Peter Fong's (before + after) bike

 

Custom paint jobs can be difficult to pull off as a DIY project, but Peter Fong's bike is exquisite. Rather then going the $100++ route to get a custom powder coat paint job on his bike, Peter (an Australian Illustrator) took matters into his own hands and revamped an eBay purchase. Disassembled the bike, sanded the frame and fork down to the metal, applied spray can primer, a lovely green paint (which goes great with the leather accents), hand painted characters -- including those awesome owls using black acrylic, and added a clear coat to seal. I asked Peter how the paint job was holding up after a month...

It's held up pretty well so far. There are a few chips on the fork where it leans against poles when I park it but I think that's from me not spraying enough clear coat over it. I was more worried about the the other parts of the frame I think I neglected the fork haha.

You can check out more of Peter's illustrations + projects {here}

Trent Jansen Studio's Cycle Sign

Sign Stool 450

Spotted on the pages of ♥ VOGUE LIVING Australia ♥... Sydney-based Trent Jansen is uber resourceful.  He has been salvaging the scraps from the making of his Sign Stool 450 (made from used road signs) and is creating two styles of bicycle reflectors: Cycle Sign: Spoke Clamp and Cycle Sign: Strap. Both of which are available at Cycle Style.

Liking the idea of bringing a material off the streets / into the home / and then back on the streets!

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!

the essentials... tote

Handmade by Emma, a costume designer in Melbourne, Australia via Makool Loves You.

masking with 'bio-accessories'

like when riding behind a truck or along the Queensboro Bridge...

Bio-accessories is a series of wearable couture pieces which mask the unpleasant sights, sounds and scents of the city in an attempt to bring some of the natural world back into civil living. As a concept, Bio-accessories comments on the political responsibility we have to green our cities and suggests a personal rather than municipal approach to environmentalism. This personal connection with each piece, and its living organism, creates an ecological interaction with the wearer, a symbiotic relationship.

By Ben Landau and Brittany Veitch based in Melbourne, Australia via Coroflot

a cyclist's view from halfway across the world

... in Melbourne, Australia on Merri Creek where cyclists must dismount to go up a flight of stairs.

Thanks, Zoë!

tiny accessory

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

Thanks, Scully.