Brooklyn by Bike

This bike light design makes so much sense. I’m shocked they haven’t already appeared in bike shops.

Taiwan designer Hsieh Jung-Ya and his firm, Duck Image, won kudos from European design comps, like Red Dot, for his concept of a wind-powered bike light. A mini turbine is mounted on the handlebars and uses the bikes momentum to drive the blades. These in turn power a 1700 lux LED light. Unlike the problem with many hubs that stop working when the rider stops, this gizmo comes with a rechargeable lithium battery for constant light. [via Treehugger]

[Hey, did you see we have a ride this Sat @ 11am? Join us!]

The folks over at Ride Project out of Prague blog about good stuff like fixed gear, design and urban culture. They’ve complied a few different bike centric fonts including Biketype by Emma Webb (below), which we love.

For more font love including bike chain font, check out Bike Project.

Adidas is introducing Zeitfrei, its first line of cycling inspired shoes. Though the shoes are primarily designed for fixed gear riders, we think it’s a step in the right direction…especially for those not into wearing clip shoes around town.

Perforated uppers give ventilation and subtle reflective accents surround the shoes’ base and highlight the embossed heel logo. To prevent laces from getting stuck in the gears, Zeitfreis provide a neoprene pocket marked with each brand’s logo. A stiffer outsole and treaded forefoot ensure improved pedal feel and grip, while retaining enough comfort for wear during those non-cycling moments. [via Coolhunting]

Buy them on Hypebeast for $198 “with the addition of a cycling cap, Cordura messenger bag and carry-all sling bag.” Sorry ladies, unless you are willing to slip on a pair of these boys shoes, you are out of luck.

Every so often a design concept comes along that makes you gawk in envy. The IFMODE folding bike is one of these concepts. Designed by Mark Sanders, the man behind Strida, a reinvented folding bike, the IFMODE might possibly be the folding bike that has thought of everything.

The IFMODE just has single arms supporting the front and back wheels; these are on opposite sides so that the bike can fold together into one slim package. And when folded up, there’s a handle so that you can roll the bike along rather than lugging it, as you usually do with conventional folding bikes. It even fits in a suitcase, and has a rubber, greaseless chain that won’t muck up your work pants. [via Fast Company]

Preorders are available now for $2,579. We didn’t say it was cheap.

Fast Boy Cycles is one of my favorite shops. Ok, it might because of their use of wooden handle bars and the pit bull photo on their website but that’s totally legit, right? If you love their bikes as much as I do and unlike myself have the money to order one, hop to it if you want one by summertime.

Ezra the man behind the shop is in a “bit of a fight with cancer” (his words) and says he can take maybe 3-4 more orders if you want a bike by summertime. He sent the mailing list out this note today:

First! I’ve been in business as Fast Boy Cycles for almost exactly a year now, and it has been a great success. Thank you all. I’ve built and sold about 20 bikes this year, and each has been my new favorite. This coming year promises to be even more productive.

Next. Many of you are aware from my flickr page and blog, that I am currently in a bit of a fight with cancer. However! in the words of the great Mark Twain, “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” I am currently undergoing a regimen of post surgical chemotherapy which knocks me out for about a week out of every two. During the good weeks, I AM working. Some of my friends have pointed out that this makes my level of productivity much more like everyone else’s. Fair enough, I guess. All this to say that Fast Boy Cycles is alive and well, and taking orders. While I still have a handful of bikes in the queue, now would be a good time to order if you want to be riding a Fast Boy by summer time. (I can probably only guarantee that for the next 3 or 4 orders.

We wish you well, Ezra.

[via Fast Boy Cycles]

Brooklyn By Bike has some big changes coming in the next few weeks – namely more writers (we hope soon) and a new design! More on all of that soon.

In the meantime I present to you possibly the best designed bike site out there, Hufnagel Cycles. Straight out of where else but Portland, OR and run by guy named Jordan Hufnagel, we feel in love with his clean and simple website.

Our favorite designs include Tessa’s 650 Single Speeder and Chris’ Blue Baby. We can’t direct link to the posts so maybe its not the most perfect site, but it’s still pretty to look at. I encourage you to peruse the site or check out more of their designs via Fickr.

[via Hufnagel Cycles]

We couldn’t be in DC but the fanfare was felt around the world as President Obama (we get to call him that now!) delivered his inaugural address.

Here is a beautiful shot by Jesse Chan-Norris of the DC bike valet. Can we say success!? Thanks to all the valet volunteers out there. You are appreciated. Check out WABA’s Flickr stream for more action.

Those of use who stayed in NYC were lucky enough to have our own bike parade courtesy of Times UP. We’ll get those photos up as soon as we spot them.

We would have killed to see someone rocking this art piece, but it was just on display at Manifest the Hope as far as we know.

[via joellet on Flickr]

With all this new found hope, we can only hope to see Obama rockin his bike and some bike friendly policies more often – to you Mr. President.

[via Copenhagen Cycle Chic]

[via HuffPost]

We know you are cheap. Let’s face it. You probably commute on a bicycle to save money. Yeah but we know how much your bike costs. We also know there are others things you will spend a lot of money on like messenger bags. We agree that this an item where you actually get what you pay for.  So, here it is – a list of bags that don’t suck. Be prepared to shell out the dough. It will be well worth it.

Timbuk2 Ride On – $135

Timbuk2 teams up with Howies a UK based clothing company to make this eco friendly organic cotton and water based solution dye bag [via Timbuk2]

Timbuk2 Artist Series – Pubs (for sale?)

It was too good to leave out but looks like it was a part of their 07 collection.

Ok so you can’t get these either.

The idea is to design your own bag and get them custom made by Crumpler.

Classic Chrome Messengers - $100-180

With a lifetime guarantee, it’s worth the price. [via Chrome]

Freitag – $367

In case you are loaded but hey they are made from recycled materials – used truck tarps, used car seat belts, used air bags and used bicycle inner tubes.  [via Freitag]

Oh and if you are actually cheap, you can always make a messenger bag out of trash.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB1mE8e35UY]