the right choice.

Flash the cash
Spend to the hilt of your budget. The point of buying as high as you dare is that the better the bike, the greater the pleasure it will bring you. The greater the joy, the more you'll want to use it. But remember also what safety and security accessories you need (starting with lights, helmet and a lock or two).

Do your homework
There are a huge number of books and up-to-date internet sites - such as the excellent bikeforall.net- to help you find the ideal bike, be it a hybrid, racer, mountain or folding bike. What sort of riding do you want to do? The more you know before you enter the shop, the easier it will be for the bike specialist to help you.

Whatever your size and shape, there's a bike for you
The most important thing when buying a bike is to get the correct size.People can spend thousands on a bike but the money is totally wasted if the bike doesn't fit you. The frame needs to be right, so make sure you test the bike: think about the width of the bars and the length of the handlebar stem.

Keep an inch clearance between the bike's top tube and your nether regions
Eye-watering as it sounds, this is the best way to check the reach and height of the bike is right for you. Remember the saddle position canbe adjusted forwards and back as well as up and down, and the handlebars too. Your dealer should let you do a test-ride so take advantage.

A good bike mechanic will have qualifications
Most British bike shops are members of the Association of Cycle Traders and will have mechanics with CyTech qualifications. This bike industry standard will ensure they've got answers for all your queries,specialist or otherwise.

Even in today's world, bikes can be gender-specific
Traditionally, women's bikes possessed a slanted top tube to make it easier to dismount in a skirt. Now the main difference is that the toptube is shorter in length because women tend to have a shorter reach.Also, with more expensive bikes, the suspension may be specially adjusted.

Men and women have different-shaped pelvises, so get the right saddle
Ensure you choose a saddle that matches your shape, even if this means changing the one that came with the bike. Women's saddles are slightly wider and shorter. For comfort, a softer saddle is better for short trips.

Feel comfortable with the gears
Commuter cyclist Joe Halloran recalls that, "When I was looking to buy a bike,the components were an important factor. The brakes, wheels and gears all need to be of a good quality, just as much as the frame itself." Asan example, work out whether you want "derailleur" gears typical of racing bikes - multiple cogs on the front and rear wheels linked by a movable chain mechanism to give the bike up to 30 "speeds" - or hub gearing common on utility (hybrid) bikes, whereby a gearbox is built into the rear wheel's hub, offering greater protection against weather and bashes but fewer gears.

Buying a bike from an auction website is rarely a good investment
Purchasing second-hand is difficult, and there's a lot to be said for shopping around and taking someone with you who knows what they are talking about. Avoid buying bikes that are unseen/untried/on the cheap(they are never bargains) or flat-packed/self-assembly/auction websitebikes.

wonderful

another one

“Once reinforced,bamboo is comparable to carbon fibre, says Mr Salgado”
JESUS!

Ha...is it a bamboo bike??

alghouth it's quite light,,,,I don't think it's made of bamboo...