And now a few words from our customers

We have owned and ridden our Calfee bamboo tandem for just under two years now. We put five thousand miles on the bamboo tandem the first year in the form of club rides and mostly 100 mile centuries. This year will be similar with just over five thousand more miles.
I have never read a review from anyone noting that they were not happy with their new bike from day one, and we are no exception. I was however very interested and kept track of how the bike felt and responded throughout the year. Though many people think of tandems as family touring machines that might average 17-20 during long rides, my wife and I seem to be an exception to the rule. We are hard on bikes. By hard I mean that we work the bike very hard as our fitness level allows for great speeds. This includes aggressive “A level” club rides that average 28 mph to Century rides (100 miles) with the lead group where we finish in 4 1/2 hours. Last but certainly not least, we spend large amounts of time climbing hills. And as we all know what goes up must come down.
This brings me back to the keeping track of how the bike felt throughout the year. I can report with full confidence that after almost ten thousand miles on this machine it is just as stiff in the torque department and yet still has the comfort that my stoker has loved from day one. It rides the steep down hills very well and has never given me a moments concern about flexing in the turns.
This bike gets more attention than anything I have ever owned. People have taken so many pictures of the bike, not us, it is amazing. If you are in the market for the best tandem you could have for comfort and uniqueness, you must seriously consider Calfee’s bamboo.

- Jeff D, describing his Bamboo tandem (November, 2011)

I finally managed to get out for a 200 K brevet on the Calfee the weekend before last.
So here are my impressions.
This is one awesome bike. I was comfortable for the entire ride 204 k, 6000 ft of climbing 7 hour 30 minutes. I towed two friends around the entire day. I probably could have finished sooner but I did promise to ride with them.
Climbing is a lot of fun and I am, as you know, not a small guy. The climbs are frequent and range from 5 or 6 % to a couple at 10 to 11% and two that hit 16%. I got up most of them with no problem although I did notice that this bike likes me to get out of the saddle to climb when the going gets steep.
Descending is even more fun. The bike tracks like it is on rails and goes where you think it should go. No real effort is needed to place the bike on corners and then it just carves the corner. It is stiff where it needs to be (no chainring rub) and compliant at the same time.
The brakes are really very good much better than I expected
The cool part of course are the “that’s a real nice bike” from my fellow riders and when the sun finally came out the frame just popped….nice job on the paint.
Is this the perfect bike?
Very, very close….. now if it would just pedal for me and make coffee !!!!
Needless to say I am liking this bike more with each ride and I probably need to lose some weight and get in better shape to make this the perfect bike. I would recommend this as an option to fellow riders looking for a new bike to ride the distance.

- Peter L, describing his Dragonfly Adventure (September, 2011)

I want to thank you for the Calfee Tetra tandem. I am so satisfied with the machine. It handles like a single bike and barely weighs more than a single bike. Stiffness and control are like no other tandem I had ever ridden. It climbs so well. It descends fantastic. So far, I have taken it on 2 Century rides and a multitude of lesser rides. 8% grade on mountain passes can be climbed without using the 36T large sprocket out of the rear cassette. I am anxious to try 10% and 12% grade, which was previously unthinkable for me on a tandem. Two chain rings are really all that are needed! The electric shifting is so clean and precise it is as good or better than my road bike. This is in sharp contrast to other tandems I have used with the long cable causing significant slack and imprecise shifting. Congratulations on a great product!

- Richard K, describing his Tetra tandem with our Di2 Internal System (September, 2011)

I read with great interest the recent review of the Calfee Dragonfly in Road Bike Action Magazine. Last summer I purchased our fourth Calfee, a Custom Dragonfly with a Campy Super Record compact groupo. I agree with every aspect of the glowing review.
My new bike rides beautifully, corners extremely well and is absolutely stable at high speeds. Last week, I broke my own land speed record, going 52.2 mph. down one of the steep canyons in Salt Lake City. No fuss and no wobble. It also goes up hill quite well.
At your suggestion, I ordered the frame in the nude finish. I have received numerous compliments on the bike and the nude finish.
I received excellent advice throughout the entire order and build process. For example, Mike Moore suggested that I consider buying EE brakes. I spent the additional money and I have never looked back. It is an excellent product/upgrade. Although this bike is not an inexpensive purchase, is represents excellent value. I could not be more pleased.
It is a pleasure to do business with honest, highly ethical and trustworthy people. This is consistent with our earlier experiences with Calfee. In 2001 my wife and I ordered our first Calfee’s. Prior to ordering, I had a lengthy conversation with Craig regarding whether or not his frames could be repaired in case of an accident. He assured me that if repairs were required he could do so and make the frame as good as new. Unfortunately, thereafter I had a bad accident that cracked both blades of the fork and practically shredded the down tube. True to his word, the repairs were made (at a reasonable price) and the frame was structurally as originally purchased. The custom paint job was replicated as new.
Thanks for the joy that I experience on every ride. I only wish that I was as good as my bike!!

- James K, describing his 63cm Dragonfly Custom (July, 2011)

Hi Michael,
Just wanted to give you the feedback after my first 140 miles on the bike this weekend. The ride quality of this new frame was nothing short of amazing. Both stiff and compliant. The fit which for me at 6’7” is always a challenge was spot on, with only a few tweaks needed to the setup (seat position adjustment) after the initial ride. I was amazed how fresh I felt at the end of my century ride on Saturday.

- Greg M, describing his 66cm Luna Pro (June, 2011)

Mike,
We were able to take our new Tetra for its first ride/shake down cruise today. We rode it on a 30 mile course that we do on a very regular basis so we knew how the old bike responded to the varying road conditions.
On a scale of 1 – 10 we both rate it a 10+
Now you have to realize that we are comparing the new bike to a 1989 steel Santana Visa.
Here are some of our comments:
* Very smooth and comfortable
* Absorbs shocks like it has suspension, Chris asked me if it had suspension
* Stiff yet compliant, very hard to understand, feels like it has suspension yet when you push it hard it is rock solid
* Climbs much better than the old bike, lighter and more rigid, it seems like the power gets to the ground better
* We both felt less tired and beat up as compared to the old bike
* The bike is very quiet
* It does not feel like a heavy tandem it almost feels like I am riding my solo road bike
* It handles more like my single than the old tandem
* It was a very enjoyable ride, we always enjoy riding the tandem but the new bike made it even more enjoyable
* I do not know if it is the frame or the components but my wife hardly knew when it when I shifted gears. The old bike was an 8 X 3 with a new Ultegra RD and new Ultegra bar end shifters. The new bike has new Ultegra 6703 shifters and Dura Ace FD and RD.
All in all we are extremely happy with our choice and thank you again for your great service.

- Wayne and Chris Thais, describing their Calfee Tetra Tandem (May, 2011)

Craig,
I took delivery of your latest bamboo creation last Friday and have put a couple of hundred miles on it. Just wanted to give you my observations. Amazing, amazing. amazing. It is the smoothest ride I have ever been on! But what blew me away was that when I really put the power to the pedals, its every bit as stiff as my Tetra. No flex at all. It decended Newport Coast at 50 mph straight as a string. At the bottom of the hill, a guy pulled alongside me, rolled his window down, and said “Dude, you were doing 60 down that hill”. I just smiled and said “Pretty close”.
I also have a feeling you may be getting a couple of orders soon. Every cyclist I encountered along the road had positive comments and/or questions about the bike. A couple of older, disposable income type guys even made comments that they had been interested in bamboo, but wanted to see one on the road and get feedback from the rider before buying. I think I had them sold on it. Several people described the bike as a rolling work of art and I could’nt agree more. Beautiful and functional. Who woulda thought?
I’ll close by saying, I still love my Tetra, but after 11 years and about 70,000 miles, I thought it was time for something new and cutting edge, and there’s nothing more cutting edge than the Calfee Bamboo. Thanks for your brilliant creations and forward thinking.

- Tom Hicks, describing his Calfee Bamboo Pro (May, 2011)

Mike, I have now had two good rides on my new Dragon Fly. My initial impressions are:

• It is incredibly light.
• The finish is beautiful.
• It is very comfortable. I rode over some rough pavement, and it absorbed the shocks much better than my other carbon bike. Also, you appear to have done an exemplary fitting job.
• The bike is very responsive. Acceleration has new meaning, with no lag.
• I have yet to go on a long ride, but even over a thirty mile ride, it is clear that the Dragon Fly is less fatiguing than my other bike.
• It is also clear that the bike is better than I am. Even though I am in good shape and I ride a lot, I will never have the engine and the skill to max out the capacity of the bike.

- Eddy Hawkins, describing his Calfee Dragonfly Pro w/Campy Super Record (January, 2011)

Since November, I’ve ridden about 300 miles on the D-fly and about 300
miles on my old steel bike which is setup on my trainer.
As you know my old bike was too small for me and so I have noticed a big difference between the two. Over the past four weeks I’ve ridden the D-fly exclusively. The D-fly frame and bar/stem have been exceptional. I can climb faster and I am much more comfortable. That flat handle bar is wonderful! Steel has such a solid feel when you’re descending and so I thought I would be giving that up when I moved to carbon but that is not that case with the D-fly. I have flown down King’s Mountain (Woodside), Hwy 92, and Bear Creek Road (Orinda) hitting road imperfections along the way. The D-fly is certainly light but it feels solid and I have confidence on fast descents.
The Di2 is working out very well, too. I am an early adopter for certain things (e.g., I got Lasik surgery for my eyes back in 1999) and I’m a sucker for efficiency and well-built things. After riding Di2 for 300 miles I am convinced that electronic shifting is here to stay. I’ve ridden Campy forever (okay since 1989) and the transition was hardly noticeable. Also, I have been riding in the rain and there have been no mishaps. Calfee’s additional work to stow the Di2 flight deck and battery in the seat tube is not only aesthetically pleasing but it provides some additional protection against wet road gunk.

- Fred Flores, describing his Calfee Dragonfly Pro w/Di2 Internal frame option (January, 2011)

The bike went together very easily. The press-fit BB and carbon cable stops work like a charm. The traditional cable routing is also very nice, I’ve heard the horror stories of internal routing and it’s nice to put a bike together without any surprises.
When riding over rougher roads the bike doesn’t buck you off like some of the other frames I’ve ridden. The stiffness of the bike is impressive, it climbs superbly, both seated and standing the BB doesn’t move. The efficiency of the bike makes is a pleasure to ride and I’m looking forward to trying it with some Mavic R-Sys or Madfiber wheels. Sprinting in the drops the bike pulls straight and the front end feels firm. The steering is quite a bit different than the Colnago, it’s quicker and the bike maybe leans ‘earlier’. The bike can really carve.
Coming from the Cervelo R3-sl and Colnago CX-1 I had high expectations for this bike. I wanted a frame that did everything the Colnago did, only better. In this effort you and your team succeeded in making a very fast racing bike. I’m very excited to bring this bike to some big races next year. The bike is an eye catcher with its traditional looks. I almost have the bars where I want them for the bar-stem and I’ll bring the bike by after the New Year for the finishing touches.

- Art Rand, Cat. 1 road racer describing his Calfee Dragonfly Pro (December, 2010)

The bamboo bike rides really nicely-stiff like aluminum, probably due to the oversize tubes, er, sticks, but more muted like a nice steel frame. There is not much springiness, though, like you would find in steel or titanium-bumps and blips and waves in the pavement don’t twang or resonate or bounce like in some frames made of those metals. Hits are not as sharp, nor do they have that hard, stomping-on-a-rock bone-jarring feel of a big-diameter aluminum frame. I don’t know how to explain this, it’s like talking about music…you have to use words that are relative to other things. Like “blue,” a color, is understood to mean “sad” or “melancholy” in music. This bike feels a little transparent-it’s tough to pin a character onto it, though. “Alive,” maybe? Perhaps because the frame is made from an organic substance-it feels like it is actually working on its own, maybe pushing back against hits. Power transfer is great-it doesn’t hesitate in a jump, doesn’t seem to flex unfavorably, doesn’t creak or groan. Perfect alignment; I can let go and sit up and it goes right straight ahead, no bobbles or wobbles or leaning or arm waving, it goes right where I look.

- Paul Altenhofen (January 2008)

I have wanted a bamboo bike since I saw one of your first ones at Interbike. Since I’ve had the wants for a very long time, my expectations have been high to unrealistic. …… My expectations were exceeded. The bike rode like a dream, smooth, solid, stiff, stable but not dead feeling. Cannot not thank you enough for such a great product. There have only been 2 consumer products I have purchased over the years that have been over the top in all respects. The Bamboo Bike is one and the other one was a Feathercraft K1 Expedition kayak.

- Stewart B. Snelson (December, 2007)

This December marks the three year anniversary with my Luna Pro. I have ridden more than 20 thousand miles in that time, and I can tell you with all certainty that the frame remains rock solid and fresh. I am sure you receive many testimonial concerning your creations but I thought one more couldn’t hurt. I can’t wait to order a Dragonfly! Thank you…God I love riding my bicycle!!

- John J. Reeder (December, 2006)

I just crossed 8000 miles on the Dragonfly you built for me last year. Something about that milestone prompted me to write you and tell you how much I enjoy my toy. Thanks!
When I was considering buying a new bike a friend urged me to find something that would take my breath away each time I saw it and this bike certainly fits the bill. I’m running it full Dura-Ace 10, with a stout set of Mavic CXP33 rims.
Even in the wet weather with legs sore from previous days of riding I love to climb aboard and set off down the road. I initially thought I would ride my old bike during the winter, but I just like this one too much to trade out.

- Scott ( April, 2006 )

Hi Craig,
I purchased a Tetra from you a couple of years ago and still have to say it’s the best I have ever ridden. It’s beautifully crafted as well. The comfort is fabulous and it’s still lively. I have only had 4 other bikes before this, and this one really is a dream in comparison. They weren’t cheapies either. As someone who is finally reaching “middle age” ugh…….., I find comfort is really really important for those longer rides. This bike is superb for that too! I can’t believe how it feels as if someone is pushing me up hills! Can you believe it??? Anyway, I wanted to thank you for such a lovely bike. Keep rolling them out
PS Did I say how much I enjoy the wicked paint jobs (esp. in the sun!!!)

- Laura ( May, 2006 )

My new bamboo bike is really pretty amazing. It is unbelievably gorgeous – the photos don’t really do it justice, and seeing the frame alone also doesn’t do it. The bike, fully built, is just beautiful (with a Calfee barstem made from FSA K-Wing bars, Campy Record carbon compact kit, and Mavic Ksyrium ES wheels – the red spoke really looks trick). I love the way the cables pass through the carbon wraps on the lugs. And I got to spend plenty of time looking at it last week, because it started snowing as I pulled out of the parking lot of the bike shop last weekend when I picked it up, so it sat in my living room all week. But it cleared up this weekend, so I got to ride it for the first time.

Wow. I’ll be honest – when I asked my wife for this bike, I was thinking mostly about what it represents in terms of artistry and craftsmanship. I wasn’t really thinking about how it would ride. But it really rides beautifully. The vibration damping is amazing. I’ve never spent much time on a good carbon frame, so I can’t give a fair comparison, but compared to the steel, aluminum and titanium frames I’ve ridden, it seems like a completely different type of vehicle – a hovercraft maybe. Its eerie really – it seems to just hover over the road, like floating on a cloud. And the roads I ride in Connecticut are pretty nasty, especially in January. I also threw it up some steep little hills, and it was stiff and responsive. So now I’m spoiled – I don’t see how I’ll get back on my “old” primary bike (a custom Columbus Spirit steel frame made by a local builder in Ridgefield, CT). So much for saving the bamboo bike for special occasions. I hope I get to ride it again before we get snowed in for the winter!

So, bravo. Beautiful bike, and a joy to ride. Think I’ll go home and stare at it some more.

- Jim ( January, 2006 )

Just a quick note to let you know that we picked up my wife’s bamboo frame on Saturday. To say that my wife was stunned would be an understatement. She was literally speechless. She is not one who demonstrates extreme emotion by jumping up and down, throwing her hands around, etc. So, Mark at River City may be wondering how she really felt about the bike. When we got home she just sat down and stared at the frame for at least 15 minutes occasionally shaking her head in joy and amazement. Than she started hounding me to get my butt in gear to get the bike built up. Regarding that …. “

- Al ( August, 2005 )

I went on a 6 day ride in Alaska on my Bontrager (steel frame mtn bike). I was in my best shape ever. One of the guys I met up there had a Calfee. Every time when we got to the hills, the guy I met w/the Calfee steadily inched away from us every time. At one of outposts, I had a chance to pick up his bike and was totally surprised. He asked me if I wanted to ride his bike and I declined… guess it was a good thing at the time because I would have tsyched myself out every time I got to a hill. Well, when I finally got around to buying a road bike, I narrowed it down to the Calfee and a Colonago masterlite. I am very happy with my purchase of the Calfee Luna Pro. Keep up the Excellent work, Craig!”

- Ernest ( April, 2005 )

Wow ! First ride this Sunday on my Dragonfly. I have to say my Dragonfly made me feel like I took 50 LBS right of my back. I honestly feel like I am cheating. This bike allows me to elevate my performance to a new level. Every aspect of what I expect from a great bike is a forever changed now.”

- Bruce ( April, 2005 )

Sheila and I recently purchased a Tetra Tandem from Rich Shapiro. We had tried other up-market tandems and were not sufficiently impressed to make the investment. We committed to the bike Rich had in stock without a test ride (it was winter). We took it south in March. Fifty feet into our first ride we knew we had done the right thing. A couple of thousand miles later we are completely satisfied. More correctly put – we are thrilled. Thank you.

- Tony and Sheila ( April, 2005 )

“My bike gets a lot of admiring looks too from my fellow cyclists and there is no doubt among them that it plays an important part in my improved ( and improving ) performance. My road racing has been improving too and is due, in part, to the new bike. I will drop you a line at the end of season and let you know how well it turned out.

- Bill ( May, 2005 )

“Just a short note to let you know how much I’m enjoying my new Calfee. As you know,a bicycle is only as good as its frame.Your painstaking attention to detail has paid off. This is the most comfortable and responsive bike I have ever ridden. I started with a Schwinn Varsity eight speed over forty years ago, so I am sure you can imagine how many bikes I’ve owned.This one simply beats them all.Aesthetically, its hand wrapped lugs make it eligible as an exhibit at the Smithsonian or the Museum of Modern Art. Many thanks to all your staff for the careful blend of technology,engineering, design, and craftsmanship.”

- Gary( Aug, 2005 )

A great letter from a Tandem customer:

Dear Craig Calfee and all of the Calfee “Crew”,

We have now had our Calfee tandem for several months and have now put many miles on the bike. I am a sceptic by profession, being a medical researcher and so I am not quick to give an endorsement for anything. I have to say I was reluctant to believe that a tandem bike could be so good as to justify the price of a Calfee with all top of the line components and couplers but I am now amazed that a bike of this quality and workmanship can be purchased at any price. My wife and I have been avid tandem riders for 27 years (we actually went on tandem trip for out honeymoon 26 years ago) and we have had very good bikes before and have road pretty well every brand out there. However, every time we get out on our Calfee we are blown away by the comfort, the handling and the speed of the bike.

My wife has always had a suspension seatpost but has a sollid carbon post on the new Calfee and she has never had as comfortable ride as she has on the new bike. I also am amazed at how comfortable it is to ride. I know my physics and yet I am baffled as to how a bike can be so comfortable and yet is by far the fastest and stiffest tandem I have ever ridden even out of the saddle and at high speed. In the past we always had to alternate if we wanted to climb out of the saddle, her for a while, then me. With the Calfee we can both stand and climb, hammering as hard as if we were climbing a single bike. This kind of stiffness in a super light frame that doesn’t even have that big diagonal tube every other tandem needs to get rigidity? It seems to defy the laws of physics. This is one very high tech bike!

This bike handles beyond any of my expectations. At slow and moderate speed it is light, nimble and stable, yet it is so stable at high speeds that it feels like it transforms into a motorcycle in descents and high speed corners. I have always been a timid descender on a tandem but not so on the Calfee. When we hit downhills now its into the biggest ring, down on the drops and full throttle ahead. Its like it is on rails around the corners!

Our bike was not a custom size yet it fits like a glove. We were properly measured for the bike and one of Calfee’s stock frame sizes was perfect. Even though it is not a ‘custom’ size, the people at Calfee treated us like we were adopting a child! They paid attention to every detail and the bike was handcrafted into the most beautiful bike I have every seen. It is a work of fine art and everywhere we go including tandem rallies, people say it is the most beautiful bike they have ever seen. It was quite a bit of money but after several months of hard riding we now think it was the best investment we have ever made. Thanks Craig for having the brilliance and vision to build a product of this quality. We are looking forward to riding this bike for many decades to come!

Michael R. Lyon, MD
Adjunct Professor
University of British Columbia
Food, Nutrition and Health Program
Medical and Research Director
Canadian Centre for Functional Medicine