Creative Creature: Bamboo bike becomes a new fashion among cyclists

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03:18

Well who would have thought you could make a bicycle out of bamboo? For those at the first ever Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress in Beijing, seeing is believing. As the world attaches greater importance to bamboo, products made of this fast-growing plant are expected to BECOME a new FASHION, like the bicycles. CGTN's Yang Jinghao has more.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when mentioning bamboo? Materials for furniture? Food for giant pandas? For Ren Yao, the fast-growing plant is an essential material in making bicycles.

REN YAO FOUNDER OF SIMPLE BIKE "The impetus for me to do this was simple. First, I think a bamboo bike is an environmentally friendly product. And then I hope it can provide some working opportunities for the experienced craftsmen."

A former automobile product designer, the 31-year-old Ren set up a studio to produce bamboo-framed bikes in 2014, which reportedly first appeared in the UK in 1894.

He describes the Tonkin bamboo from Guangdong Province as light as grass, but strong as metal. The production of each bike takes about 40 hours with some 10 steps.

JOE BROOKSHIRE STUDIO EMPLOYEE "It takes time. For sure, it's not an easy process, but something that you make sure you want to take time on, because it's something that's important. People want to ride it for a long time, people want to enjoy for a long time."

YANG JINGHAO CHENGDU"For cycling enthusiasts, this bike is special in terms of both its look and the riding experience. To test its performance, Ren Yao took it on an experimental, and adventurous joyride two years ago."

In May of 2016, he rode his hand-made bike all the way from Chengdu to Lhasa after it passed a quality authentication in Europe. The successful adventure spanning 2,500 kilometers equipped him with more confidence to bring the product to market.

REN YAO FOUNDER OF SIMPLE BIKE "From the beginning, I have realized that the bamboo bike can't be a mass product. Since bamboo is a kind of great material, I hope we can explore more bamboo products that can better serve our modern life."

Despite the limited market, cyclists from about 10 countries and regions have bought Ren's bikes over the years. On invitation, they're even displayed at the ongoing Paris Fashion Week as a trending lifestyle item. With more similar creations emerging, some people label them as a kind of publicity stunt rather than a practical tool.

REN YAO FOUNDER OF SIMPLE BIKE "I accept different kinds of opinions. Diversified voices are a stimulus for us to make improvements and innovations down the road."

Ren says no matter how big the market will grow, he will keep making "quality products with warmth". And he hopes such attempts can lead to a new lifestyle in the future. YJH, CGTN, Chengdu.