Calfee Bamboo Pro Road review

There's no point in directly comparing the Calfee with a £3.5K carbon race bike, but if you want a sporty bike that is unique and that will be a talking point wherever you go, this is it. It is also right in tune with the green aspect of cycling. We would like to see the African-made bamboo bikes sold in Europe at a lower cost, and we are told that the intention is to see if the African projects can be made part of the process in the long term.
-
+
Environmentally friendly
-
+
Rides well
-
+
Decent weight
-
-
Not the most comfortable bike we've ridden
-
-
We'd like to see some African-made bikes
You can trust Cycling Weekly.
This is a really tasty bike... if you're a panda. That's just one of the cruel jokes cracked at the Calfee's expense since it arrived at the office.
Don't laugh: bamboo, a type of grass, has good vibration-damping properties, it is very stiff and very tough. It won't go soggy if ridden in the rain because it is coated in satin polyurethane. To stop it splitting the tubes are smoked and heat treated. The lugs are made of hemp fibre.
As bamboo grows abundantly in hot climates and needs little cultivation - but is highly labour intensive if it is to be turned into a decent bike - Craig Calfee realised that manufacturing bamboo bikes could provide jobs, bikes and money in developing countries if people could be taught how to make them. Calfee is involved in projects to achieve this in Ghana and Zambia, though his production bikes are made in California.
In addition, growing bamboo produces no CO2 and like all photosynthesising plants, it produces oxygen while absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Bamboo also produces 35 per cent more oxygen from carbon dioxide than trees and more effectively binds soil to prevent erosion. Each frame is made by hand using no electricity.
So, how does the Calfee ride? Being careful to avoid ‘planted' or ‘wooden', here's a surprise - it rides like a bike! The test bike with Ultegra SL weighed just under 18lb. It feels stiffer than many carbon-fibre bikes. It is smooth on the road, with vibration indeed absorbed very effectively. It is not the most comfortable bike we've ever ridden, but you certainly wouldn't describe the ride as harsh.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
7-Eleven returns to the peloton for one day only at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Uno-X Mobility to rebrand as 7-Eleven for Sunday's Monument to pay tribute to iconic American team from the 1980s
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Rapha launches the Super-League, a new British road racing points competition
16 events make up the Rapha Super-League, including crits and road races, with overall winners crowned
By Adam Becket Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard confirms race schedule ahead of Tour de France
Danish climber will only ride the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, but will take part in two altitude camps
By Tom Thewlis Published