At least there wasn't a span of months between this post and my last. Unfortunately it isn't a physical update in the sense that we've actually gotten more work done. No, the bamboo is still growing. What we have discovered, though, is that we live in a desert. Okay, it's not much of a discovery in and of itself, but it is after research revealed that dry climates shorten the time it takes to properly dry the bamboo rods significantly. It may seem obvious, but when we can shorten the time down from several months (even years in some places) to only a few weeks, that is a big plus.
I wanted to share this because much of the research we have done says that the biggest threat to bamboo bikes is splitting of the rods. If we are able to properly dry the bamboo in a decent amount of time, that will prevent either of us from trying to rush it.
When it comes to finishing and curing the bamboo, however, I haven't found many tried and true ways. Some have suggested tung oil, some have used fiberglass and paint, and another article said shelac. I know it is a long way off, but after all this work, protecting the final project is an intregal step.
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