Both aluminium and bamboo are enjoying a renaissance in use as the world turns to sustainable materials. In order to get the best of both, is it possible to combine the two?

That is exactly the question Boo Bicycles asked, and the idea ultimately led to the Aluboo line of bicycles. These aluminium and bamboo bikes are designed for serious high-end biking enthusiasts and racers, with the Aluboo Commuter available for urban commutes and the wild Alubooyah Fat Bike available as well.

First, about the bamboo: Boo Bicycles uses Tam Vong, the Vietnamese name for Iron Bamboo. Of the 2,000 varieties of bamboo, the highest quality is found in the Tam Vong. For a small business like the Colorado-based Boo Bicycles, there are two reasons for why they own and maintain their own bamboo plantation sites: to ensure that the bamboo is sustainably grown and harvested, and to control the quality and supply of the material. About a dozen members of the Boo team will harvest each year in January, cutting mature bamboo – about 3 or 3.5 years is best – and camping in the field.

But the bamboo is only part of the story. To build the Aluboo series bikes by hand, it takes about 40 to 50 hours to create the frame from a combination of bamboo and aircraft-grade aluminium. Bamboo poles with a diameter just a little wider than aluminium lugs are chosen, then fit using tube-to-tube construction. The bamboo is then bound using unidirectional carbon fiber. The aluminium lugs are all hand-welded, the aluminium components are brushed to a perfect sheen – and soon, the rider is ready to hit the road.

The Boo Bicycles are pricey – the Aluboo Commuter runs $2,200 when fully loaded – but the materials and design deliver an exceptional experience. The aluminium and bamboo combination dramatically reduces the vibration and harsh ride of city streets, with full rider control on paths or in traffic lanes. There's another great advantage with the Aluboo Commuter, because it features a belt drive that keeps chains grease-free and maintenance-free – and mess-free, meaning no chain marks on pants or legs.