paper clip-like rack

photos by for the LOVE of bikes

Recently came across these stainless steel Flo bike rack in TriBeCa - designed by Brian Kane for Landscape Form, Inc.

Serious Seersucker Fabulousness

DC does it again - The Seersucker Social on June 12th was yet another well documented chic cycling event coordinated by the Dandies and Quaintrelles. After meeting at the Meridian Hill park, riding through the city and Rock Creek Park, the post-ride social took place at the exquisite Hillwood Gardens in Van Ness next to Howard University. How brilliantly executed and beautifully attended - with two great videos to admire...

cover up

This apron by Blackbird gets me in the mood for a little bike maintenance! via NotCouture

rainbow road

via Still Dottie

A finalist for Design21's Power to the Pedal competition, Contrail brings all the colours of the rainbow to the road. Developed by Pepin Gelardi & Teresa Herrrmann - here is how they describe the concept...

As you ride, contrail leaves a faint chalk line behind your bike. The goal is to encourage a new cycle of biking participation by allowing the biking community to leave a unique mark on the road and to reclaim this crucial shared space.

The old cycle: More cars on the road → more perceived danger for bikers → fewer bikers on road → even more cars on the road.

The new cycle: A few bicyclists ride with contrail a couple times per week → faint lines on the road inspire curiosity and remind bikers where it's safe to ride → new bikers are encouraged to ride and use contrail → contrail lines get brighter as community grows.

cover up

Matthew w/ his day-glo helmet cover on one sunny day

While it's officially ♥ summer ♥ rain showers are still abound (the forecast is for hail in NYC today!) therefore I have practical rain covers on my mind - both bright and waterproof...

Deuter Rain Cover made of a fine-weave Taffeta-Nylon with a PU coating, the Deuter Rain Cover I is designed to fit day packs and smaller backpacks with up to a 2150 cubic inch capacity. Tape-sealed seams help to further ensure protection against precipitation.
+
Zap Helmet Cover by Sugoi made of two-ply laminate fabric with spandex stretch with 3M Scotchlite reflective detailing on front and back.

holy velodrome as runway

Thom Browne, the famed ankle length pant fashion designer, just put on one awesome Spring 2011 fashion show for Moncler at the ♥ Velodromo Vigorelli in Milan -- which the New York Times points out is...

where the Beatles played in 1965 and where concerts of the 1970s were routinely the scenes of riots over the injustice of paid ticketing: “I sometimes think that I should like/ To be the saddle of a bike.”

video via HipsterNascar

Even if they didn't make use of the track's banked corners - the show included nice traditional styled accessories with lots of two-way zippers, contrast binding, reflective detailing (some of which appears to be an overall pattern), bike-centric skinny ties + can't help but be partial to pink on men. Runway shots via GQ

DESIGNER BIKES: Kamdyn Moore & bike-friendly infrastructure

Bicycles are ubiquitous on college campuses - as is the case on Pratt Institutes' Brooklyn campus where students gravitate to being cost effective and self sufficient. As I was wrapping up my graduate thesis at Pratt (developing products for a growing community of urban cyclists) I crossed paths with Kamdyn Moore, a Urban Environmental Systems Management graduate student at Pratt.

Kamdyn Moore's own thesis culminated in the creation of Campus Area Biking (CAB) aimed to establish Pratt as a leader in the race to change the concept of alternative transportation on a local level. Kamdyn shares her thoughts with for the LOVE of bikes on developing bike-friendly infrastructure on a college campus, falling in love with a single speed in Italy, and biking through Utah...

What got you started on developing better biking systems for Pratt Institute?

There have been a few inspirations for my thesis project. My first day at Pratt, I saw a petition pinned to the wall by the elevator that read “Want more bike racks at Higgens Hall?” As a student commuting to campus by bike, I happily signed the petition. Higgens Hall is probably the building most frequented by cyclists and the bike storage there is horrible. A few weeks later, the petition was gone and I never heard anything more about it. I don’t know if anyone ever saw the petition, who it was delivered to (if it was even delivered), or even who wrote it. And it is no surprise that, Higgens Hall still lacks adequate bike storage.

In addition to the bike racks, there is a pretty large community of students and staff passionate about alternative transit modes, particularly biking, yet Pratt was doing nothing to bring these people together. If anything, I felt that the Institute was trying to pull them apart. There were rumors that administration wanted to close specific entrance gates to cyclists and possibly even ban bikes from being ridden on campus.

I saw no one advocating for the cyclists and felt the need to step up and do something about it. If anything, at least provide the opportunity—the space—for Pratt’s cycling community to come together and share ideas and projects and provide accessible information about the campus policies and other local resources.

What type of systems do you foresee Pratt Institute developing?

My goal has been to analyze how our existing conditions function (or don’t function) and, with the information I’ve gathered throughout my process, better understand how each thing—policy, bike rack, website, resource, campus administrator, student, etc. can be integrated in a much more comprehensive way that will not only improve the cycling experience but the whole campus experience. There has been a lot of push back from key administrators who I believe would rather there be no bikes allowed on campus at all. Fortunately, some progress has been made and I’ve received some really positive feedback from a few administrators that are much more focused on improving the campus community.

In the long term, I hope my project brings light to the fact that the Institute must take a much more holistic approach when working to improve the campus infrastructure as well as when developing policies. You can’t just plop down a bike rack or write a policy. Well, you can, that’s what has been done in the past however the root of the problem, whatever the problem may be, is never addressed.

What was the first bike you ever rode?

As a kid, the first bike I ever rode was, I think, a blue and pink Huffy I got it for my 7th birthday. No training wheels!

How has your interest evolved since then?

My brother and I biked to school together when I was in the third grade but I never thought much of it until I moved to Italy in 2003 and bought a single speed beauty for 20 Euro. I road it until the day I left. I fell in love with the view from the bike. My perspective of the city had completely changed. When I moved back to New York, I was living in the West Village and got a job on 21st St and 1st Ave. There was really no great way to get across town except to bike so -- I bought an old beater off of Craigslist.

What type of bike(s) do you currently commute on?

At the moment, I only have one bike--- a Trek road bike. I wanted something that I could use every day but, if I ever wanted to go on a long ride, I could use the same bike. Once I have a bit more storage space, I hope to get something a little more “chic”. I’ve fallen in love with the “cycle chic” style and feel the need to participate!

What has been your most memorable ride?

Utah was my first and biggest ride. One (slightly drunken) night I called my dad and asked him if he would bike across the US with me. After a (strong) coffee the next morning, I realized that this was a pretty ambitious idea for two people who were completely inexperienced with long distance cycling -- I didn’t even know what a “pannier” was. We whittled down our plans to “a long ride through a dramatic US landscape” and Utah seemed like a good place. I was able to convince my brother to join us on the ride and we hit the road. The scenery was incredible. To climb up a mountain road and then descend into a dessert plain. It was pretty breathtaking (those mountains are steep)! I would still like to bike across the US someday but for now, I’m sticking with riding through NYC. I think my favorite NYC ride was from the West Village up to Times Square. It wasn’t a long ride, but at 3am - pretty awesome.

In most American cities, including NYC, women make up less than half of bike commuters. Any ideas on ways to encourage more women to cycle?

For me, seeing other females advocating for cycling has really encouraged me to continue riding as well as advocating for better biking systems. I think women have an incredible ability to gauge whether or not something is safe – not to be too simplistic but, usually you can judge an area’s safety by how many women are populating the streets. Unfortunately, I think in most American cities, most women wouldn’t consider our city’s streets to be safe for cyclists. We’re working on it - especially in New York but, I think more women will ride more once they are confident that the routes are safe - or at least getting safer.

Parting words...

Ride safe and wear a helmet. I know I sound like an infomercial but, my dad works with people who’ve suffered from a brain injury and I’ve heard some pretty horrible stories. And lastly, keep advocating for your right to the road!

BFF Street Party - TOMORROW

sweet BFF New York 2010 trailer

NYC's Bicycle Film Festival is celebrating their 10th Anniversary this year with a packed schedule of events (June 16th-20th) +++ tomorrow their hosting a mega block party with events, performances, and LOTS of great vendors...

Saturday, May 19th
12 - 7pm
2nd Street, b/w 1st & 2nd Avenue

bike shorts replay

Last month's Bike Shorts screening on the soccer field at The Old Stone House in Park Slope, Brooklyn was one lovely evening with some great videos, nice weather, and friends. While Scrapertown by Drea Cooper & Zackary Canepari were (well deserving + mega crowd pleaser) the winners that night - I thoroughly enjoyed Streetfilm's Il Ciclista Dolce: Michael Musto and in particular Sara Kinney's Atavistic Urge -- which interviews local frame builders Seth Rosko and Johnny Coast at their Bushwick shop...

for commuting, randonneuring, and touring

Philly-based Laplander makes these classic style panniers. While similar to Brooks' Brick Lane Roll-Up Panniers, Laplander's (more affordable version) are handmade in Philly from sturdy 14 oz. cotton duck canvas fabric with nice attention to details (check out the fabric on the black version for the inside posket!)... for sale at their Etsy store!
Stumbled upon them in Whole Living magazine (formally 'body+soul') who were included in the featured article... 'How to Ride a (Grown-Up) Bike: to Work, with Kids, and More'

vintage tall bike love

This photo made my day - a 1950's bed frame-turned-bike frame!

via cyclelicio via Dinosaurs and Robots

greeNYC's darling

images above via HunterGatherer

GreeNYC is NYC's (the most populous city in the US) campaign for a greener city by reducing carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. If you are a New Yorker, you've likely seen this bird - the adorable greeNYC mascot! The ads, videos, and bird, were created by Brooklyn-based designer Tod St. John (a.k.a. HunterGatherer). Sooo when the DOT was recently handing these - highly reflective - stickers, I was in bliss...

I have the little bird peaking out from my street cruiser rear fender's reflector...

kinda-like jersey pockets

via LIMITEDHYPE

Nice rear pockets on Nike Sportwear's recent collaboration with Japan's Loopwheeler... reminiscent of those Nari/Furi sweatshirts I posted last Fall.

Brooklyn's Newest Addition: Rolling Orange

photo via Brownstoner

Brooklyn's newest bike shop Rolling Orange opens their doors TOMORROW(!)... Saturday, June 12th / 2-8pm with local food & music, bike rides, games, prizes and "some special guest speakers" at their 269 Baltic Street location near Court Street.

"Our mission is to introduce Dutch cargo and city bikes as a common part of the Brooklyn streetscape (and beyond). We are promoting a different urban life style; moving from ‘the fast lane into the slow lane’ with closer attention for what is going on in daily urban life. In addition to selling bikes and accessories, we start hosting several events – from movie-nights, to lectures to bike-related events – in this way we would like to become a valued asset to the local community."

That's right, a Brooklyn shop with cargo bikes in stock!!!

tote love - spring 2010

Posted about these ultra versatile waxed cotton canvas Chester Wallace bags a few months back - but hello spring 2010 colourways! Also making a version with softer waterproof silicone-treated cotton canvas and lovely plaid interior...

Oh, did I fail to mention they're designed to fit the conventional six-pack?!

hello, Globe's LIVE (via Australia)

Last fall, to help kick-off Globe's new line of 'Live' city friendly bicycles, a contest was held to give a few away to individuals who proved themselves deserving. Samatha Boswell (above), who lives in Sydney, Australia won herself a Live 2 with this darling video showing her daily commute and how it would change with a bicycle (make sure the volume is on!)...

Globe's Live 2 in Luna Grey

Globe's Live 2 Mixte in Terra Brown

These 'light utility bikes' (starting at $580 for the single speed version) have all the simplicity in design and practical details that make commuters happy... double leg kickstand, sweeping handlebars, chain guard, fenders, single speed or rear internal hub (no derailleur to keep clean!), and most wonderful of all -- the ultra practical built in front rack/basket w/wood ♥ bottom. Each model comes in a 'Mixte' version with more feminine style (and geometry). If you are on their site - you have to check out the 360° viewing of the bikes. How nice! I have yet to test ride - though Bicycle Habitat in NYC carries them!