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Vintage Bamboo Bicycle- shipping now offered

$ 158.4

Availability: 100 in stock

Description

This one has true bamboo construction for the main tubes held by heavy iron lugs. Others you find for sale often have bamboo covering steel tubes. It has wood bracing, wood handlebars, wood rear rack, wood pedal blocks, and wood fenders. Other parts are metal wrapped with rattan. The metal (for example the chainstays and forks) look like iron. Aluminum rims say MINH NGOC 01 0350 827549. Tires say SAO VANG MADE IN VIETNAM, and Wikipedia says Sao Vang was formed in 1960. I have searched the web, but not a lot of info on this bicycle. The CABE (Classic and Antique Bicycle Exchange) suggests it is 1970s.
You are seeing an excellent beginning price for this-- type in "bamboo bicycle" on Ebay, press Sold, and see the range of prices these go for-- more than I am asking. And this one is in good running, restored, condition. My repair of this bike included regluing all the rattan and fenders with Titebond, adding jute twine in some areas to reinforce this, especially where it was missing, going over all the working systems, cleaning and lubricating, and test-riding. In the rain, the Titebond loosened, so I reglued and then clearcoated the entire bike. Now it's water-tight and will last for a long time. The bike rides well, kind of like an English classic Raleigh. The rear band brake is weak and will slow the bike; the front caliper brake is strong and stops the bike. The front handlebar is some kind of tropical wood and is the most fragile part of the bike, which is why it's braced. I rode it by holding the inner parts of the bars, inside of the braces. Will you get looks and comments on this? Oh yea. Shipping will be by Bikeflights; I have shipped many bikes and will be especially careful with the packing on this one. The Ebay shipping is not always accurate, so I will work with the buyer on actual shipping costs, and refund any overpay.  Thanks, John