The Bamboo Bike project

The Bamboo Bike, an endeavour that aims at building bicycles in a sustainable fashion using bamboo as the primary construction material, is a joint project run by Craig Calfree of Calfree Design, a high tech bicycle design firm based in California and The Earth Institute at Columbia University.

The bicycle is the primary mode of transport in Africa and it is used for everything from personal transportation to moving medicine and the sick to hospital. Sadly, the design used in most of Africa has not changed for the last 40 years to take into account the different ways in which the bicycle is used. In fact, most bikes in use in most of Africa today are based on a colonial British design tailored to individuals travelling short distances on smooth roads.

Bamboo Bicycle Project - Bike Assembly  Bamboo Bicycle Project - The Bamboo Bike

While making bike frames based on bamboo is not a new idea, most bamboo frame designs simply use bamboo for construction material in a traditional bike frame design. Leveraging the unique properties of bamboo such as its strength and flexibility to meet the specific needs of populations local to various parts of Africa is one of the primary rationale behind the Bamboo Bike project.

The team working on the Bamboo Bike project in the US, Ghana and Kenya among other locations have a interesting blog (last updated in the summer of 2007) that chronicles the struggles of the project team while on site in Africa.

Project gear including Bamboo Bikes and clothing is available on the Bamboo Bike and Calfree Design websites.

Bamboo Bicycle Project - A Ghanian Village Elder on the Bamboo bike  Craig Calfree and the Bamboo Bicycle Project

39 comments for this post.

Comment from Fashion » The Bamboo Bike project
6 February 2008 - 6:51 pm - :

[...] AfriGadget wrote an interesting post today on The Bamboo Bike projectHere’s a quick excerpt The Bamboo Bike, an endeavour that aims at building bicycles in a sustainable fashion using bamboo as the primary construction material, is a joint project run by Craig Calfree of Calfree Design, a high tech bicycle design firm based in California and The Earth Institute at Columbia University. The bicycle is the primary mode of transport in Africa and it is used for everything from personal transportation to moving medicine and the sick to hospital. Sadly, the bicycle design used in most of A [...]

Comment from Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group (AIDG)
7 February 2008 - 3:50 pm - :

Helicomm has been using the CONSOL Energy’s Big Branch mine in Mingo County, WV to test the system. The Big Branch mine is not an active mine, but since June 2007 has been the demonstration site for the ”MineTracer” system. 2.The Bamboo Bike projectfrom Afrigadget

Helicomm has been using the CONSOL Energy’s Big Branch mine in Mingo County, WV to test the system. The Big Branch mine is not an active mine, but since June 2007 has been the demonstration site for the ”MineTracer” system. 2.The Bamboo Bike projectfrom Afrigadget

-->
Comment from Africa: building bikes from bamboo - Boing Boing
8 February 2008 - 1:34 pm - :

[...] on a colonial British design tailored to individuals travelling short distances on smooth roads. Link posted in: Gadgets Favorite this! Send this to a Friend Older Prada’s new [...]

[...] on a colonial British design tailored to individuals travelling short distances on smooth roads. Link posted in: Gadgets Favorite this! Send this to a Friend Older Prada’s new [...]

-->
Comment from Sustainability?? - The Blokey Shed
8 February 2008 - 3:21 pm - :

[...] The world’s full of fruit loops. http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/02/06…-bike-project/ I have no problems with people using old bicycle parts, nor with building their frames out of [...]

[...] The world’s full of fruit loops. http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/02/06…-bike-project/ I have no problems with people using old bicycle parts, nor with building their frames out of [...]

-->
Comment from Bamboo Bikes « Christ Church (beta)
8 February 2008 - 4:38 pm - :

[...] Published February 8, 2008 africa Tags: bicycle Over at AfriGadget: The bicycle is the primary mode of transport in Africa and it is used for everything from personal [...]

Comment from The Bamboo Bike Project - Ridemonkey.com
8 February 2008 - 7:33 pm - :

[...] Bamboo Bike Project Linky [...]

[...] Bamboo Bike Project Linky [...]

-->
Comment from Grego
8 February 2008 - 7:42 pm - :

Braino correction: Craig *Calfee*, of *Calfee Design*.

Comment from 非洲的竹制单车 | 煎蛋
8 February 2008 - 9:16 pm - :

[...] 非洲人喜欢用竹子做任何器具,包括单车。Link / Via [...]

Comment from Boing Boing
9 February 2008 - 12:05 am - :

On Afrigadget today, the story of an organization working with people in Africa to build bicycles from a locally-available and sustainable resource — bamboo: The Bamboo Bike, an endeavour that aims at building bicycles in a sustainable fashion using

On Afrigadget today, the story of an organization working with people in Africa to build bicycles from a locally-available and sustainable resource — bamboo: The Bamboo Bike, an endeavour that aims at building bicycles in a sustainable fashion using

-->
Comment from Right on, ride on » Blog Archive » Weekend Roundup 20080209
9 February 2008 - 12:35 pm - :

[...] there’s one on building bike frames from bamboo in Africa. (Direct link.) This was also shared on the Make ‘zine blog over [...]

Comment from bikepirates: more wooden rides
9 February 2008 - 9:45 pm - :

[...] 19:57:00        Current music:Gazzelloni more wooden rides The Bamboo Bike Project, Wooden Bike Rental in Governor’s Island(Post a new [...]

[...] 19:57:00        Current music:Gazzelloni more wooden rides The Bamboo Bike Project, Wooden Bike Rental in Governor’s Island(Post a new [...]

-->
Comment from Bastards
10 February 2008 - 10:18 am - :

[...] The Bamboo Bike Project, Wooden Bike Rental in Governor’s [...]

[...] The Bamboo Bike Project, Wooden Bike Rental in Governor’s [...]

-->
Comment from Mashada Blogs » AfriGadget
11 February 2008 - 1:36 am - :

[...] The Bamboo Bike project  From: AfriGadget [...]

[...] The Bamboo Bike project  From: AfriGadget [...]

-->
Comment from StumbleUpon - Your page is now on StumbleUpon!
11 February 2008 - 5:01 am - :

[...] Your page is on StumbleUpon [...]

[...] Your page is on StumbleUpon [...]

-->
Comment from Surfnshare: Wacky
11 February 2008 - 5:47 am - :

for the last 40 years to take into account the different ways in which the bicycle is used. In fact, most bikes in use in most of Africa today are based on a colonial British design tailored to individuals travelling short distances on smooth roads.LinkPrada’s new secondlifey fashion film/ad, “Trembled Blossoms” Posted: 08 Feb 2008 03:15 PM CST

for the last 40 years to take into account the different ways in which the bicycle is used. In fact, most bikes in use in most of Africa today are based on a colonial British design tailored to individuals travelling short distances on smooth roads.LinkPrada’s new secondlifey fashion film/ad, “Trembled Blossoms” Posted: 08 Feb 2008 03:15 PM CST

-->
Comment from New Scientist Technology Blog: Bamboo bikes
12 February 2008 - 11:24 pm - :

[...] in Ghana, or having one built for you back in California.Tom Simonite, online technology reporterViaLabels: engineering, environment, [...]

[...] in Ghana, or having one built for you back in California.Tom Simonite, online technology reporterViaLabels: engineering, environment, [...]

-->
Comment from Bamboo bikes | Auto Technology | Auto Blog
14 February 2008 - 4:29 pm - :

[...] Via [...]

Comment from Link
16 February 2008 - 2:00 pm - :

Original post:The Bamboo Bike project Using Current Web Stats To Increase Profitsby at Google Blog Search: link Blog tag: Link Technorati tag: Link

Original post:The Bamboo Bike project Using Current Web Stats To Increase Profitsby at Google Blog Search: link Blog tag: Link Technorati tag: Link

-->
Comment from Ian Hopper
18 February 2008 - 5:58 pm - :

It’s nice to see that Craig is helping out folks who most need his skills. I saw his beautiful (but very expensive) work at NAHBS in Portland a couple of weeks ago: beautiful stuff. The longtail they produced looks xtracycle / worldbike inspired… was there a collaboration between then Craig and the Worldbike folks?

Comment from Jikomboe » Baiskeli Zinazotengenezwa Kwa Mianzi + Grassroots Reporting Project
19 February 2008 - 2:07 am - :

[...] maendeleo ya Afrika. AfriGadget inaonyesha ubunifu na “uanasayansi” unaoendelea Afrika. Soma habari hii kuhusu baiskeli zinazotengenezwa kwa kutumia mianzi! Soma pia na habari nyingine kwenye blogu [...]

Comment from Mumbled Rantings from the Evol God of Nollij
19 February 2008 - 2:11 am - :

, and as usual, he doesn’t disspoint. I would put a link here to my pictures, but since the hard drive on my Mac G4 iBook is apparently roasted, my photo uploading abilities are somewhat… limited. Anyway, check out thearticle.

, and as usual, he doesn’t disspoint. I would put a link here to my pictures, but since the hard drive on my Mac G4 iBook is apparently roasted, my photo uploading abilities are somewhat… limited. Anyway, check out thearticle.

-->
Comment from Global Voices Online » Ghana/Kenya: The bamboo Bike Project
19 February 2008 - 2:14 am - :

[...] writes a story about bamboo bikes in Ghana and Kenya: “The Bamboo Bike, an endeavour that aims at building bicycles in a [...]

-->
Comment from Truemors :: Bamboo Bike Project Brings Sustainable Mode of Transport to Africa
20 February 2008 - 3:14 pm - :

[...] The Earth Institute at Columbia University decide to address the problem by teaming up to create The Bamboo Bike Project, an undertaking aimed at building strong, flexible bicycles to meet the specific needs of local [...]

[...] The Earth Institute at Columbia University decide to address the problem by teaming up to create The Bamboo Bike Project, an undertaking aimed at building strong, flexible bicycles to meet the specific needs of local [...]

-->
Comment from Pages tagged "bamboo"
22 February 2008 - 1:59 pm - :

[...] tagged bambooOwn a Wordpress blog? Make monetization easier with the WP Affiliate Pro plugin. The Bamboo Bike project saved by 1 others     gaaracarter bookmarked on 02/22/08 | [...]

Comment from In The Back Of Your Mind
23 February 2008 - 3:31 pm - :

Bikes…

I came across this video of someone moving by bike in Brooklyn. It reminded me of this story on Afrigadget….

Comment from fairplanet blog » BambusBike bei AfriGadget
27 February 2008 - 3:04 am - :

[...] wird das Konzept von Bambusfahrrädern auch bei AfriGadget (einer meiner absoluten Blogfavoriten) besprochen. Bambus ist widerstandsfähig, flexibel und umweltfreundlich. Damit ist es der ideale Rohstoff für [...]

Comment from Barnabas Elisha Waweru
27 February 2008 - 8:16 am - :

It seems that the bamboo bike project needs to be looked at a little better from a production engineering perspective. The strong steel frame of cheap Chinese bikes, can be easily welded if breaks, predictable at high speeds in bends and only a relatively small cost center in the manufacturing of bikes. Everything else, i.e some 200 parts have to be bought, as bamboo chains, bearings, spokes, tyres, innertubes, saddle, bell, gears, forks, cranks, brakes, reflector, pedals, etc. do not work well. One can import a Chinese heavy duty working bike for US$70, but it is unlikely that one can negotiate a large enough order with the Chinese to provide all the other parts for, say, $50. Which means that bamboo frames + assembly has to cost less than $20 to make manufacturing viable. The prtotypes look big and clumsy and it is unlikely to have any saving in the weight of the bike. Does not sound a very sound venture.

Comment from enterrupting
28 February 2008 - 3:36 pm - :

Lozano-Hemmer Robin Mandel William Lamson Cool Advertising Website Duane McDiarmid The Mattress Factory The Drawing Center Dangerous GroundBamboo Bike ProjectRat King Guys that spray-tan Bode piano UBU MIT media lab Project Row Sam Blanchard Spurse Greg Stewart Creative Vehicles Crosswalk Frozen Grand Central

Lozano-Hemmer Robin Mandel William Lamson Cool Advertising Website Duane McDiarmid The Mattress Factory The Drawing Center Dangerous GroundBamboo Bike ProjectRat King Guys that spray-tan Bode piano UBU MIT media lab Project Row Sam Blanchard Spurse Greg Stewart Creative Vehicles Crosswalk Frozen Grand Central

-->
Comment from OnlineSnitch.com! - Fresh Breaking news! » Bamboo bikes
11 March 2008 - 12:18 am - :

[...] Via [...]

Comment from OnlineSnitch.com! - Fresh Breaking news! » Bamboo bikes
11 March 2008 - 12:19 am - :

[...] Via [...]

Comment from Discover From Your Favorite Topic or Web Page: www.hicksdesign.co.uk/portfolio/mozilla-logos
13 March 2008 - 10:11 pm - :

[...] http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/index.html (ikea diy projects furniture) Bookmark  [Discover] AfriGadget » Blog Archive » The Bamboo Bike project http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/02/06/the-bamboo-bike-project/ (design africa bicycle bikes) [...]

[...] http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/index.html (ikea diy projects furniture) Bookmark  [Discover] AfriGadget » Blog Archive » The Bamboo Bike project http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/02/06/the-bamboo-bike-project/ (design africa bicycle bikes) [...]

-->
Comment from Weirdo Site: The Bamboo Bike
31 March 2008 - 5:03 am - :

[...] The Bamboo Bike project [...]

[...] The Bamboo Bike project [...]

-->
Comment from Fairplanet » Shopping is Voting
23 April 2008 - 10:11 pm - :

Wir haben es vor einiger Zeit vorgestellt. Nun wird das Konzept von Bambusfahrrädern auch bei AfriGadget (einer meiner absoluten Blogfavoriten)besprochen. Bambus ist widerstandsfähig, flexibel und umweltfreundlich. Damit ist es der ideale Rohstoff für ein zukunftsfähiges Verkehrsmittel, wie es in Afrika gebraucht wird. > Unser Artikel zu Bambus Bikes

Wir haben es vor einiger Zeit vorgestellt. Nun wird das Konzept von Bambusfahrrädern auch bei AfriGadget (einer meiner absoluten Blogfavoriten)besprochen. Bambus ist widerstandsfähig, flexibel und umweltfreundlich. Damit ist es der ideale Rohstoff für ein zukunftsfähiges Verkehrsmittel, wie es in Afrika gebraucht wird. > Unser Artikel zu Bambus Bikes

-->
Comment from Fairplanet » BambusBike bei AfriGadget
19 May 2008 - 4:29 pm - :

[...] wird das Konzept von Bambusfahrrädern auch bei AfriGadget (einer meiner absoluten Blogfavoriten) besprochen. Bambus ist widerstandsfähig, flexibel und umweltfreundlich. Damit ist es der ideale Rohstoff für [...]

Comment from queen anne's lace: AfriGadget - African Ingenuity
21 May 2008 - 12:31 pm - :

[...] those things work. So I love this photo of a typical village:More on this picture here.Read about:the bamboo bike projecta homemade helicopter ( yes you read that correctly. . .homemade!)fuel replacement from palm [...]

[...] those things work. So I love this photo of a typical village:More on this picture here.Read about:the bamboo bike projecta homemade helicopter ( yes you read that correctly. . .homemade!)fuel replacement from palm [...]

-->
Comment from Fairplanet » Stylisches Bambus-Fahrrad
26 May 2008 - 12:23 am - :

[...] wird das Konzept von Bambusfahrrädern auch bei AfriGadget (einer meiner absoluten Blogfavoriten) besprochen. Bambus ist widerstandsfähig, flexibel und umweltfreundlich. Damit ist es der ideale Rohstoff für [...]

[...] wird das Konzept von Bambusfahrrädern auch bei AfriGadget (einer meiner absoluten Blogfavoriten) besprochen. Bambus ist widerstandsfähig, flexibel und umweltfreundlich. Damit ist es der ideale Rohstoff für [...]

-->
Comment from Environmental News Blog | Environmental Graffiti
16 June 2008 - 5:55 pm - :

with feathers on their heads, you can just imagine them zooming past on their wooden, bipedal creations. Although the wooden bicycle is centuries old, fashion is cyclical. I personally can’t wait ‘till they come back in fashion. Sources: 1, 2, 3,4,5, 6 If you want to find out all the latest news on the environment, why not subscribe to our RSS feed? We’ll even throw in a free album.

with feathers on their heads, you can just imagine them zooming past on their wooden, bipedal creations. Although the wooden bicycle is centuries old, fashion is cyclical. I personally can’t wait ‘till they come back in fashion. Sources: 1, 2, 3,4,5, 6 If you want to find out all the latest news on the environment, why not subscribe to our RSS feed? We’ll even throw in a free album.

-->

Leave your comment...

  • Please do not spam this comments area..
  • (*) is required