My Calfee Bamboo ro...
 

[Closed] My Calfee Bamboo road bike - now for the next step, actually riding it!

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Offline  velocipede
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I bought this thing of beauty in the past few days:

[img] [/img]

It's a Calfee, made in the US, frame price originally $3,500….fitted with triple Ultegra and nice kit.

I've only had chance for a 5 min shake down ride up the road and it rides beautifully - I'm slightly nervous about it even though the videos I've seen of people trying to destroy these things give some comfort - I just couldn't resist the opportunity to get my hands on it and give it a go!!!

A link to more info about their frames:

http://calfeedesign.com/products/bamboo/

Anyone else got one?? Their carbon frames look absolutely gorgeous too…...

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 8:56 pm
Offline  wwaswas
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needs more spacers under the stem 😉

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 8:58 pm
Offline  dirtyrider
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[img] [/img]

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 9:00 pm
Offline  tomhoward
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actually riding it!

Do what now?

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 9:00 pm
Offline  velocipede
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i thought it might fall to pieces…..but actually seems ok! ;o 0

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 9:08 pm
Offline  davidtaylforth
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Nice. As ridden by one of the leanest and meanest cyclists on the internet.

[img] [/img]

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 9:08 pm
Offline  wwaswas
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his ceiling's in a right old state.

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 9:09 pm
Offline  rOcKeTdOg
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does it go up a size if you ride it in spring rain?

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 9:10 pm
Offline  aracer
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Disappointed that I can't see your pic - would love one of those though, how much did you pay for it? One of the few bikes where I'd consider sacrificing a bit of function for form (not that there's anything wrong with the performance from what I've heard).

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 9:13 pm
Offline  wwaswas
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I went to a talk by a company offering bamboo bike 'kits' a while back. Definitely 'curious' about them. I think the build process appeals as much as actually riding them though 🙂

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 9:15 pm
Offline  velocipede
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@davidtaylforth - if I'd known that, I wouldn't have bought it!

@arider - I didn't pay much but it wasn't advertised well! They don't come up often and I just happened to come across it by accident really - to be honest, it seems to ride at least as well as my "good bike" - which is a Genesis Zero carbon - I'm very pleased with it but just a bit worried about longevity. Having said that, from what Ive read it should be fine. I'm planning to use it in a cobbled sportive so I'll soon find out!

@wwaswas - I agree - I found the whole thing "interesting" and felt the need to give it a go….!

😀

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 10:05 pm
Offline  rOcKeTdOg
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use it in a cobbled sportive

Tour of the Black Country?

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 10:25 pm
Offline  velocipede
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@rOcKeTdOg - Yes, and the Cheshire Cobbled Classic - did that one last year & planning another assault!

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 10:27 pm
Offline  scaredypants
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I dug a load of bamboo out of our garden once - took 3 days and came close to killing me. Your bicycle is indestructible, to all practical purposes

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 10:49 pm
Offline  kcr
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Billy Minto's home build. Old steel frame, bamboo, ladies tights and superglue:

[img] [/img]

[url= http://skidmarksonthesemmits.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/bambi-update.html?m=1 ]Bamboo home build frame[/url]

He also built an interesting TT bike from an old clothes whirly.

 
Posted : 28/01/2016 10:54 pm
Offline  njee20
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Certainly interesting, but I think they're ****ing ugly.

 
Posted : 29/01/2016 12:34 am
Offline  ben98
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How much does it weigh?!?!

 
Posted : 29/01/2016 1:58 am
Offline  velocipede
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@ben98 - it's around 8.5kg so not too bad…...

 
Posted : 29/01/2016 3:51 pm
Offline  velocipede
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i put 50 miles in on it on Saturday - great ride and I think it will work well on the cobbled rides…..I'm about 13.5st (just under 13 "racing weight" in a few weeks!) and it is a bit flexxy when laying the power down but maybe not as much as I expected….really pleased with it!

Just need a layback post (in the post already) and can put a 1cm shorter stem on it and the position should be perfect….. 😀

 
Posted : 02/02/2016 9:27 am
Offline  velocipede
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sadly, I couldn't get the position right with this after all & I've had an opportunity put under my nose to buy back one of my old road bikes from a couple of years ago at a bargain price….so I've rather sadly put this up for sale in the Classifieds!

 
Posted : 14/02/2016 3:02 pm
Offline  velocipede
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Taken some new photos in the sunshine this morning:

[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

 
Posted : 15/02/2016 11:13 am
Offline  Daffy
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😯

1. Njee isn't wrong - they're bloody ugly.
2. Get a black saddle,
3. desticker the rims,
...it'll still be UGLY, but less offensive.

 
Posted : 15/02/2016 11:23 am
Offline  Retrodirect
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Njee isn't wrong - they're bloody ugly.

I totally disagree, the richness of the colour of the frame and smooth epoxy/hemp? joints are things of beauty.

But yes, destickering pretty much every bike makes it look better.

 
Posted : 15/02/2016 8:04 pm
Offline  velocipede
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beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and all that! 😀

If I was keeping it, I think the wheel de-stickering plan would definitely be on the cards though, I agree that de-stickered wheels look loads better…...

 
Posted : 15/02/2016 8:07 pm
Offline  velocipede
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It's in the Classifieds [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/54cm-calfee-design-bamboo-road-bike ]here[/url]

 
Posted : 17/02/2016 11:34 am