Do you bike to avoid putting more toxins and fumes into the environment? Do you feel that using a bicycle as your main mode of transportation helps the ecosystem? Are you biking to cut down on the consumption of natural resources and the output of pollutions into the air? Would you like to do even more? If you answered yes to any of the above questions then you should consider bamboo bikes.
That’s right, bamboo is not just a panda bear’s favorite food! This remarkable plant can be utilized in a multitude of ways that are one hundred percent organic and will not be harmful to the environment during their production or use. From afar, most people would not be able to tell the difference between a bamboo bike and a typical bike comprised of steel, alloy, or aluminum. In fact, the typical bamboo bikes will still employ metal and rubber for the brakes, chains, and tires. Bamboo does have its limits!
However, the bulk of the bike and particularly the frame itself, is made completely of bamboo. In order to keep the frame together, most makers of eco friendly bamboo bikes will use hemp and resin as the primary bonding agent. From the looks of the plant itself, most people would not believe that bamboo could withstand daily use as a bike. However, they would be surprised to know that bamboo is one of the hardest and most durable naturally occurring plants in the world. In fact, according to some users of bamboo bikes, bamboo absorbs shocks just as good if not better than its metal counter parts.
This is important if you will be traveling along many bumpy roads filled with potholes or uneven pavement. Also, because the bike is composed primarily of bamboo instead of denser metals, the bike is lighter. This has two benefits. First, the bike will be more efficient in terms of requiring less effort to travel greater distances. Secondly, if your bike is your primary mode of transportation and you live in the city, you know that one of the biggest hassles is carrying your bike inside. A lighter bike makes this less of a chore. So what are you waiting for? It is time to put the pedal to the bamboo!