Gisborne bicycle builder Freddy Salgado has been busy constructing his bamboo frames for people all around the world after one featuring Maori artwork was successfully displayed at a show in the United States.

"I just can't keep up at this point," said Mr Salgado, who takes between 40 and 60 hours to construct one of his organic bikes.

The interest has come after he teamed up with local artist Justin Nepia to make a frame that went to the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Virginia in February.

It was part of the display for Bamboosero, an organisation started by Craig Calfee and based on the idea that teaching people to build bikes out of organic products promotes long-term sustainability and industry.

Mr Salgado met Mr Nepia while BMX riding and decided to collaborate with him after he was shown a flyer for his artwork.

"He realised I was an artist and just hit me up," said Mr Nepia.

"It was quite a hard job - it was a tight little spot to work on. I hadn't really done Ta Moko work before so playing around with Maori designs was pretty cool."

The design signifies Gisborne through the depiction of sun and waves, something Mr Salgado was pleased with.

"It was cool because he is a rider himself and I think that really contributed a lot to how he did it.

"I felt comfortable giving him a blank canvas and I was blown away with what he came up with. It was a little voyage for him."

Mr Salgado first learned how to make bamboo bicycles by reading "how-tos" on the internet. Last year he went to the Philippines on a Bamboosero training camp to refine his skills.

Bamboosero is usually for developing countries but Mr Salgado uses its concepts of incorporating only local product and labour.

"My frames, compared to others, leave one of the lowest carbon footprints for frame manufacturing in the world -which I am very proud of.

"Everything I use to make frames is sourced locally – the bamboo comes from a grove three kilometres away, where it is picked and processed.

"I would say it's uniquely New Zealand with the flax and bamboo grown here," said Mr Salgado, who hails from Chicago and owns Gisborne shop Bikeys.

Mr Salgado is working with Crown bioresearch institute Scion to find the strongest type of flax for his bikes.

"What I want is going to be a little bit different but they are interested in helping me.

"The ultimate goal is to build it into a mould like carbon fibre."

Mr Salgado will be featured on the TV One programme Off the Radar at the end of April.

• See Mr Nepia's artwork at www.liquid-tones.com and learn more about bamboo bicycles at www.bamboosero.com