cinelli
contributor
Reged: 01/17/04
Posts: 107
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Anyone here go to Interbike? Anything new at Calfee?
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Jeff
friend
Reged: 01/29/04
Posts: 68
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I was there for a few hours Friday and glanced in the Calfee booth. A bunch of bamboo bikes is all I really saw. The other bikes looked unchanged, but I could have missed somthing. They were busy and I did not have time to wait. I did hoist and look at a bamboo frame, interesting but not for me.
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BikerDoug
friend
Reged: 12/29/03
Posts: 88
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Although I would like a bamboo bike, I wonder if it has any potential beyond a select niche. As a marketer I wonder if Calfee is emphasising it a little too much over the Luna, Tetra, and 'fly.
Oh well, he's done great with his company so far. I won't start second guessing him now.
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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I am pretty sure, anyone who rides regularly as a non-racer, fitness and love-of-riding cyclist would likely have that bike lasting more than ten years, easily. You should educate yourself on the wonders of bamboo as a structural material first, then you will understand more fully how Craig took advantage of the material's strenghts to craft a unique bike. Also know that he is not the first to make a bike out of a natural material like bamboo. He is the first to join the tubes with carbon fiber, though.
I am somewhat amused by the ignorance many people have of engineering in general. A bike is an engineered machine. A great engineer designs with the knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the materials he works with. One who knows little could still conclude that carbon fiber is a very strong material with a host of positive atributes by observing how many major manufacturers are coming out with full-carbon framed bikes today.
All the common bike materials have their own unique mix of strengths and weaknesses. I believe (IMOHO) that a great bike can be made of any material strong enough for the application. 
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cinelli
contributor
Reged: 01/17/04
Posts: 107
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All the common bike materials have their own unique mix of strengths and weaknesses. I believe (IMOHO) that a great bike can be made of any material strong enough for the application.
Bamboo may have a few qualities that are desireable in bicycle frames but hardly applicable to a day-in-day-out bicycle.
Case in point: Calfee mentions on this website that waterbottle mountings are not possible. Decals will not stick, nor will paint. An application of spray to protect the bamboo periodically is necessary. I don't think this is an ideal material to build frames with.
Calfee builds wonderful frames. Wonderful CARBON frames. They have proven they can take their carbon technology and build a frame made of bamboo. I'm sure they could also build out of another material.....say PVC. But would it be a material that would work as a long-lasting and FULLY functional bicycle. I have my doubts.
The real idea behind the bamboo bike has to be media exposure. Calfee will probably sell 50 carbon frames from people who happened to see the bamboo bike. By building a few bamboo frames, Calfee creates the image of an innovator and pioneer. Calfee sells more frames. Craig Calfee is a smart man....not just in building bicycles......but in building image as well.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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I agree with media exposure...it sure gets that.
I agree with selling the carbon frame to a bamboo looker...
I agree with all the postive comments.
I also think there is a third market...someone like me...I love my two Calfee's...Craig is awesome...Dean is in his image...if I came into "found" money I would want to buy a Calfee first and foremost...I'd want something different...unique...fun...great to show up on a ride...etc. etc. etc. For that purpose that bike is PERFECT!!! I'd love one just for the pure fun of it plus I know it would be an awesome bike.
I'd not look at it as an "only" bike. I'd suspect Craig would agree for a serious high mileage all weather rider another of his frames would be the better choice. But for "another" awesome bike...nothing would be better for me. 
NOW who wants to buy me one? Any sympathy for my numerous injuries?  It would make one great rehab bike!!!  I'll write a review every week!!!  Be the first on the forum to step to the plate and buy me one...parts are optional I don't want to push it. 
Have a nice weekend everyone.
P.S. Barring that I'd love to retrofit my Luna with S & S couplers...any takers on that? Same "wonderful" deal! 
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Pintsized
journeyman
Reged: 02/27/05
Posts: 90
Loc: Corvallis OR
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If the couplers reference is serious...is it because you would like to travel...when the rehab is done?I thought the couplers were so the bike can be folded up, sort of like those bike fridays and the like.
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skuke
captain
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 322
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Quote:
Pintsized wrote:
I thought the couplers were so the bike can be folded up, sort of like those bike fridays and the like.
Not folded, as in a hinge mechanism, but taken apart as in two pieces. Tandems are coupled (tripled?) with S&S couplers to become three pieces.
But yes, most people have couplers put onto their frames to facilitate packing for traveling. The uncoupled smaller frame pieces allow you pack the bike into a smaller suitcase thus circumventing the airline rules for paying a surcharge for oversized baggage. The smaller cases are also easier to put into vehicles and lug around airports and hotels.
Most people disconnect the necessary cabling (rear brake, shifters), but S&S also makes couplers for cables.
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Skuke
95 Carbonframes Tetra Pro
92 Bridgestone MB-1
90 Moser 51.151
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Jeff
friend
Reged: 01/29/04
Posts: 68
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Also off topic a little but Interbike related have you all seen the new Seven carbon bike? Is it me or is that thing as ugly as a bike can get? The Parlee's at the show were beautiful and the new Serotta was not bad looking but way to $$$ IMHO.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Skuke read my mind. It would be nice to have a bike easier to take along. Also since I can't drive for a indefinite period of time the thought of dragging a Trico case everywhere can be daunting...especially with 3 fractured vertebrae. (They are not healing anytime fast it appears.)
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skuke
captain
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 322
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Quote:
Lon wrote:
It would be nice to have a bike easier to take along. Also since I can't drive for a indefinite period of time the thought of dragging a Trico case everywhere can be daunting
Quote:
Lon wrote:
I'd love to retrofit my Luna with S & S couplers...any takers on that? Same "wonderful" deal!
Accept Paypal? What's the email addy?
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Skuke
95 Carbonframes Tetra Pro
92 Bridgestone MB-1
90 Moser 51.151
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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Quote:
Jeff wrote:
Also off topic a little but Interbike related have you all seen the new Seven carbon bike? Is it me or is that thing as ugly as a bike can get? The Parlee's at the show were beautiful and the new Serotta was not bad looking but way to $$$ IMHO.
I agree that the Parlee's looked very nice. They are quite light too, with TH's sub-twelve pound bike decked out with Zipp, Easton, Campy, and AX Lightness.
Yes, the Seven is ugly, but I bet it is fast. Aero bikes are not always the pretty things that round tubed carbon or steel bikes are, but you could make a pretty time on them. Depends on what matters to you.
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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Speaking of which, this article has it all: http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2005/shows/interbike05/?id=results/interbike0526
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Saxon
friend
Reged: 12/23/03
Posts: 28
Loc: Sacramento, CA
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Thanks for the link, Fly! Great article.
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