A DESIGNER behind the world’s first bamboo bicycle made with 3D printed parts has praised his education at a closure threatened school.

James Marr said his education at Builth Wells High School had fired his passion for design which led to him forming the Bamboo Bicycle Club.

The business uses bamboo canes for bicycle frames but last week expanded the idea to build a bicycle using parts from a 3D printer.

The 3D printed bike was put together live at London’s world famous Design Museum.

James, who is originally from Aberbran, said his secondary education at Builth High is a key feature of his success. He said: "My passion for design started in Builth Wells, thanks to the community of teachers and excellent teaching within the school. I’m grateful of my eduction there and the opportunity it gave me to build from those early life experiences and guidance."

The school has also played its part in James’ brother Frank’s successful career. Frank studied business studies in Builth High School and with sister Alexandra established PR and marketing agency A Marr and Associates.

It has helped promote the 3D printed bike and gained worldwide media coverage for the launch with media from China, American and Europe all covering the event.

James first started testing how to build bamboo bicycles after he moved into a house in Glasbury-on-Wye with his two siblings who were establishing their PR agency. After spending years developing the bikes, James moved to London and set up a large workshop and teaching area.

To help fund the project the Bamboo Bicycle Club teamed up with Oxford Brookes University and Hackney Wick’s Autumn Yard Collective to set up a Kickstarter appeal and asked for support from anyone interested in helping make cycle history and exceeded their £12,000 target.

Professors and students from Oxford Brookes University took two weeks to complete the 3D printing for the bike lugs, which are used join the bamboo frame together with a special urethane adhesive glue.

The lugs are made from nylon reinforced carbon fibre which is normally used on Formula 1 cars.

This process is expected to become a lot faster in the future and could have a huge impact on British manufacturing. The frame and completed bike with all the full components was then built live at the Design Museum with the first ride taking place on Sunday April 10.