neutral tones

Bicycle and frame bag by RETROVELO - a small manufacturer based in Leipzig, Germany.

Modified the format and usability for everyday use, their frame bags are inspired by this Swiss military design...

Swiss wool

Came across this photo of a cyclist in Antwerp posted on Cycle Chic Belgium... and was immediately drawn to the reappropriation of a classic - the (beloved) Swiss Army wool blanket.

Designed by Jan-Marc Stührmann, this bag is part of a line using recycled Swiss Army blankets and canvas sails. While lovely, what's even more interesting is that the bags are assembled by female prison inmates in Vechta, Germany!

Beauty and the Bike - the (short) documentary

Beauty and the Bike is a cultural urban travel project that looks at one such mobility culture – that of the teenage girl and young woman... Our project is founded on the fact that girls in cycling friendly countries continue to cycle into adulthood, whilst in other countries - like the UK - they tend to give up during the teenage years. Why?

Everyone should watch this!

via Copenhagen Cycle Chic

description via BikeBeauty.org

pimp my fahr rad

Years ago, visiting Austria, I caught some episodes of the short lived ‘Pimp My Fahr Rad’. Similar in set up to the popular 'Pimp My Ride' but in German, and yes, with bikes. Each episode had a new 'client' that would bring in their bike to have it match their lifestyle. The bike store crew would then outfit the bike with customized parts like this dj's bike outfitted with turntables...



Some of what they tackled was ridiculous, like when they 'pimped' a hair dressers' bike with mirrors and hair spray contains all other the place. That aside, it was pretty to cool to watch an entire MTV show dedicated to bicycles. While they did come up with some wild possibilities for two wheels, they never seemed to concerned with the adding weigh to a bike!?!