Custom built and manufactured bamboo bikes have become something of a trend in the last couple of years. Their appeal is more than just a matter of environmental sustainability. In bike-friendly cities such as New York and San Francisco, bamboo bikes are popular because the material dampens vibrations – one of their most desirable features.
A bike made of bamboo might sound strange to some. It begins to make more sense however, when you realize that although bamboo has nearly the same weight-to-strength ratio as steel, it has higher tensile strength and is a better shock absorber, making the bamboo bike a more comfortable ride than the traditional bicycle. Moreover, bamboo’s aesthetic beauty and the uniformity of its stalks have made the Asian grass a perfect natural material for bicycle frames.
Funnily, bamboo bikes are still rare in Asia, despite its being the source of bamboo and the place where bamboo bikes are made. A bamboo bike company such as Bamboosero makes its products in developing nations in Africa, Asia and Latin America, but the products are still marketed to wealthier countries such as the US and the UK, where demand is picking up. The product has yet to hit the Asian mainstream market.
The latest news about designer bamboo bikes, however, has sparked some hope for the rising of the bamboo bike trend – well, maybe. In September this year, one of the world’s leading fashion brands, Marc Jacobs, announced its limited-edition bamboo bikes – the result of the designer’s collaboration with Panda Bicycles. Only 10 models have been made and each bike is priced at a mind-blowing US$5,000 and is available at selected Marc Jacobs boutiques. Some of us may wonder what the fashion genius was thinking venturing outside of the fashion world. These bikes however, are not the brand’s first foray into stylish gear for an active lifestyle – a line of surfboards and skateboards has previously received the Marc Jacobs stamp. But whether or not it’s a sign that bamboo bikes will gain popularity worldwide, we are talking about Marc Jacobs, a mastermind in trend-setting.
Marc Jacobs’ bamboo-and-steel frame model bikes were handmade at Panda Bicycles headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado. Each bike features thoughtfully selected components and accessories from Velo Orange. The front porteur rack is generously sized. Meanwhile, the black leather saddle is from Brooks. These stylish bikes are sure to draw plenty of appreciative looks.
Panda was founded in 2009 with a bamboo bike design called ‘The One’, a street-smart commuter with an elegant flair, which became an instant hit. Panda rolled out a second design, ‘The Action’, a city bike that captures a vintage English country cruiser look with modern cycling accoutrements.
Today, two more designs have been added to Panda’s range of handcrafted bikes, namely ‘The Natural’, a classy ride with a down-to-earth demeanor to make you feel right at home while cruising city streets, as well as ‘The Legacy’, a beautiful performance machine that gives you comfort and style as you explore open roads, hidden valleys, and mountain passes. With extensive research and development, design and engineering, Panda is arguably the only frame builder in the world that is able to offer a bamboo frame with a high level of durability and comfort. Take a look at Panda Bicycles at pandabicycles.com.
