Bikes to bamboozle and admire
Sam Maitland’s custom-built bamboo bicycle is a labour of love.
He spent at least 40 hours building the bike’s frame from pieces of bamboo that came in a kitset from the United States. Once assembled, flax was used to wrap the joints.
Things got a bit heated when one of the pieces of bamboo split unexpectedly, though. Maitland’s daughter, Cass, said that’s when her father threw a ‘‘tanty’’ and the bamboo ended up in the dog bowl.
‘‘The dog bowl was just in the way – I certainly wasn’t aiming for it,’’ Maitland laughed.
Maitland said he had built a few mountainbikes over the years, but the bamboo bike was the first he had made from scratch.
He had also restored a Czechoslovakian Velamos bike for Cass, 8, which had been repainted in hot rod candy apple red with chrome accents.
‘‘I am new to it, really – there are people out there have been doing it for years.’’
The Maitlands’ bikes are just some of many that will be on display as part of the upcoming inaugural Show and Shine event, organised by Nelson bike shop Alton St Cycles.
Alton St Cycles owner Dylan Couper said Show and Shine was a chance for bicycle enthusiasts to showcase their finds and restorations. It was the first time such an event had been held in Nelson.
‘‘It’s amazing how many people have [bicycle] collections.’’ Dylan Couper
‘‘It’s amazing how many people have collections of different types of bikes.
‘‘People are quite proud of the work they have put in over the years, and rather than sitting in the garage, it’s a chance to actually get them out.’’
The event will include a swap meet in the business’s carpark, so people can trade and exchange bike parts.
‘‘There are plenty of cyclists in Nelson, so it will appeal to a wide audience,’’ Couper said.
Alton St Cycles Show and Shine, Saturday September 8 from 10am to 4pm at Old St John’s, Hardy St. Gold coin entry, proceeds to Nelson Tasman Hospice. To register your interest, email vintagebicycles nz@gmail.com; registration will also be open on the day, and costs $5 per bike.