Bamboo bicycle biz Biotic bails on Britain because of Brexit

Bamboo bicycle brand Biotic Bikes has sought to sell the business, citing current and expected ramifications of Brexit as the founder’s reasons for selling the UK arm.

On the market for £50,000, the Middlesex-based business makes to order bamboo and carbon fibre-based bicycles, each taking around 50 hours to hand craft. At present, the business mainly ships inside the European Union, though does send bikes further afield if the customer is willing to cover any tariffs that apply to shipping.

The vibration dampening and stiffness qualities of bamboo make the sustainably sourced product a surprisingly strong candidate for the eco-conscious consumer. Given the naturally-grown tubing, no two bikes are the same. Bamboo is among the fastest growing plants on the planet, with one square kilometre of forest able to absorb 6200 tons of CO2 per year. It also releases 35% more oxygen than most trees.

The company’s founder Thomas created the business having studied as a mechanical engineer and having completed an apprenticeship as a bicycle mechanic. His career progressed further within the automotive world where he designed racing engines for Formula one, among other racing series. Having decided his future was in cycling, Thomas created Biotic in a bid to exploit his knowledge of carbon, subsequently appointing a biologist and biomechanics expert to perfectly marry the two materials.

The firm now produces road, mountain and triathlon bikes, each made to a customer’s size and spec choice. Every frame model has successfully passed the ISO 4210 certification test, according to the firm, though a weight limit of 120kg is advised.

Details of the sale and how to enquire can be found here.