got milk

BASIL Memories-Bottle Basket incorporates the silhouette of a milk bottle into the wire frame. Thanks évoluer. Looks like it would be pretty easy to come up with some practical uses for them - like wrapping your long purse straps.
On the subject of milk bottles... did you know the first factory that produced milk bottles were manufactured by the New York Dairy Company? The first patents for a milk container (the " Lester Milk Jar") were patented on January 29, 1878 by George Lester of Brooklyn, New York. Most people consider this the first glass jar specifically designed to hold milk. It had a lid that was held in place by a yoke that engaged the base of the jar and a screw that pushed down on the lid. via Diary Antiques

And check out this wire basket - with a lid! I could see myself locking up my bike, throwing in my helmet and using a little pad lock on the basket. The design would be even better if the lid opened the other way - facing the cyclist - for easy access while stopped at a red light.

early twentieth century throwbacks

Bowery Lane Bicycles are quite spiffy with their American steel frames handmade in NYC (forged in a factory that derives 30% of its power from solar panels), dual-spring saddles, cork grips, and handcrafted wood crates "perfectly sized for two six packs, shopping bag, or 25 LPs - up to 40lbs". Also note worthy... Bowery Lane Bicycles' factory is located within New York City limits, which means employees can commute via bicycle or public transport. As I am not a fan of coaster brakes -- here's hoping they'll expand their line?!

Those wooden crates reminded of a man (in a suit) I spotted last week riding over the Manhattan Bridge on a vintage cruiser frame equip with a vintage Pepsi wooden crate attached to the rear rack -- much like the above. While I adore wood accessories, Wald's 139-WW Font Basket is a nice (and lighter) compromise made from Ohio White Oak with nice/practical proportions (13" long, 18" wide, 6" deep)...

hello cheerful

Basil's wire bike baskets (and front racks) are available in some unexpected colours!

oh joy's nutty professor

Another impeccable ensemble by oh joy! - this time for the guys.

You can read up on the featured Velorbis' Student Classic - the two-wheeled, utilitarian bicycle, with mudguards or fenders, a rear carrier or rack, relaxed loop frame or geometry, an upright seating position and generally an ‘old-time’ look reminiscent of the early 20th century, enclosed the gears, either freewheel/drum brake hubs which are popular worldwide, or coaster brakes/pedal brake hubs, lugged and brazed hand built frames from the highest quality Chromoly steel - [here]

While I love the leather satchel - Velorbis' also offers their retro/practical powder coated steel front carrier and wood carrier crate...

pannier love

for the LOVE of bikes' reader, Pamela, shared her practical (and adorable) Electra wicker panniers -- which she customized by adding the red pom pom fringe! To switch it up, she also uses her Basil BLOSSOM TWIG panniers...

tire Fyxation

via Flickr

Fyxation's Session 700's

Dual Compound Session 700's

Love that the days of limited colour tire selections are over.

Milwaukee-based Fyxation's super bright street ready Session 700's have been around since last year... (700×28c, Foldable, 120 TPI, Kevlar Rolling Protection, Pinch-flat protection, Full tread pattern bead to bead, Full diamond pattern bead to bead, in Black, White ♥, Orange, Green, or Pink) but get ready for their tougher Dual Compound version recently released!

+ Fyxation's bicycle tires 101 guide might be helpful if you need to get better acquainted with what you should be looking for in a bike tire

a hint of vintage

Crafted out of vintage upholstery & vinyl material, Denver-based Beatrice Holiday - Wheel Cute Couture makes these handlebar bags, basket liners and seat covers! Available through their Esty Shop. via Design*Sponge

Reminded me of this bike I photographed in Maine last summer... 

fully reflective

A saddle bag constructed entirely of reflective material by CycleAware. The only drawback is that it attaches threw the saddle rails and not to the seat post.

Available via Team Estrogen

for the love of bikes: expandable bike basket

And my final industrial design graduate thesis project from the collection...

Aside from the geek factor and helmet hair, helmets save lives. With urban cycling on the rise, more and more diverse and sophisticated helmets are entering the market - so you really don't have much of an excuse anymore! But when wearing a helmet, a common issue surfaces: what to do with it once you arrive at Point B? Commonly helmets end up in awkward places: attached to the outside of a bag and left dangling, locked to the bike through a vent hole, etc. resulting in them getting scratched, damaged and dissuade some people from wearing one.

This bike basket/bag system allows you to - when need be - pop open the front portion to reveal an extra compartment to store a helmet along with your essentials. Different interchangeable weatherproof bags can snap into a lightweight bent wood frame. The high contrast interior lining and internal pockets keep belongings in place and organized. Two large pockets in the rear of the bag keep your lock and phone in sight + within reach.

cyclist Sara Dierck + outdoor photos by Steph Mantis
www.vanessamarierobinson.com

Bright Bike V2.0

Retroflective adhesive vinyl is a wonderful thing.

Fortunately Michael Mandiberg, artist, programmer, designer, educator, bicyclist, and creator of Bright Bike - recently released DIY Kits made available online [here]

The kits come in two types: Caterpillar and Pinstripes.

The Caterpillar has 1 inch bands that wrap around the main tubes, and in inch dashed lines along the fork and seat stays. The Pinstripe has 1/4 inch strips that run along the outside faces of all tubes.

Each kit is sized to be large enough for a 61cm frame with extra wide tubing, so in nearly every case, you will have extra materials that will give you room to play and experiment.

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...

light + pump

Two city cycling essentials in one. It's funny to see this bike light/pump since JUST YESTERDAY a friend of mine got a flat tire going over the Manhattan Bridge RIGHT AFTER we were discussing how important it is to carry a pump (particularly since we both often ride home alone late at night). The PUYL is "the first permanent illuminating bicycle light which does not need a battery" since it uses electromagnetic induction. The light’s battery gets charged when pumping -- ensuring a long life cycle! Here's hoping that this gets out on the market soon...

Via Core77

Oh Joy! gets into the spirit

From Yakka helmets (♥) to Virginia Johnson (♥♥) scarves... Oh Joy!, the blog with consistently beautiful + inspirational fashion/design/style collages (as above), was all about cycle chic-ness yesterday!!!

wire basket goodness

The Hoxton Wire Basket by Brooks - an elegant addition which includes a wood base and a leather grip (made of leather washers cut from their saddle production).

colour coding

via aesthetics of joy

While you wouldn't want to use these happy looking Best Made Co. axes on your bike - these PB Swiss Tools allen keys would be fun.

for the love of cork

Cork Oak / illustration of the Quercus suber / cork harvesting

Cork comes from the cork tree (Quercus suber), a species of oak that grows in Spain and Portugal, which naturally grows to form 14-sided cells in the bark. The harvesting process involves carefully removing strips (it's in their best interest to keep the tree healthy), drying the strips for 6 months, boiling them for 90 minutes, and then again drying for three weeks. Once the trees are about 25 years old the cork is stripped from the trunks every nine years and trees can live up to 170 years.

The sustainability of production and the easy recycling of cork products and by-products are two of its most distinctive aspects... even though only 40% of this final cut ends up being usable.

Back to bikes... Rivendell Bicycle Works sells Miesha's Portuguese Tree Cork Grips which fits onto any 22.2mm bar. In typical Rivendell style, you can read about the history/evolution of these grips on their site. (They recommend using shellac to seal and weatherproof which does appear to make them orangey yellow.)

And for your road bike, Rivendell offeres "Cork" Handlebar tape "look alike cork tape that looks very much like real natural cork, but isn't"

If you can't get enough of cork's shock absorption properties as well buoyancy - if ever lost at sea - Griffin makes this cork protective case for your iPhone...

Cork history from here and here