Boo has had a gangbusters year. Through impressive competitive showings in fields internationally for both their original and Aluboo models, Boo has established the high performance capability of their product while reinforcing its proven durability and ride quality across genres. The crowd at NAHBS has a diverse selection of naturally grown tubed bikes this year…
BIKERUMOR: What are your main building materials?
Boo: Bamboo and carbon composite (for Boo models) and bamboo and aluminum (Aluboo / Alubooyah models).
BIKERUMOR: What’s new with your company since NAHBS last year?
Boo: We have proven all of our models through numerous reviews. We have a burgeoning dealer network and are spreading the word around the country that Boo is working with dealers.
We’ve taken four podiums already in 2015, as well as a top-15 World Championship placing:
1st – National Championship Professional Women Fat Bike – Amanda Miller – Alubooyah
3rd – National Championship Elite Men 19-29 – Ben Castaneda – Alubooyah
3rd – National Championship Elite Men SS – AJ Turner – BOOlossal fat bike
3rd – Tour of Saigon Professional Men Road Race – Nick Frey – Boo RSR
15th – World Championship Junior Men 17-18 Cyclocross – Brannan Fix – Boo RSX
21st – Leadville Traill 100 MTB Overall – Nick Frey – Boo RSM 29er
BIKERUMOR: Any killer custom bike builds in that time?
Boo: Absolutely.
ROAD: RSR Di2 Disc
FAT: BOOlossal Rohloff
FAT: Alubooyah Sea Foam
FAT: Alubooyah Rohloff XL
CROSS: RSX Disc CX1
29ER: RSM Lefty XX1
29+: Alubooyah 14k
COMMUTER: Aluboo Hawaiian Blue
BIKERUMOR: What were some of your newer inspirations for recent bikes?
Boo: We’ve been inspired by the worlds of gravel and fat. Bamboo is adept at providing superb traction, handling, and comfort in rough conditions. We also like being among nature, away from traffic, and exploration. We’re working with Osprey Packs to innovate around the bike-packing adventures we enjoy so much.
BIKERUMOR: What are you building this year that’ll draw a crowd?
Boo: We’ve made the ultimate gravel racing bicycle in the industry: the new Boo SLG (not shown). This is the first in our SL series which uses a number of new technologies relating to our bamboo and carbon. The SL shaves almost 1⁄4 of the weight from our frame with new full-carbon thru-axle dropouts, disc-only interface which deletes the chain stay and seat stay bridges, and features a custom integrated seat mast with fully integrated wiring for Di2 drivetrains. Our bamboo has been internally reinforced with a special composite that allows for dramatically thinner tube walls while maintaining stiffness and increasing durability against gravel impacts. Our carbon joint layups have been refined to optimize unidirectional fiber alignment in specific load paths to provide increased response while maintaining the supple ride Boo is famous for. Over the course of a 200 mile gravel race like the infamous Dirty Kanza, the new Boo SLG will float over the harsh flint and reduce the fatigue the rider must cope with.
Stiff+ responsive + comfortable = ultimate performance.
BIKERUMOR: If you had to build a bike for a Kentucky Derby style race (think short, all out effort on deep, loose dirt), what would you build and why?
Boo: Absolutely our 29+. This bike has ridiculous traction in loose conditions, enough flotation for deeper dirt, and yet it sprints and handles like a racing MTB. The 29+ is the best of all worlds—it can be an adventure bike, and ultra-deep-snow fat bike (with 26×4.8” setup), and a superlight racing MTB.
BIKERUMOR: Bourbon or beer?
Boo: We’re lucky enough to never make those difficult decisions.
