Two in One: rack + mirror

Once you've gotten hooked to cycling for years, one bike is rarely enough to fit all your needs. James Breaux is a designer and recent business school grad who after getting into riding commuter, mountain and time trail bikes ran into this issue. Finding most freestanding racks on the market so industrial looking they belonged in a garage rather then living room, James designed this bent wood Modern Bicycle Rack to take care of displaying two bikes elegantly. The rack is slick enough to blend in with your furniture and includes a 40 inch mirror "making sure you look good before you go out for a ride".

Thanks for sharing, James!

the GAMOH King Carrier

This past summer (after eyeing Globe's Live bicycle) I felt the need for a front rack upgrade... and went for the GAMOH by Minoura.  Actually, we ended up with two of them (for two different bikes). Having used the GAMOH for a few months now here is a review and warning*:

FABULOUSNESS...
The rack is large (measuring at 18"x12.5"x4.25") and somewhat intimidating bumper - perfect for maneuvering NYC streets. The framing is super strong chromoly steel tubing with a powder coating that has yet to chip, dent, or show any wear. A good urban carry-all with a weight limit of 40lbs - while Ben's Cycles recommends no more then 25lbs. It is shallow enough so you can strap on all sorts of oddly shaped items. I had initially been looking for a large cargo rack which did not connect to the handlebars. The GAMOH's three point attachment (to the fork eyelets and fork crown/front breaks) makes for a nice and clean look. And how I adore the wood ♥ paneling (though since I most often lock up my commuter outdoors it didn't take long before I cleaned off the boards and applied a few new coats of Tung Oil). Though this really to be expected maintenance. And, indeed, that little cut out in the front is a bottle opener.

NOT SO FABULOUS...
This baby weighs in at 5+ lbs/2550 grams - which adds up when you commute on a steel beater though not a deal breaker for me in this instance. The biggest issues I have had is with the top mounting bracket* which connects to your front brake. Firstly, the rack comes with two steel brackets (which you are intended to just use the one which works for you) - well NEITHER were angled to accommodate the two bikes which meant the bracket had to be jury rigged and bent to fit:

via Rivendell

So all as good and dandy until riding down a decent hill - after using it for a month - I suddenly glanced down and watched my bags which were strapped to the rack move in front/away from me  ending up with them scrapping along the concrete ***THE BRACKET HAD BROKEN IN HALF*** yeah, pretty dangerous (could have actually been a catapulting situation). Naturally you could tell yourself "you totally just created that weak spot by bending it!"and while true the real issue is the quality of steel used for the bracket is just not adequate. Perhaps I was overloading - thought I do tend to use a bungee cord attached the frame and loop it around the stem - similar the Rivendell's advice:

via Rivendell

I recently spotted a fellow commuter with the same GAMOH and it turns out he had the same issue with neither bracket fitting and after trying a some self bending options went to a hardware store and bought and customized a totally new (stronger) steel connector. I knew I wasn't alone.

As mentioned above there ARE some great features with the rack but hope you find this post is helpful. And here's my carrier with bungee cords in FULL effect...

win a....

Cyloc Bicycle Storage by entering Apartment Therapy's holiday giveaway >>> details here. Entries close December 9, 2010 at 12:29pm ET. Depending on the space you live in (i.e. lots of wall space, columns, or space b/w windows like above) - this design may be an option for you. It come in a few colours -- and the black version is made of 100% recycled post-industrial plastic! Do like the little cubbyhole for lights, gloves, and such.

Oh, and speaking of indoor bike storage - I never posted about how great Knife & Saw's Bike Shelf is. I have a hard time resisting anything that combines my love for bikes and wood - and even though it has made its rounds on the internet I am posting these photos none the less... enjoy!

Thanks for the reminder, Mitch!

solitary and nocturnal

Having always been fond of the brilliant marketing tactic of incorporating animals on wine labels - just love this repurposed wine crate with an owl as it's mascot I spotted in Brooklyn . One sweet wooden crate.

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!

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)

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!

nice deck

More from Axiom... bent wood !!♥ front and rear racks with custom formed aluminum stays and wood deck with cutaway areas for bag hook access.

woodies

Like grabbing the handle of an axe or hammer... Rivendell Bicycle Works sells these ergonomic beauties. Stained dark brown / no two exactly alike / birch wood with anodized aluminum plugs and clamps / 4-7/8" long. If you are wondering how you would add them on - they simply slide on the your handle bar ends and tighten with the included screw fastener (though you should use an additional adhesive. Can be used with Nitto Albatross Aluminum Bars also via Rivendell.

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)...

a DJ's dream on wheels

Jonathan Igharas converted a utility tricycle from Beijing and created a slick mobile DJ unit...

Powered by a rechargeable marine battery and a power inverter, the Ant AV Tricycle is designed to house the essential audio/visual equipment to create sensory-filled social interventions and use public space as a play space.

Sliding rails allow for quick deployment and easy access to the platform contained within, making it possible to move from one location to the next without additional, repetitive setup. A side-access storage cabinet provides a space to store extra wires and other miscellaneous items.

It would be awesome to see it on the NYC streets during Design Week!

via NotCot

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).

wood, nature's carbon fiber

via IDSA Materials and Processes

Portland-based Renovo Hardwood Bicycles state this is the smoothest bike you'll ever ride...

As wood absorbs vibration better than steel, aluminum or carbon, producing a uniquely smooth ride... the fatigue life of wood exceeds steel or aluminum, and approaches carbon.Renovo uses CNC technology to create a wood frame composed of two hollow halves which are bonded together enabling the frames to weight from 3.5 to 4.5 pounds - complete bikes weight 16.5 to 20 pounds. Light + beautiful + smooth.

via Lee Valley / via Neatorama

So I could not help myself from including this bike by Marco Facciola, a 16-year-old high school student. made this working bicycle - entirely out of wood including the chain. You can check out the ratcheting system he designed here to "allow me to ride down a hill without having to pedal. If it was a direct-drive bicycle, I would have to pedal at all times." Sweet.

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

handle + wood II

Mahogany, maple and aluminum... nicely crafted custom handlebars made in Brooklyn by

Parlor Game