Comparing my Bamboo Pro to my Luna Pro: Bikefanclub.com

In October of last year I purchased a used Bamboo Pro frame and fork from local cyclist. In November I sent the frame to Calfee to have Calfee inspect the frame and fork and transfer the warranty to me. While it was in California, I purchased all the necessary parts and built the bike out once I got everything in. I promised Craig and James I would write up a review of my experience riding my Bamboo Pro and the Luna Pro.

The following is the review I wrote up and emailed Craig last night. I thought I would repost it here for anyone interested. To see pictures of my Bamboo Pro, click here.

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Craig,

I have been meaning to write you this little review of my experiences with my Bamboo Pro for some time now. Hopefully my feedback will help in some way and if not, at least it was fun for me to write up.

Disclaimer: I'm no expert so I have no real way of backing any of this up; it's really about how I perceive what is going on when I ride my Bamboo Pro vs. my Luna Pro. My Bamboo Pro has carbon wrapped joints and the chainstay is also made of bamboo. I know the chainstays are available in carbon for added stiffness but can't really speak to that since I haven't ridden that setup.

I have to say that the ride quality of the Bamboo is unparalleled in the marketplace. It is, without a doubt, the most comfortable ride I have ever experienced, period. Not even my Luna Pro that can touch it. The frame is heavier than my Luna, the entire bike is about 17 lbs and my Luna runs around 15 lbs, so its not the lightest bike, but the ride more than makes up for it. (In reality, 17 lbs is pretty dang good)

Here is how I have the Bamboo Pro built out:

56 cm Bamboo Pro
Chris King Headset
Calfee Barstem Combo
Reynolds Ouzo Pro Fork
Campagnolo Record 10 Group
Negative G Brakes
Brooks Swallow Racing Saddle
Topolino AC29 Wheels

I have told several people the closest thing non-cycling thing I can compare the Bamboo Pro to is my car, a Lexus IS. The Lexus IS is a sport luxury sedan: it has the cushy ride of a luxury car coupled with a tremendous sport performance suspension and engine. The Bamboo frame reduces so much of the road chatter I am totally blown away yet it still responds very well even out of the saddle and climbing. I think the greatest feature of the Bamboo is its ability to soak up the road vibration. It's quite flexy which translates into a buttery smooth ride for its pilot but not so flexy that one thinks they are riding a wet noodle.

I have talked to several people who say they prefer road feedback. Riders who stay away from carbon frames for this reason should definitely stay away from the Bamboo as the vibration and road chatter is cut down so much more. I did a notoriously rough ride a few months ago and found myself smiling through all the hardest patches just because I couldn't believe the job the bamboo was doing. It was unreal. You couldn't have knocked the smile off my face with a 2x4. I find myself looking for rough roads just so I can watch the others in my group grit their teeth as I smile wide. I often wonder what riding a Bamboo Pro would be like on some of the famous European cobbles. If you ever hear from someone who has taken their Bamboo on such a road I would be very interested in hearing what they thought, especially if they have a non-bamboo to compare it to.

This year I began racing bikes competitively. As you know better than me; the type of riding racers do on their bikes can be quite different than what a recreational cyclist does. The mechanics of riding are the same, but it seems to me that racers put an intense amount of stress on the bike usually in interval-type repetitions and at much higher speeds.

When I ride longer distances, I spend large amounts of time in a sustained, moderate to high intensity effort. The Bamboo is prefect for this type of riding since it reduces road fatigue on my body and ultimately keeps me fresher for a longer period of time. When I am riding long distance this is exactly what I need.

During shorter and faster races though I favor my Luna over the Bamboo for two reasons:

First, the very flex that gives the Bamboo its amazing ride quality becomes greatly amplified during a max effort interval in a criterium or road race. This flex translates to a more sluggish feel when really stomping it. A stiffer frame like my Luna translates the power from my legs to the bike alot quicker since there is less flex and therefore feels "snappier" during max efforts.

Second, because the Bamboo is such a rare and unique bike, I can't stand the thought of crashing it during a race. Crashes while racing are very common, especially during Cat 4-5 races, and if I were to go down while riding the Bamboo it would be ... tragic.

To me, racing the Bamboo in a weekly crit would be like wearing a tuxedo to McDonalds. You just don't break out the finest ya got for a run-of-the-mill event and risk someone spilling ketchup all over your cumberbun. Don't get me wrong, I ride my Bamboo at every chance I get but I fear I would have a heart attack if it was taken out of commission by a Cat 5 bozo who couldn't hold his line going into the first corner.

It seems to me that just as we have Time Trial, Track, Single Speed or traditional Road bikes for the different type of riding we do, the Bamboo fits in nicely for the type of riding it's best suited for. To me it's base miles, bike tours and long distance (century+) events. My Luna is my everyday rider and racing workhorse. Where my Luna is fast (x2), stiff (x2) and cushy my Bamboo is fast, fun (x2) and cushy (x3). If that makes any sense.

One final parting word here I would mention to anyone considering buying a Bamboo Pro. This bike gets an UNBELIEVABLE amount of attention so be prepared to talk to just about everyone who sees the bike. When I say lots of attention; I mean LOTS of attention. It's quite fun to take it to charity tour rides and weekend club rides because it's an instant conversation starter. Most folks have either seen the bike in Bicycling Magazine, read about it online or seen it on TV but "never in real life". Others simply can't believe it's real wood and a surprising number of folks think it's a carbon or metal frame bike painted to look like wood. I've had people ask if they could take their picture with the bike as well as asked to bring the bike to recreational cycling clubs (to which I don't belong) and talk about it. It's a major hit with everyone and I never get tired of talking about what a pleasure it is to ride.

Craig, you have a real winner here and I just want to say thank you for building such an innovative and environmentally friendly bicycle. It's a total joy to ride and when coupled with my Luna makes for the perfect road combination. Maybe one of these days I'll get a Dragonfly and see how that compares as well. I would highly recommend the Bamboo Pro to anyone who is looking for the ultimate ride from the world's premier bike builder.

Bottomline: 5 stars all the way!

Thanks and keep up the great work!
Michael Whitley