It sounds incredible: bamboo grows in the gently undulating Vietnamese highlands - caressed by the wind, nourished by the sun and fertile soil. And then, after five years, this bamboo is harvested and turned into mountain bikes. Purely plant-based, so to speak. "Of course, these are not bikes that you should use to burn down the 601 on Lake Garda," says importer Heinz Becher, putting the brakes on overly high expectations. However: "Normal tours are no problem. You can hit bamboo with a hammer, nothing will happen."
Almost 40 hours of manual work go into each frame, the bamboo tubes are bonded together with coconut fibres and epoxy resin. The equipment of the test bike emphasises the area of use: relaxed cruising. The stem is short, the saddle comfortable and there is no front derailleur due to the design. Get on, accelerate. Initially very, very sceptical. Will this thing hold up? The kilometres let the courage grow, like the rain the bamboo.
The bike rolls along confidently and initially differs little from its conventional counterparts. Hard acceleration, corner combination, full braking, acceleration, jump, root carpet. Hossa! The bamboo tube twists. Not dramatically, but noticeably. The frame material is too vegetable to be optimally butted. So it's better to slow down and turn off into shallower terrain. The bike feels right at home there. The eco-runabout can do a lot, although nothing as well as its colleagues made from non-renewable raw materials. Bike or design gag? Definitely a bike.
By the way: don't be afraid of puddles. The bamboo tubes do not sprout, nor does the 26-inch tyre suddenly grow into a twentyniner.
Conclusion Highly exotic custom bike with eco-charm. More suitable for everyday use than expected. Nevertheless, only recommended to a limited extent for rough terrain.
PLUS Exclusive look, robust material, comfortable seating position, manufactured by a non-profit organisation, nice eco-touch
MINUS Heavy, limited range of use, low stiffness, no bottle cage threads, eight weeks delivery time
