New audio story: "What? A Bamboo Bicycle?"
To the uninitiated, a bicycle made of bamboo might look a little silly. But a respected pioneer of carbon-fiber bicycle frames swears by their strength, flexibility, and their ecological value.
Dear Friends,
When we first published this week’s feature story, back in 2016, the concept of using bamboo to make bicycle frames had not quite hit the mainstream. Since then, however, the idea has gained traction around the world, and the subject of our story — Craig Calfee, pioneering designer of carbon-fiber bikes — has been leading the movement. In fact, Calfee’s innovative designs has spawned a whole new cottage industry in parts of Africa and beyond.
Since first publishing this story, the technology of working with bamboo has changed considerably, so our author contacted Calfee recently for an update, which we’re now bringing to you in both audio and text form.
I hope you’ll enjoy listening to our latest podcast episode, “What? A Bamboo Bicycle?”, written, and narrated on our podcast channel, by Jeff Greenwald. As with all of our audio stories, you can listen to or download this one directly from our website, or from your favorite streaming services, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also read the original story on our website.
We have just a few weeks left in our Winter issue, which highlights some masters of stonework. Along with stories that speak to each issue’s theme, we always have works on other topics, so please, stay tuned. Each Friday, we release a feature story, short article, mini-documentary, photo essay, or podcast that relates to our mission — to “create a world built to last.”
In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read, watch, or listen to within our pages. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause when you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Be well,
Todd Oppenheimer
Editor & Publisher, Craftsmanship Quarterly
Winter 2023: The New Stone Age
When humans first embarked on their incessant quest for innovations, they began tinkering with little more than the rocks and stones at their feet. The Stone Age endured for more than 2 million years, and the stonework remains of ancient civilizations — from the Megalithic Temples of Malta to Stonehenge to the Great Pyramids — continue to awe and fascinate us today. Throughout the world, stone is still quarried for use in grand monuments, memorials, and much more. In this issue, along with other topics, we highlight some modern-day devotees of this timeless, prehistoric material.