WhamBamboo

After the epoxy had set, I was ready for the finishing touches. I sanded down all the joints with 80 grit sandpaper to smooth them out, then applied a second coat of epoxy for a nice finish. Once that had set, I put on the bottom bracket, cranks, pedals, wheels and chain, and I was all done!

Here are a few close pictures of the joints

Since I didn’t have my choice of donor bike, the head tube is too short for me. To overcome this, I got a $20 fork with a long steerer tube, and made a nice looking bamboo spacer. Now the bars are the right height. Unfortunately, I think I grabbed a fork for a 27inch wheel, which is designed for a front wheel that is 14mm smaller in diameter then the 700c wheels I am using. I was able to file it down to fit, but I can’t fit it with brakes. I will replace it with a 80s carbon fork. They occasionally come up pretty cheap on eBay, they look pretty cool, and they are light weight. I can’t use a standard fork, because the head tube is for a 1 inch threaded fork rather than the standard 1 1/4 inch threadless.

The bike weighs in at 21.5lbs. Thats fairly light, but heavier than I was aiming for. The fork I have on right now is very heavy, so I should be able to shave 1.5 to 2 lbs with a carbon fork, bringing it into line with what I was going for. It has now joined my stable.