12 February 2009

Washington Report: Bicycles of the Capitol

The most striking thing about bicycles in the Capitol is that there really is something for everyone, the bicycles don't fall into one tribe. I found the diversity refreshing.

From the fixed gear in Dupont Circle:
singlespeed handlebars bike bicycleThe symphony in blue and purple on the National Mall:

blue purple commuter bikeA hybrid with a seat shaped like a cow near the Embassies:

bicycle cruiser hybrid cow seatA luscious purple cruiser in Georgetown:

purple cruiser lilac bike bicycleTricycle parking in Georgetown:

tricycle parking Georgetown
and and unrelated Mama Chariot in Georgetown:

mama chariot bike bicycle childseatA basket bike in Dupont Circle:

basket cargo bike bicycle hauling workingRaleigh 3 speed in Dupont Circle (with a nicely attached modern tail light):

Raleigh three-speed 3 speed bike bicycleA pennyfarthing at the Smithsonian:

pennyfarthing antique bicycle bike SmithsonianAnd my favorite, a singlespeed designed and manufactured by the Wright Brothers, which helped to finance their dabblings in aviation.

Wright Brothers singlespeed bike bicycle Smithsonian

11 comments:

  1. F.W. AdamsFebruary 12, 2009 at 10:35 PM

    Very cool, though I didn't see any road bikes or mountain bikes! ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2009 at 10:36 PM

    What a cool collection of bikes. That basket bike is awesome. A kickstand for the basket!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ECSFebruary 13, 2009 at 5:16 AM

    a wonderful tour of DC through your eyes :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. CharlotteFebruary 13, 2009 at 9:48 AM

    Genghis, you're right! I was intentionally trying to focus on transportation bicycles (not sport) and I also stayed away from stock hybrids. I was looking for bikes that people had put some thought into.

    Stay tuned later for Lady Cyclists of Washington and Gentleman Cyclists of Washington - there will be mountain bikes and road bikes in those photos...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cully_JFebruary 13, 2009 at 10:36 AM

    Great pictures. I really like bikes with permanent fenders. So Stylish!!!

    Do you ever seen trikes in D.C.?

    ReplyDelete
  6. SamuelFebruary 13, 2009 at 12:52 PM

    I too love the SS Wright brothers bicycles at the museum. They are a little longer in wheel base than I had imagined.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2009 at 3:32 PM

    The road bikes are all stored in people's apartments.

    I left my bike overnight near dupont circle recently and somebody stole the plastic thing that connects my headlight to the frame! I still have the headlight but now it is useless.

    ReplyDelete
  8. F.W. AdamsFebruary 13, 2009 at 3:36 PM

    Staying tuned... ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  9. CharlotteFebruary 13, 2009 at 4:13 PM

    avocado, I did see a lot of lights left in the street in Washington. Some made it into my photos (3-speed in Dupont Circle).

    This would NEVER happen Boston. You'd lose the light and the little plastic thing!

    Sorry to hear about your light.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousMarch 4, 2009 at 11:08 AM

    Avocado - if you have a Planet Bike light, you can buy the mount directly from them:
    http://planetbike.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousMarch 4, 2009 at 11:10 AM

    Does anyone know what that metal bracket on the Pashley deli (basket) bike is for?

    ReplyDelete