Found: Bamboo & Carbon Fiber Fat Bike with Gates Belt Drive, Lefty Fork!
This bamboo and carbon fiber fat bike was built by Drew Diller as a hobby project inspired by the folks at Boo and Bamboo Bike Studio.
The frame uses the same type of bamboo as those companies, Dendrocalamus strictus” or “iron bamboo”, which Diller says is quite strong and surprisingly crash resistant. The carbon wrap is what he calls “garage quality” that comes on a spool of carbon fiber strands that’s wrapped around the joints. Diller says he’s looking for something stiffer and to learn to use more high-tech construction methods.
To get the Lefty fork to hold the fat tires, he ordered 17.5mm offset custom clamps from Mendon Cyclesmith and built the front wheel up with Large Marge rims and a standard Lefty hub. The rim offset is flip-flopped front to back to keep the tire from rubbing.
The clamps only work on the older Lefty’s with clamped-on crowns, not the newer one-piece designs. Braking is handled by STI Versa shift/brake levers mated to Avid mechanical brakes, and he’s rigged it to an Alfine 8 internally geared hub to make the going a bit easier.
Gates Belt Drive with the requisite frame brake on the seatstay.
This is Version 2. The original, shown below, was a fully rigid model. Now that Salsa’s put the idea of a full suspension fat bike out there, Version 3 will see Diller taking a stab at a dual bonier. Ultimately, he’s looking to start a business building bamboo bikes full time. Good luck, Drew, looks like you’re off to a solid start!
Comments
This bike has every buzz item a bike can have except electronic shifting.
Fatty tires, bamboo, carbon, gates drive, lefty fork, monster cross… too much industry buzz!
Who is the manufacturer on the handle bars?
it is fully buzzword equipped
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way to go Drew, been following this thread on mtbr for a while now.
Awesome!
Thats really something. I would probably never buy one (mostly because acquiring such a creature would probably take way more buying power than I have), but I would sure love to ride it around for a bit.
that looks fun as hell to ride
Gian – the only things on this bike that truly buzz are the tires =)
The bars are Salsa Woodchippers from the looks of it.
wow, add road hydro levers and this has every trend in the market today!
probably a dumb question, but what kind of handlebars are those? 31.8?
Bars look like Salsa Woodchippers
gee – 31.8 clamp On One Midge bars.
I can assure everyone this wasn’t meant to be a buzzword bike. Not at all… the Lefty and belt in particular are just means to an end (currently available fat tire suspension for the former, and lack of maintenance after messy weather rides).
all it needs now is an integrated seat post.
Lefty fork, belt drive, bamboo, carbon, needs the following.
di2, integrated post, 11sp, carbon crank, tuned frame, and leather coffee cup holder.
It’s just DI2 Alfine away of being the ultimate buzzbike.
Good lord I cannot believe all the haters here. It’s a super fun looking ride built with a great concept and great components. The justification for all the aspects of it makes perfect sense, so I really don’t understand why everyone is running it down. Are you all so jaded?
@Turbofrog: Couldn’t agree more–way to call ‘em out.
@Drew: beautiful work! Kudos on the execution; I’d love to ride it as well. Gorgeous.
Turbofrog – hehe it’s all good. The bike’s feelings certainly aren’t hurt, and I am my worst critic. The bit I chuckled at was the coffee cup holder: I was thinking more like a flask, not a big fan of coffee =)
Unbelievably awesome bike, Drew! Props on this one. That is such a righteous bike!
I think it looks great!
Keep up the good work.
(sticks tongue in cheek and winks) little commercial for my liking, would have loved to seen something a bit more custom… perhaps a saddle carved out of the horn of a unicorn might give it that one off look your going for.
but in all seriousness… (stands up from computer and gives a light “golf clap” ) nice work m8.