Independent Fabrications City Bike

Spotted sometimes on Newbury Street, this bike always makes my husband stop for a second look. Those green and yellow rims are even the Indy Fab colors.

One thing that's made clear by this rusting steel washer and nut next to a pristine seat stay - a titanium frame makes some sense for an all-season bike like this one. Expensive for all of us who don't work at IndyFab, but certainly practical in Boston!

Stylish Safe Simplicity

After I posted South End Simplicity, a reader submitted a beautiful bike that is clearly a friend to that one, also with cloth-taped handlebars, but this one features a brake lever (and brake!):


I love the cloth tape on my handlebars. The natural feel in my hand is particularly nice for a city commuter on which I do not generally wear gloves (weather permitting). With my inverse levers I never had to wrap around a brake lever, however this bike looks great! I particularly like how the curve of the cable housing is integrated with that of the handlebar. It all looks so graceful.


The final classy touch is, of course, the wooden end caps. They make me think of a wine bottle stopper, or a child's toy, both much nicer than the plastic-y things that come in the box with handlebar tape. C - did you make these? Is there any place a person can buy a set?



A beautiful, simple, bike.

South End Simplicity

This is perhaps the most elegant stripped-down beautiful basic bike I've seen. While I personally like my bikes with brakes, this isn't my bike, and the aesthetic is just wonderful from the cream tires to the black frame to the custom leather accents.


This custom leather-accented U-lock is perfectly matched to the saddle.


My husband thinks the saddle came this way, I think that the owner carved off the skirt his/herself. The hammered rivets look lovely on this bike.


The inherent classiness of this bike is eye-catching from behind...


... and from the front.


Bravo to the person who put this bike together, it's beautiful!

Singlespeed Basket Bike

Spotted in Cambridge, this bike was notable for having what appear to be Pier 1 Imports-style baskets front and rear, but perfectly sized to fit correctly on those respective racks. It makes for an elegant and proportional look.


The headlight is mounted to the rack under the front basket.

The rear basket is larger and the rear wheel accented with an array of spoke cards. I'm not sure I've seen quite this much spoke accessorizing in general, I find it fun on this bike.

I like it!

Single Rose

Spotted parked in the South End, you know I smiled when I saw this racy-looking chromed red singlespeed, with a rose on the handlebars.

I imagine the person who rides this bike - probably someone who is usually a speedster, but was given this rose-ring by someone dear to them and so s/he abandoned the minimalist aesthetic to keep it close, there on the handlebars.

Or maybe it's a conscious reminder to 'stop and smell the flowers'?

Whatever the story, I love flowers on bikes in general, and the dichotomy of this mental image in particular.

Blue Pinstriped Bike

This blue singlespeed with the enormous basket and matching rack was cute enough to get me to cross the street to check it out, but it was the blue pinstripe on the fenders that really won my heart. Small detail with a big impact.

Christmas Singlespeed

Spotted on Newbury Street, this subtle but festive bike made me smile:

International City Bike

You all know that I'm a fan of the Raleigh International, particularly that model's chromed lugs. I was interested to see this copper International, all dressed up in city components. It certainly makes a lovely singlespeed, and the bridgepiece for the rear brake is effective in protecting this bike's tail light. It has the original cranks and pedals, and I believe the rear brake was put on the front because the brake pads were jammed all the way up in the slot, yet you can see that the clearance of the wheel looks like mine after I'd changed from 27" to 700c wheels.

The bike is a looker, and if my experience is any indication, it will attract the attention of old men everywhere, internationally. It's fun to strike up a conversation with them, I'm not sure if they miss their old bikes or their old youth, but they're every one of them nostalgic. Aren't bikes fun?

Long Shadow in green

Skinny jeans and ballet flats go well with the singlespeed aesthetic.

Simple City Bike

I just liked the clean lines of this bike, it's clearly a useful bike. I was especially amused by the plastic bag tucked in the Brooks saddle. Yep, I've got one of those too (though mine's in the bike bag).

Philosophical Question: If you were walking down the street in a sudden downpour, would you use that plastic bag to cover this stranger's saddle?

Inspiring Story on CNN

My friend M shared this CNN story, about 84-year-old nurse Lan Yin Tsai who rides a singlespeed 150 miles for MS research. To top that, she does the ride in a dress and heels.

I'm beyond impressed. I think I'm humbled.

Accessorize!

Since returning from my vacation I've noticed more and more bikes decked out with accessories. Take this bike, for instance, which appears to be wearing its own scarf:



This bike has a head tube wrapped in ferns:


The chainstays are sporting their own teddy bear (or perhaps that's a little dog?):


And for those who just don't do fake flowers, this bike on Newbury Street has flower pots and real flowers:

Wooden Beads and Feathers

I knew they were fashionable this summer but I never would have thought to add them to my bike. It looks cool though, and very personal.

New Season, New Flower

I saw this bike again, now with a new flower (and fender). Happy springtime riding!

Singlespeed Cargo Bike

Here's a bike I've been seeing for the last few months, up and down Cambridge Street. I've been holding out on posting it, hoping that I will happen to catch a glimpse of it being ridden. No such luck.


How odd it must be to steer with that rubber-wrapped bar! I notice that there are no brakes, so it must be fixed-gear. (Updated: Ooops, I was wrong - it has a coaster brake, thank heavens!)


Here it is in January, still on Cambridge Street:

I couldn't find any maker information on the bicycle frame itself. There are two forks being used to hold the two front wheels, it's my theory that this is a DIY cargo bike. Isn't it wild?

Cheerful Colors Beat the Cold

This was taken through a window, there's a slight bit of reflection in the image.

Short on gears, long on style

Some Boston/Cambridge singlespeed ladies, each with her own look:

Great legs, red shoes

Those great legs - nature? bicycle? or both?

Stuck a feather in his cap...

I'd seen him going the other way where the feather was more obvious, but my trigger finger was too slow. I got him on his return, and whistled "Yankee Doodle" the rest of the evening.

Sequined cuffs spotted in Cambridge!

Pinstripes and singlespeeds and sequined cuffs, oh my!

There's nothing quite like a business lady on a bike.