michael verhaeren's sustainable + compact bamboo bicycle

michael verhaeren’s sustainable + compact bamboo bicycle
all images courtesy of michael verhaeren

informed by the sustainable properties of bamboo, these bikes made by belgium industrial designer michael verhaeren were based on buckminster fuller’s geodesic domes. incorporating the material properties of bamboo as much as possible instead of steel or aluminum, they are an ecologically-friendly alternative. the majority of existing bamboo bicycle frames are constructed using carbon or organic fibers, reinforced with epoxy connections in order to bind the bamboo parts together. this type of binding is a complex assembly process that takes a lot of time. here, the easy to assemble frames, use basic tools offering an alternative to bike bamboo construction. using 16 inch wheels, the bikes have proved durable within urban environments.

overall view

front wheel

rear wheel

bicycle parts

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