dutch meets fold-up II

Last September I posted about Dahon's (inspired) Dutch style' fold-up bikes... but did a double take seeing Citizen's fold-up in a (very) similar style. It's Citizen's Barcelona - a 3 speed cruiser with a step-through frame & upright geometry on their site (on SALE this week at 1/2 the price) for $394, and if you are going for it, add on the basket.

My sister, who is in the market for a lighter and more practical commuter bike to add to her collection, is considering a Citizen... humm, I would go with the Barelona... in Ivory!

all photos via Citizen

CityRack lock up

With commuter cycling in NYC up 66% in the past two years, just as the city's parking meters are becoming a bike lock up option of the past, NYCDOT is slowly but surely installing more (and new) racks. A few days ago, across from Bespoke Bicycles in Fort Greene, I spotted the winner from NYC's 2008 CityRacks Design Competition... my very first (winning) CityRack lock up!
You might recall this international competition to design a new NYC bike rack coordinated by the NYCDOT in collaboration with the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Google, and Transportation Alternatives.

Ian Mahaffy and Maarten De Greeve (Bettlelab), based in Copenhagen, developed the winning design (above). It is undeniably sleek, simple, utilitarian - while the crossbar makes it easy to lock up a little Dahon. It was interesting to find this one adhered directly to a subway vent rather then drilled into the sidewalk... it seems to leave your bike a little vulnerable but might just be easier for the DOT to install.

BikeHacks reported that 1,250 of the racks are planned to be installed around town. DOT, please hurry.

Two top photos via NYCityRacks.Wordpress
Bottom photo by for the LOVE of bikes

Studio Forbes goes fold-up

Rob Forbes, founder of Design Within Reach, also loves Dahon fold ups!

Forbes is launching a new company, 'Public', next year which will presumably sell smart-simple-beautiful bike design. In the meantime you can sign up for their mailing list here. They are also already selling these Nutcase helmets...

Bike Style: A Bicycle Fashion Show... photos + videos

Last Saturday evening HUDSON URBAN BICYCLE (THE HUB), in the Village, hosted NYC's first cycling fashion show. It was well worth the hike through pouring rain to check out.

Scaffolding was built up above the ground floor to create a cat walk overhead complete with a ramp leading down to the stage + the two huge flood lights casted amazing shadows...

umbrella as prop

VIDEO>>> bike folding action

reflective sidewalls

saddle bag by Basil

getting carried away

slick backwards entrance

VIDEO>>> dance party finale

dutch meets fold-up

With their sloping low step-through frame and UpRide frame geometry, Dahon makes a couple bikes reminiscent of Dutch bike style - yet fold-up and are designed in the US. Oh, and this model includes a hub which generates electricity to front and rear bike light (no more batteries!) and the drag is 'barely noticeable'.

They were even voted Bike of the Year in 2006 in the Netherlands!

Aside from the Glide P8 and Ciao P8 pictured above, which retail for $870-$950, they make other models at lower price points. While a fan of small light weight frame bikes which have you pedaling in an upright position, I'm not sure why these have clear plastic chain guards. Likely due to the weight factor.