returning in a week

via Portland, Maine



Just before heading north, came across this two-hour ride within the city limits.

LED jackets via Instructables

Two projects on Instructables that embed Arduino Lilypad electronics and LEDs in a jacket...
Turn Signal Biking Jacket LED turn signals that uses conductive thread and sewable electronics to keep the jacket soft, wearable and washable.

Light for Life: Glowing Button Cycling Jacket LEDs encased in semitransparent buttons.

one handed

by Katey Jean from Liverpool, UK

Thank you, Lauren (White Bike Ceramics)

OMG, Bike Snob gets interviewed

Today's NYTimes includes a somewhat revealing interview with the blogger Bike Snob (who remains anonymous). As a follower, I have always found his coverage of bicycle abuse to be harsh (while usually being dead on) yet his 'About Me' description is sweet and apologetic:

While I love cycling and embrace it in all its forms, I'm also extremely critical. So I present to you my venting for your amusement and betterment. No offense meant to the critiqued. Always keep riding!

Who would have guessed the Bike Snob has hung out with Lance Armstrong and is launching a book with Chronicle Books next year!?

colour + motion

Spotted this bike in front of the (newly opened) Cafe Regular Du Nord - with super bright and playful stripes on the tire's side walls.


... turns out that a few years back Grant Petersen, at Rivendell, came up with the idea to combine colors/pattern to create a visual effect once a bike tire was spun. In motion, the tire wall "blends" color (speed-blend) and creates a beautiful and magical effect.

Just imagine all the amazing colour combinations you could achieve using this idea. Unfortunately, I believe they are discontinued.

in case of rain

Uhh, looks like another rainy day... but these accessories from Bobbin the self proclaimed "most beautiful bicycle shop in Britain" brighten my day...




Rainhood, Polka Saddle Cover, and Coloured Cape

for the love of CARGO bikes

These are just a couple cargo bikes I photographed last summer in Copenhagen - a wonderful land where people use three wheels bikes to transport anything from pets, loads of kids, mother + kid, tons of groceries, and much more all in a little cube. So practical, so wonderful.

Christiania Bikes (named after the Copenhagen Christiania commune) have been making "transporter trikes" since 1976. They also make fabulously functional accessories/add ons including seat belts, mattresses, folding benches, rain hoods, and even hoods with windows. Here are just a few...



After living in Brooklyn for over 8 years, last fall I spotted a cargo bike for the first time in Brooklyn (in Park Slope). I feel the biggest obstacle in having one in Brooklyn is parking - while I know some people who argue the roads here are not big enough (which means some cars run you off). In any case, you may be seeing more on the streets soon since L.E.S. Bike Works and Bologna Bikes are collaborating on a new brand of custom personalized bicycle with two models: a cargo bike and metro speedster...

 
Wonder if the city would ever require cargo bikes to follow pedicabs regulations such as capping the number of them on the street, requiring license plates, insurance, and safety inspections? That would be sad and futile.

the art of bike maintenance: floor pump

Last week I walked into Brooklyn Bicycles (Park Slope's newest bike store) and fell in love with a bike pump. The Lezyne Alloy Floor Pump features a varnished wood handle with CNC machined aluminum center lug. The v-shaped foot is utilitarian + makes it that much more sophisticated. Fortunately they make a more affordable version in steel.

(intense) night lights

California based company MonkeyLectric creates some really intense LED bike systems. Think ground effects on cars - but on bikes. Their products stemmed from founder Dan Goldwater's project at MIT (clear plastic bike with LED edge lighting).

The Monkey Light is a revolutionary bike light that keeps you visible. It features 32 of the brightest full color LEDs available, and cutting edge visual effects designed by our electronic artists. It's easy to mount on the spokes of nearly any bike wheel - Road, City, Cruiser, Mountain and BMX bikes. The digital effects are instantly customizable - with on-board buttons you can choose the colors, patterns and mood to fit any situation.

LEDs can be customized to create images shown above. Check out their circuit board on their website here

night light

Every once in a while I spot a commuter biking through Prospect Park at night, with what I consider to be the brightest rear bike light in NYC. The light is made up of rings of ultra bright LED lights. It's so bright it looks like there is a car up ahead - how wonderful would it be if everyone had one of these.

air / luft

While in Stockholm last summer I stumbled upon these awesome city bicycle air pump stations...

found image

It turns out Copenhagen adopted them this past spring.
Bloomberg, please make Brooklyn be next.

summer sun

A cyclist's summer is a season of farmer tan lines - but perhaps there is room for innovation with our skin tight outfits...


Top: Dennis Oppenheim's performance "Reading Position for Second Degree Sunburn" from 1970 at Jones Beach, NY which required: a book, skin, solar energy, 5 hours of exposure.
Middle: body drawings via izismile
Bottom: (literally) via notcouture

handlebars + wood

Fast Boy Cycles makes these bent wood handlebars. Wondering if the change in temperature would make the wood expand and contract... guess it's just a matter of tightening regularly? While questioning the safety aspect, loving the style. They also makes some insanely beautiful custom bike frames, fenders, and racks.

Thanks, Alex.

bike rack furniture

Hello multi-functional bike racks.
French designer Jean Royère's (1902-1981) furniture which would lend itself so well to lock a bike to. I could see these being transformed into outdoor pieces in Union Square.

via Elle Decoration South Africa

rain + shine

While in Copenhagen last summer, the sight of cyclists in the rain with umbrellas was a novelty.

But how about THIS umbrella with 64 individual LEDs via Intructables Imagine, a car would be able to spot you from at least a mile away. Magical + safe.

And it's dimmer adjustable so you can set how bright you want to be - anywhere from dim ambient light for strolling in the dark to carrying your own portable supernova beacon of light

Top pic via Copenhagenc Cycle Chic

move by bike

a French-Canadian post in honor of Bastille Day...
I ♥ Canada (more than ever)

A lovely friend of mine from Montreal was recently in town and told me about a new moving company that moves all of your earthly possessions by bike for a mere $25/hour (Canadian). You can check out more photos of Transport Myette via their website in case you don't believe me.

the art of bike maintenance: rust remover

For the year-round bike commuter rust is an issue.

Years ago, when looking for the best rust remover out there, my husband got a tip from Rivendell Bicycle Works. As the story goes, Boeing originally developed Boeshield T-9 for the airline industry and fortunately for us it is available to the public (originally targeted for the marine market). Their "Rust Free" product works miracles and takes just seconds to penetrate and remove the worst rust - honestly. After my beater commuter bike had accumulated four seasons of being neglected outside it worked so well in seconds that I ran around the apartment removing every bit of rust everywhere. Fun!


You can buy directly from Boeshield.

We spray and wipe with steel wool - they recommend a Scotch-Brite pad. Okay, turning off the commercial talk...

happy Bastille Day to you...

tiny accessory

A messenger boy and bike the size of a few grains of rice! Handmade in Australia and available on Etsy.

Thanks, Scully.

the dandy horse reincarnation

My sister brought up the 'dandy horse' design - the 1818 invention by Baron Karl von Drais in Germany. This two wheeled "running machine" used for transportation on city streets had a very short life span partly due to the made to the frames needing to be made to measure according to the rider's height and stride. That said modern day versions (for kids) are as popular as ever...



These newer wooden versions above have been a personal favorite for years + they are made of wood. I have a feeling that kids learning to balance on two wheels at such an early age are going to be awesome on track bikes when they grow up!

The last picture is of the Wishbone Bike. Love that their version can be transformed into three configurations as kids grow up. Smart stuff.

safety chic: French style

Recently came across the French company DOYOUvelo? which makes appeal and accessories addressing safety and style. Using reflective material (REFLECT’LINE®), zipper linings and reversible options.

summer 08: Amsterdam

Last summer I had the great pleasure of spending time in the two most fabulous bike friendly cities: Copenhagen & Amsterdam

Amsterdam in all it's cycle glory...

some other store - no leaning allowed

embellishment - reminded me of Montreal

an attached air pump - as brilliant as that choice of orange

a commuter's friend - panniers...

in case of getting lost
(yes, a city map printed on the pannier covers)