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?

Metal parts are stamped out and heat-treated, flat pieces of leather are soaked and then formed in molds and the parts are all assembled by hand. After seeing how much work goes into a single bike seat, these famously expensive saddles start to look cheap. [via Doobybrain via Wired]

The winner:  Shut Your Mouth – Fake Money feat. G. Nasty

One of my favorites: Pedal Away From Global Decay

Ghostbikes put out a hauntingly beautifully short, which will hopefully be online soon. In mean time, check out some of the other shorts:

Gear Up – Bike Safety

Pirates of the Broadway: Salmon

and of course the Empire Begins Trailer

Master-Piece, known for their high quality bags and luggage, has produced a new series of bike chain covers. As usual you can count on the brand’s quality and styling. The bike chain comes in a series of colorways and will be released soon. Via Warp via Highsnobiety.

Just before Christmas, 2009, a war broke out on the bike lanes of Williamsburg. On one side: the Hasidic Jewish community of the Southside, who had advocated–successfully–for Mayor Bloomberg to remove the Bedford Ave Bike lane.  On the other side: A coalition of bikesters, whose defiance led them to re-paint the bike lanes, and threaten a topless ride in protest (it was snowed out in the blizzard of ‘09). Moderating: Hasidic bike enthusiast Baruch Herzfeld.

Saturday January 30th: Haiti Benefit Race @ Tompkins Square Park followed by an after party w/goldsprints @ Bklyn Wrek Room – 940 Flushing Ave Brooklyn NY

Saturday January 30th: Transporation Alternatives Brooklyn Commitee hosts their monthly ride. Check the TA calendar for route and time closer to the date.

The Shake offers the ability to hear your ambient surroundings at the same time as your music and given that you’re presumably wearing a helmet for good reason, situational awareness in dangerous situations is an extraordinarily good idea, particularly at just US$120. [h/t @newamsterdamize via Gizmodo]

Sarah Wigglesworth Architects has been commissioned by developers igloo to create a bespoke Christmas tree for Bermondsey Square, London, SE1. The Bermondsey Square Christmas tree is composed of 35 recycled bike wheels, set on a simple structure, in the recognisable shape of a Christmas Tree. [via Architects Journal h/t @rachelleraehouse for the find!]

Recycle-A-Bicycle has been creating an arsenal of bike art from hand-crafted from bike parts by volunteers for a sale at the event.

Tickets to RAB’s benefit and 15 year birthday start at a $20 donation and include food and drink – not mention that you can meet your favorite cycling blogger, yours truly at the event! You can find the event on Facebook or online at www.recycleabicycle.org.

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!