Bamboo 2

[gecko76]

It's arrived.

Unfortunately I'm at the other end of the country, and won't be home until Saturday.

[fatbikephil]

Looking forward to seeing it come together - is it the one with the cast lugs?

[gecko76]

That's the one. And I've promised myself that I'm not going to be doing any drilling, sawing or carving beyond what is strictly necessary.

[gecko76]

Looking good.

Liking the engineered chainstays. This is going to be fun.

[Lazarus]

What is the weight of the completed frame ?

I am tempted by one

[gecko76]

https://bamboobicycleclub.org/products/ ... -build-kit

"The gravel frame lugs are made from recycled aluminum. They are very durable and easy to bond with the bamboo. The lugs weigh 1.2 kg, so you can expect a frame weighing between 2.2 kg and 2.5 kg."

I'll be happy with that but will let you know. I'll weigh the old one properly too before dismantling it for parts (the carbon seat tube, and the head badge).

[gecko76]

Taking it slowly, and before I go any further the shed is going to need a damn good tidy, but got the headset cups installed using the vice at maximum extension.

[Zippy]

Nice! A lot easier to do that when you've got just a small section of the frame rather than the whole thing

[gecko76]

Right, except I subsequently realised I'm going to have to adjust the jig ever so slightly to account for the cups.

Hoping to get that set up this weekend.

[gecko76]

Well, just going by the head tube cluster, it looks like the new frame will be a bit lighter than it's predecessor.


Quite satisfying cutting up the old frame for recycling/composting.

Not sure about the jig. Laser cutting is all well and good but as anyone who has built a ferris wheel or whatever on Christmas day knows, hardboard doesn't lend itself to tight tolerances. The pieces have been kept inside so shouldn't have absorbed any moisture, but some of the tabs were a very tight fit, and the dropouts in particular are going to need a bit of fettling to make sure they're in the right position.

[fatbikephil]

Definitely a very Organic way of building a frame!
I suppose you could fab up a metal jig to ensure tolerances are met but I guess that defeats the object of the exercise....
Keep at it

[gecko76]

Yeah, been thinking of ways to improve that bit of the build. Might try whittling a piece of flat aluminum to replace the two critical pieces that won't quite sit right.

Got the bamboo marked up for shaving to fit the lugs.

Doing the mitres was tricky last time so glad not to have to on this one.

[gecko76]

Haven't decided on the seat tube yet. Would like to reuse the carbon tube but it will need an insert top and bottom and the internal diameters don't quite match so, for want of a lathe, it'll be a case of what I've got in the shed,

[Charliecres]

Looks like fun! Interested to see your progress

[gecko76]

Slow progress, hoping to get it together over Christmas. In the meantime I realise I've given myself a problem by inserting the headset cups prematurely. Currently contemplating the best way to fix that, whilst cogitating over the dropouts too.

Not heard back from the company but I know he's been busy.
https://youtu.be/bqgzwbehtEY?si=JzGl7uCBAuAI_128