My bamboo fixie project!

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My bamboo fixie project!
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flag jimbo33000
Posted: Dec 18, 2010 at 12:48 Quote
Ok so this is gonna be a thread on the bamboo fixie i will be building for my senior project, with updates and any questions i may have. The tubes with be made of bamboo with steel BB and headtube and drop outs...all joints will be reinforced with carbon fiber. I have picked out a wheelset, i'm ordering it on monday (alex r450 rims on sealed formula hubs 28 spokes)
i ordered these tires:

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/17990-320_IRCRS8-3-Parts-400-Tires/Road/IRC-Red-Storm-Street-Kevlar-Tire-700x23c.htm
only 205g each!

I'm going to ask my parents for a crankset from the local bike shop....they will most likely be origin 8. I'm still deciding on a fork, but there is a carbon bontrager one i'm considering.

My first question is about geometry....i like the geometry of my road bike and wanna build something similar, but not exact. I think i will keep the rear triangle about the same, maybe tighten it up a bit and raise the BB to avoid pedal strike. and make the front triangle about 1/2 in shorter and a 1/2 in taller. Seat tube and headtube angles would be the same. Does this sound a little more snappy and faster? and would it be a good design? any geo-charts you find of other bikes that have a geometry thats suitable would be welcomed to be posted
flag road-psyclist
Posted: Dec 18, 2010 at 17:12 Quote
Subscribed, have you tried google for geo charts?
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://archive.giant-bicycles.com/images/_upload_au/bikes/models/geometry/06_geom_ocr.jpg
flag jimbo33000
Posted: Dec 18, 2010 at 19:58 Quote
kinetic-uk wrote:
Subscribed, have you tried google for geo charts?
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://archive.giant-bicycles.com/images/_upload_au/bikes/models/geometry/06_geom_ocr.jpg
Thats the idea...i want a bit more track oriented geo though, just not too extreme
flag Burial
Posted: Dec 19, 2010 at 6:28 Quote
Have you considered going to some bike shops pretending your interested in buying the frame/bike and then just measure it up and get the angles pretending you will come back later? This way you can see if you like the feel of the geometry.

Isn't there some bamboo frames already in the states made up on ebay? Could always check that geometry as well.
flag jimbo33000
Posted: Dec 20, 2010 at 8:59 Quote
What do you guys think about this?
http://store.icyclesusa.com/aprebic-aluminum-700c-fork-1-18-inch-p23775.aspx?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase
Instead of overspending on a carbon one.....I can always change it, i just think this a smart to start out with. what do you think?
flag dr-salt
Posted: Dec 20, 2010 at 9:14 Quote
subscribed, can't wait to see this donetup
flag jimbo33000
Posted: Dec 20, 2010 at 9:57 Quote
Wheels are ordered!Big Grin
flag jimbo33000
Posted: Dec 25, 2010 at 20:39 Quote
I now have cranks, pedals (and clips), chain, tires, and seat. I have a fork, headset, bars, stem, brake lever, and handlebars in the mail. The wheels are in the mail on their way to my grandparents house. So i have most of the parts ready to go. I should have the rear triangle mocked up in a couple weeks, and i'm gonna start heat treating the bamboo in the next day or two. (After i cut it of course...thats the tricky part, I found some at a local inn that is large and seems to be a strong species. The draw back it that i have to sneak out and go cut it at night when no one will see, so i'll let you guys know how that goes Razz )

I'll post some pics of the parts soon too
flag jimbo33000
Posted: Dec 25, 2010 at 21:34 Quote
Parts that i do have at my house already:
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flag road-psyclist
Posted: Dec 26, 2010 at 6:15 Quote
Nice, look's like you already have most of the bike right there!
flag jimbo33000
Posted: Dec 26, 2010 at 19:03 Quote
Okay! Tonight is the night. Time to harvest the bamboo....that means night-operation Ninja wish me luck
flag jimbo33000
Posted: Dec 26, 2010 at 22:31 Quote
Damn...got regulated by the parentals.....Now its a really morning-operation:P
flag jimbo33000
Posted: Dec 27, 2010 at 8:30 Quote
Ok, so i got some bamboo to start heat treating and testing:

photo

And started processing some plant fibers to replace the originally planned carbon fiber.
photo
My teacher said that a bamboo bike would be fine for my senior project, but i couldnt do something some one has already done. He said i have to change something. So i changed the fiber material, all the bamboo bikes out there are made with hemp or carbon fiber....I'm using a different plant fiber (that i believe has never even been used with epoxy before) that i will reveal after i turn in my project.
flag singlespeedtoday
Posted: Dec 28, 2010 at 10:50 Quote
Cool, I like the idea of not using carbon.
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