Brooklyn by Bike » Ideas We Love

Rapha Cycle Club + Tour de France + Rides

anita — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:36:37 +0000

Those of you in NYC may know that the Rapha Cycle Club pop-up shop recently opened on 325 Bowery. The space offers Third Rail coffee, cycling themed books and pricey, stylish cycling clothes. It is also a great space to sit and watch the Tour de France with its ample seating and multiple TVs. Add the indoor bike parking and it’s the perfect urban cycling oasis. It’s definitely worth checking out for the space. Don’t except a full line of products though. Selection is slim especially for the women’s line.

Rapha Cycle Club also organizes groups rides out over the G-W and along River Road every Wednesday at 8am.

Part retail store, part café, part gallery; Rapha Cycle Club will be a meeting place where cyclists can celebrate the glory and suffering of road racing.

[photo via NYT]

Bike Personalization Options Expand

anita — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:21:44 +0000

One might argue that custom bikes have long been around since the days of the hand-built bike but now with the accessibility of the web and the global marketplace were are starting to see the customized bike marketplace explode. A cheap price tag, flashy colors and an Urban Outfitters collaboration helped Republic Bikes take off. Now we are starting to see Jellybean Bikes and Bikes by Me.

Bike by Me is another step towards simplicity in the custom colored bike game. The brand launched earlier this month, with it’s home base in Sweden. Visit the Bike by Me site and see what you can come up with. [via Highsnobiety]

We know there is a whole slew more of these sites so feel free to post away in the comments.

Pop Up Bicycle Basket via MIO

anita — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:15:57 +0000

[Hey did you see we have new ride to Governors Island this Sunday at 1pm? Join us!]

I love the design of this bicycle basket – compact, colorful and functional. And at $75, it’s not a bad price point either.

The Pop-Up Bicycle Basket is designed to fit most bicycles, ship flat and be installed in either the front or rear of any bicycle. The baskets unique design and sturdy construction are fit for urban cycling and carrying purses, backpacks or shopping bags. [via MIO]

The Scraper Bike Movement

anita — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:45:18 +0000

Watching this video was definitely the highlight of my day. Scraper bikes, giving something to the kids in East Oakland where art meets bike. Oh an for those of you that don’t know a scraper bike is a

movement in which people ride their tricked out bikes. Generally, the bikes have nice designs, such as duo-tone paint jobs, and rims or spinners. The term was coined by the rap group Trunk Boiz of Oakland, California. (thx Urban Dictionary!)

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Can we get a Brooklyn chapter? Read more on NPR.

Bicycle Shirts from Dark Cycle

anita — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:11:04 +0000

I spotted these awesome t-shirts on my tumblr stream and had to show the Dark Cycle Etsy store some love. Check out the cycling themed t-shirts for yourself. The best part is they are only $18! [via Dark Cycle]

Activists Spraypaint Potholes with Onomatopoeia

anita — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:39:30 +0000

This week marked the first time many bike NYC folks hit the streets since winter. Our bit of good weather combined with Google Maps launch of bicycling directions has made for an exciting bicycle filled week. Add to it this little find of activists taking to the streets to mark potholes with onomatopoeia.

Toronto’s street artist and bike activist collective Urban Repair Squad, known for making radical interventions in on-street signage to promote cyclists’ safety, recently unveiled a project. Their Pothole Onomatopoeia series appeared on Toronto’s Harbord Street recently, pointing out irregularities in the pavement with arrows and old school-Batman-style words like “THUNK!,” “OUCH!” and “OOF!” stenciled onto the street with bright spray paint. [h/t @sheepdontswim via @L Magazine]

I personally hit a pothole pretty hard this morning, but luckily didn’t get a flat. Friends have not been so lucky. Apparently if you are motorist you can file a claim with the city should you hit a pothole, but what about the cyclists? Anyone know if there is something in place for us?

Bedford Bike Lane Reappears in Brooklyn!

anita — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:08:54 +0000

You might remember last year of a major dispute between the Hasidic community and bicycle community in Williamsburg regarding the Kent Ave bike lane. While that lane though redesigned stayed, last week the DOT stripped 14 blocks of bike lane off the street neighboring Bedford Ave with no warning or community voice. Bedford Ave bike lane provides a direct connection for cyclists to the the Williamsburg bridge – possibly the most highly trafficked bike commuter bridge in the city. The community is understandably upset considering how much work and community support must go into installing a bike lane. Apparently removing one requires no thought at all.

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Yesterday Gothamist reported that a few people were arrested by the Shomrim or local watchdogs for trying to repaint the lane on Bedford though other sources report no one was actually arrested. Regardless, a group called “OccupyEverything” succeeded in repainting the lane anyway!

History of Cycling in Brooklyn Art Installation

anita — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:39:53 +0000

Eric Corriel, a Brooklyn based artist has created an interactive video installation that explores the history of bicycle culture in Brooklyn from 1880 to today. The piece is viewable at sundown on Clinton and Pierrepont Street in Brooklyn Heights from now until January 3rd, 2010 but check the calendar to be sure.

He’s looking for photo and video submissions from the cycling community. Help him out and become a part of the installation! [via Brooklyn Cycling]

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Bike Culture Bits – Stussy x W-Base and An Ode to LA Bike Scene

anita — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:24:06 +0000

Stussy has collaborated with Japanese bike shop W-Base once again to make t-shirt and matching chain lock. [ More at Highsnobiety]

Jared Leto’s band 30 Seconds to Mars has released a music video with an ode to Los Angeles bike culture. [via Treehugger]

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Bicycle vs Helicopter at São Paulo Intermodal Challenge

anita — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:19:26 +0000

São Paulo has been drowning in a sea of automobiles (6 million and counting). This car-centric urban transport model is showing signs of exhaustion. The average São Paulo inhabitant spends almost three hours a day stuck in traffic jams. That’s about 15 hours a week – or almost 2 working days.

Enter, São Paulo Intermodal Challenge. “The challenge: to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible – during rush hour – using the mode of transportation of your choice.” [via PSFK]

And guess who wins?

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What a fantastic way to bring bicycles into the mix as a potential solution for São Paulo’s transportation issues!