MODA – Tireside Chat: Craig Calfee of Calfee Design

Calfee bicycle frames were born in 1987 when Craig recognized that carbon fiber was going to be the material of choice for racing bikes. In 1991, he got a huge boost when Tour de France winner Greg LeMond ordered 18 bikes for his team. Calfee has been a leader in bicycle design ever since.

Craig explores other materials for building bikes as well, such as hemp and bamboo. He’s used the durable, inexpensive, and sustainable material to build racing, off-road, double-decker, and tandem bamboo bikes, as well as a DIY bamboo bicycle kit. He’s also helped to create a bamboo bike industry in Africa, where bikes are built with locally-grown bamboo and provide transportation and an income stream.