Boo Bicycles has been getting a lot of love lately in the cyclocross world, in part due to U23 racer Skyler Trujillo racing the bamboo/carbon Boo RS-X cyclocross bike at Nationals and the World Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 2009 by Nick Frey and James Wolf, the Fort Collins-based Boo Bicycles, in their words, “produces custom bikes that can be raced successfully at the highest levels but are designed to provide a lively, forgiving ride which increases stability and traction on descents and reduces fatigue on centuries and grand fondos.”
Boo Bicycle RS-X combines bamboo and carbon for what it says is a plush, yet race-worthy ride © Jesse Pisel
Boo Bicycles won an award in the alternative material category for its Boo Glissando townie concept bike, but we of course were more interested in the RS-X.
The RS-X has bamboo top and down tubes, as well as rear stays, reinforced and linked with hand-wrapped carbon junctions. A full carbon downtube extends into an integrated seat post. Of interest, as well, is the reinforced rear triangle on the non-drive side, to handle the stress of the disc brake.
The seat tube/ seat mast are one long carbon tube, with hand-woven carbon fiber securing the bamboo top tube, down tube and stays. © Jesse Pisel
An ENVE carbon disk fork completes the frame. Small details, such as the sumi-painting inspired fish along the top tube, and the subtle “b” logo on the headtube, give the bike a nice understated tone, allowing the bamboo itself to be the main visual attraction. Two waterbottle mounts make this more than just a race-day steed, suggesting Boo’s intent that this frame is supple enough for long gravel adventures.
The Koi fish is a nice touch for an Eastern-inspired bike © Jesse Pisel
Though each frame is made custom to the buyer’s wishes, the model photographed here is equipped with full Shimano Dura-Ace cranks and drivetrain, Shimano mechanical discs, an FSA K-Wing Compact carbon handlebar, and DT Swiss hubs laced to ENVE XC Carbon rims with Challenge Limus tires.
In this video, builder James Wolf discusses the 2012 Rs-X:
Here, he takes us through the build process:
