The world’s most innovative handcrafted bicycle, that provides simplicity and happiness.

• COOL – Is hand-made
• COMFORTABLE - With natural dampening ability that softens the bumps on the road
• CONVENIENCE - Designed to last with minimal maintenance
• CONFIDENCE - No 2 bicycles look the same

It is a bicycle that is made from natural, un-processed bamboo. Bamboobee bicycle main change is its frame which is made up of bamboo and 8 sets of bamboo accessories for bamboobee bicycle. The bamboo has gone through some natural-based technology process which reduced the probability of crack to 90%.

Bamboobee bicycle sets out to improve the 1) quality of the raw material and 2) making natural handmade bicycle more available to the masses.

1) Unprocessed bamboo’s main problem is tendency to crack when weather changes seasonally. When bamboo cracks, aesthetics’ and safety value will be lowered. In order to produce a great natural bicycle, it makes more sense that Bamboobee’s bamboo should not be processed such that physical properties changed. It was hard to find as current methods in the trade involves changing the physical properties by lamination or soaking it with acidic solutions. This will destroy the values of Bamboobee which it is a natural handmade bicycle. Our requirement is simple yet stringent which current methodology could not solve.

2) There is a need and space for handcrafted bicycle in the market. Everyone wants to own a bicycle that is handcrafted to their preference but the price tag has created the barrier for most. To share this gift with people, the entry price should be adjusted plausible. In order to do this, I needed to standardize the processes needed to build. Craftsmen have to be trained in the respective processes. 23 bicycle parts needed to make a complete bicycle have to be researched, selected and chosen. The entire production cycle is looked upon which it is not an outsourced program thus improving the control. I have to be involved in this entire backend thus knowing that the handcrafted bicycle is true to its value.

The main purpose behind is the love for bamboo. Aside from environment values, the natural beauty integrate with bicycle, it will be an extraordinary representation of visual art. The underlying goal is to create more conversation between people. As people life depend more on smartphone, we are speaking less with each other. If there is a bicycle that could create conversation, it will be Bamboboee bicycle. Not just from the sleek design, the material of the bicycle will let people be fascinated and allow cyclist to be confident. Since each bicycle is different. There is always a small touch that the cyclist can pick to tell a story.

Besides, the usability of the main bicycle frame has limitations by the current manufacturers. Once the frame is molded, it could not be changed for other parts. The problem is that not many people will know what they want until parts are slowly added up. With different parts specification, the frames need to have allowance for adjustment. Therefore a top- down approach is chosen. Bicycle will be fixed up and inputs by the cyclists, the bicycle will change and be stripped down. The different concepts are introduced by designers in the field. In order for this, Bamboobee frame is to be made with adjustable slots where it could house different specifications. Since it is a handcrafted bicycle, it will not change the production plan too much. It will add a dimension for natural handmade bicycle more available to the masses.

In order to carry out this program, I have to find all the bamboos available for the bicycle. From different attitude and region, the characteristic of the bamboo will be different. After few months of searching and testing under different loads, the right bamboo is found. A further test is being carried out as it has to be brought to different region to test with different climate patterns. After selection from 50 over bamboos, 4 are selected for people to choose what kind of bamboo is their preferred choice on their bicycle.

The initial trial turned out to be well but since we are using unprocessed bamboo, there is a lot of inconsistency. Bamboo’s different wall thickness causes strength to differ. After few months, some bamboo cracked. This was a very important lesson as this forces us to innovate a method of inserting another bamboo inside. The process was not as simple as the small bamboo will have different diameter throughout. In order to allow the inner bamboo to be inserted perfectly, a special jig has to be designed where the inconsistency of the inner bamboo can be filed out and inserted. A plant base epoxy was used so 2 bamboos will act as one. This method is time consuming and costly and thus we came out another method.

After months, I discovered a methodology that involved a combination of natural substance produced from an insect to be infused in the bamboo. I tested and found out that the crack percentage actually reduced by 90%. We sent our bamboo samples to Mexico and North America to test with different weather climates. This pushes our boundaries of bicycle even more. It has allowed us to explore different kind of bamboos which are more beautiful but prone to crack. Our design range will increase significantly.

With the research, we have 2 in-house technologies that could increase the usage of natural bamboo to new heights. This could increase the integrity of bamboo and thus allow our customer to have faith and confidence with our product. A bicycle inspired by nature, for people.

The stakeholder:
Bamboobee bicycle is inspired by nature for people. It is for people that love nature and need ideas, energy or conversation that could sparkle their monotonous life in city. Not just for green people. It is also for people that love fashionable and contemporary things to complement their city life. Since Bamboobee bicycle is unique, this allows the personification of individual. With its mission statement, Bamboobee is readied to present its bicycles to the market.

With its strong design acumen, each introduced lifestyle theme of Bamboobee bicycle will be available with only few hundreds of units in the world. It will change to suit the social media strategy and pace of fashion. All these because Bamboobee wants to the vanguard in which bicycle is not a tool but a personification for individual lifestyle that has a linkage with our mother earth.

Under the scene of the design philosophy, 3 bamboos will be replanted for each Bamboboee bicycle built. This program could take away 100% of carbon dioxide. Currently, potion of the bamboo frame is handcrafted in a small village in China. Elderly, mentally disable and youth at risks are hired. This helps the less fortunate to have a chance in the community. It is a project that benefits society and business without damaging the environment. In due time, bamboo seeding will be sourced and cultivated. I will be nursing these bamboo shoots in which that the grown bamboos will contour to the shape and size I want. 3 years later, we will use the bamboo for the most natural bicycle frame for you. You can choose the bamboo frames that you have contributed to be given back to you, build a push bike for your children or another Bamboobee bicycle at a special rate. This will be the coolest and most holistic approach for a bicycle that is not only inspired but truly designed by nature for people.