How to Build a Bamboo Bicycle

Step 6 Build up bike

Now you get to put in a bottom bracket and a head set. Stick on the cranks and chain, add the wheels and bar and the seat post.

Oh yeah, the seat post...

I thought my idea of having the seat post made out of bamboo was really cool. I spoke to my local bike guru who explained that the seat post is integral to the strength of the frame and advised that I insert a steel seat post into the bamboo tube. Luckily seat posts come in a wide range of widths. I folded a small piece of sandpaper in half (rough surfaces out) and wrapped that around the seat post to allow the bamboo to grip it. I then cut two slots in the bamboo to allow the seat binder to clamp the bamboo down on the seat post.

It all worked but then, crack! I guess the sandpaper was too much for the diameter of the bamboo and caused a small crack down the length of the seat post, almost all the way to the binding. I drilled a small hole to stop the crack spreading and now I will have to wrap the post in some hemp and epoxy.

I still rode it like this and it seemed ok but I am in the process of fixing it right now.

I also had to file down one of my joints at the dropouts to allow some clearance for the chain.

Comments

[Nkevin90]

ha haa; finally got to this step. it's been a while, but I told you I was doing this for sure. perfect directions so far, by the way. when you file the bindings down, what happens to the fibers? is there any special way to do this?

[ayasbek]

No, mine filed down very neatly - no fibers sticking out or anything like that. I also only removed a small amount - maybe a 1/8th of an inch. I figure that you don't actually need that much for structural integrity. The joints have all been fine.