I hope it won't break...

[KayOs]

To check whether everything fits on the rear triangle, I tried fitting the rear wheel.

And behold, I somehow messed up the left seat stay.
The tyre didn't have enough room.
Removing the seat stay took more effort than I would have expected at this stage.
But after 30mins of sawing, swearing and hammering it finally came lose.
Then I also tinkered with the bridges for the seat and chain stays and the torque support for the rear brake before reinstalling the chain stay with a slight shift.

Now everything sits as it should.

 

[KayOs]

have to admit to being tempted by one of these, just not pulled the trigger on the cost of it (which I think they are worth).
does look awesome @KayOs

Thank you!
Yes, there is a lot of manual labour involved.

 

[27motorhead]

Woodwork and bikes, can there be a better combination? Not in my world...so signing in for this one too!

P.S: Also, bamboo wood, that's where reall butting is!

So it's got a triple butted top tube, down tube and chainstays and double butted seat stays. Proper high-end tube profiles and sections going on here!

 

[novocaine]

So it's got a triple butted top tube, down tube and chainstays and double butted seat stays. Proper high-end tube profiles and sections going on here!

Butted fibrous carbon lattice in a linear, multilayered, interlaced structure, bonded with a poly-lactic resin*.

*plant based.

 

[KayOs]

The actual sleeves or lugs or how you want to call it were still missing to connect everything together in a stable and force-fit manner.
They consist of linen fabric and 2K epoxy.

So now it was time for some tailoring.


The individual blanks were applied in at least 3 layers using a spray adhesive that harmonises with the resin. I tried to overlap the seams and insert reinforcements in such a way that they could absorb the forces in the best possible way.

I hope my plan works....

Starting with the easy parts at the dropuots...

...and then moving on to the more complex parts.

 

[novocaine]

The actual sleeves or lugs or how you want to call it were still missing to connect everything together in a stable and force-fit manner.
They consist of linen fabric and 2K epoxy.

So now it was time for some tailoring.
View attachment 885390View attachment 885392

The individual blanks were applied in at least 3 layers using a spray adhesive that harmonises with the resin. I tried to overlap the seams and insert reinforcements in such a way that they could absorb the forces in the best possible way.

I hope my plan works....

Starting with the easy parts at the dropuots...
View attachment 885391
...and then moving on to the more complex parts.
View attachment 885393View attachment 885394View attachment 885395

In my head I'd want to lay each layer at 45 degrees to the last so it goes with the bias, across the bias, against the bias. overkill but in my head it would be the strongest layup.

the kits I've seen use CF for the wrap, prefer this idea of hessian/hemp wrap.

 

[KayOs]

In my head I'd want to lay each layer at 45 degrees to the last so it goes with the bias, across the bias, against the bias. overkill but in my head it would be the strongest layup.

the kits I've seen use CF for the wrap, prefer this idea of hessian/hemp wrap.

Yeah, that's the way to go. I tried to do just this with the extra layers in between.

 

[slackboy]

I went to a talk last year by a lady who cycled a bamboo bike through south America.

https://www.outdoorphilosophy.co.uk/life-cycle/

 

[KayOs]

Then came the greasy part....2k epoxy.
All the joints were soaked in it. I estimate there is about 500ml of the stuff in the whole frame.
Old bicycle inner tubes are perfect as a corset to press the resin into the linen and to avoid any air bubbles in between.
Here again I started wit the easy parts...
...and worked my way along all the joints.
In these pictures the drop outs are already unpacked again.

 

[KayOs]

I went to a talk last year by a lady who cycled a bamboo bike through south America.

https://www.outdoorphilosophy.co.uk/life-cycle/

Awesome!! There is also a german couple cycling on bamboo bikes. I believe they are in Pakistan atm.