ANGLES
Can you take us through the beginnings of
Bambike and where it is today?
Megan Calbalcar and Joshua Gan: Bambike's focus for its first few years
was to provide a sustainable livelihood program to the Bambuilders through
bamboo bikes (Bambikes).
Come 2014, Bryan (McClelland, founder) started a bike tour in
Intramuros called Bambike Ecotours. Bambike Ecotours was mostly for
potential clients to be able to try out the Bambikes. Now, in 2019, Bambike
Ecotours is a significant component of Bambike's business model. The
success of the ecotours doesn't only maintain the demand for bikes for our
Bambuilders' livelihood program, but it also allows Bambike to employ
individuals from diverse backgrounds to complete the Manila team.
Aside from obvious environmental benefits, what makes bamboo a
better material than steel or carbon fiber for building bike frames?
Each Bambike is handcrafted by our Bambuilders from our partner Gawad
Kalinga community in Victoria, Tarlac. As the process isn't industrialized and
no two bamboo poles are alike, each piece is truly one-of-a-kind.
While Bambikes are a piece of handcraft, they are also functional and sturdy.
Bamboo has natural vibration dampening capabilities that allows for a smoother ride.
The svelte bamboo-framed
Victoria 2.0 touring bicycle
What was the community like in Victoria, Tarlac before Bambike came?
How has Bambike impacted the community for the better?
Most Bambuilders were farmers or pedicab drivers. They didn't hold
regular jobs and had no stable source of income. Because of the livelihood
program of Bambike, they now have steady income. Today, the Bambuilders
are even able to send their kids to college.
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