simply surreal

via NotCot via SporkProject

How timely to have come across these illustrations... having just recently seen the Dead or Alive exhibition at the MAD. And what inspiration for a cycling helmet for an All Hallow's Eve ride...

stella glows in the dark

Last fall I posted about the amazing longevity of litoenergy -- and what a great application of similar material in Stella McCartney's new Glow in the Dark athletic apparel for her Fall/Winter 2010 Adidas collection. Would love to see more crossover with her current cycling line...

roll up a seat

Another recent Governor's Island find... "barrow-benches”. A great mashup of a wheelbarrow + bench! [Naturally I immediately imagined hooking this up to my bike!] These lovely benches are ready to roll at Picnic Point on Governors Island...
and if you arrive on the island sans bicycle and want a seat on wheels of your very own... your in luck! Rolling Orange has recently made available their Fietsfabriek Cargobikes for rent (via Bike and Roll and at the same rate as tandems) for your visit. Indeed, the cargo box can easily accommodate a kid or two!

summer essential on wheels

Blue Marble Brooklyn, the eco friendly ice cream company + Governors Island's exclusive ice cream vendor, has an adorable fleet of 5 ice cream tricycles! The bikes are built in neighboring Queens by Worksman Cycles and outfitted to keep their organic grass-fed dairy frozen. So sweet!

symphony of safety

wooden bike bell by Incredibell - the Woodpecker comes in Padauk and Japanese Cherry
(each wood producing a slightly different ring)

Adjustabell by Incredibell
which comes in handy for a track or road bike with large diameter handlebars
(and so easy to remove)
Illuminator by Incredibell - a bell + LED light
while I really love the idea of the two essentials combined,
the design would benefit from more then just one LED

Dutch brand Fietsfabriek's Klaxon Bike Bell - also in green and black
available at Rolling Orange in Brooklyn

the classic looking Hammer Strike Crane Bell from Rivendell - in Brass or in Silver Alloy
(which, as they point out, rings a slightly higher tone because it's aluminum)
PUBLIC's bright Federico Red Brass Bell

and for the sweet tooth - a petit gâteaux
hand painted bicycle bell from Montreal-based dringdring

Since a friend was recently looking for a bicycle bell - thought I'd share a little round up of a few I admire. If you are looking to buy an Incredibell or Crane bell, Adeline Adeline carries a good assortment online and in their NYC shop!

Also could not resist doing a post on bells and not including these two great videos - from Amsterdam demonstrating diversity...

and the incredible power of the bicycle bell...

Have a bicycle bell that you love? Do share...

rapha on the bowery - allez allez

in store bike racks representing the heights of major climbs in the Tour de France

Speaking of Rapha... these days you can make a pit stop to pick up their high-quality well-tailored cycle clothing/accessories at NYC's very own Rapha Cycle Club on Bowery. The shop/cafe is also host to live daily Tour de France screenings. One Tour appropriate purchase: The Rapha Touralet Jersey...

The Rapha Tourmalet Jersey is a special edition cycling jersey to commemorate the centenary of one of the key moments in cycling history. On 21st July 1910, Stage 10 of the Tour traveled over the Col du Tourmalet, the highest mountain in the Pyrenees, for the first time.

It was Alphonse Steines, assistant to Tour founder Henri Desgrange, who first suggested the Tour take on the Giant of the Pyrenees, a climb which features on this year's Etape du Tour. In January 1910, Steines had undertaken a reconnaissance of the mountain. When snow stopped his car four kilometres short of the summit, he continued on foot, eventually being rescued by a search party at three in the morning. The telegram Steines sent to Desgrange contained the now immortal line that the Tourmalet was, in his opinion, "Perfectly Acceptable".

shop photos via PSFK

signature stripes II

How wonderful Paul Smith collaborations are... previously with Japanese bicycle saddle makers, Kashimax, and (above) with Rapha.

soft(er) impact

As my love for cork and vintage designs runs deep, this helmet concept by French designer Kévin Goupil caught my attention... while the form is based on an old steel French army helmet, the material of choice gives the helmet a gentler (soft to the touch) side.

+ if you looking to incorporate the shock-adsorbing and ecological aspects of cork on your bike, here are some options

via NotCot / via Stilsucht (in German, but translated here)

o canada

So pleased to see the comeback of the classic rucksack! Herschel Supply Co. based in Vancouver, Canada, have some nice & simple options for carrying your goods... read about about the company's roots and check out what's in stock. I'm eying their Zippo bag which includes their signature ‘Tear Away’ removable waist straps (detail below) - smart stuff!

be one in a million

Nice ad campaign by peopleforbikes.org - a non-profit dedicated to channeling that passion to improve the future of bicycling in the USofA. Their goal is to gather a million names of support, to speak with one, powerful voice—to make bicycling safer, more convenient and appealing for everyone. Check out their list of bike friendly resources + sign the pledge today!

for the love of josef frank

Back online + just in time - along with Google - to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Josef Frank's birth! I could not help but share my love of the designer and architect who played such an influential role in defining Swedish modernism. Between the years of 1909 and 1950 he created over 200 patterns using bold colours, impeccable craftsmanship, with nature and organic forms as inspiration making the prints timeless and ever so popular. I also adore his view on interior design... “The Happy Chances Philosophy” which he wrote in 1958...

“There’s nothing wrong with mixing old and new, with combining different furniture styles, colours and patterns. Anything that is in your taste will automatically fuse to form an entire relaxing environment. A home does not need to be planned down to the smallest detail or contrived; it should be an amalgamation of the things that the owner loves and feels at home with."

Svenskt Tenn, the Swedish company that began to produce his designs in 1934 and continues to today, created this behind the scenes video...