Bamboo as a material for bicycles isn’t really that new. There have been a few companies that have used the fast-growing, ultra-strong grass as a material choice for frame design. The latest is German-owned Zuri, which might seem as an odd choice as bamboo isn’t exactly native to the Rhine or Black Forrest.
However, the hand built bikes are actually produced in Africa from locally grown bamboo. The venture was started by David Hoffmann and Philipp Sayler of Munich, who set up shop in Zambia where the bamboo is harvested. The pair also look for bamboo that has real character and grain to give the bikes a nice sense of style.
To this the pair look for bamboo that is about three hours old. It is harvested, and then dried for about two months in a special process. From here the stronger strands are selected and used to create the tubes of the frame, while the head tube and bottom bracket – along with other sections where the tubes meet – are made from CNC machined aluminum. The result is a truly custom bike that takes about 50 hours to produce.
Zuri Official Website
[Via Gizmag: Zuri handcrafted bamboo bicycles out of Africa]