Vanhulsteijn Designs 9 Special Edition Japanese Lacquer and Gold Leaf Bikes for Sotheby's.

The Urushi Bicycle Project consists of 9 exclusively designed bicycles for Sotheby’s by Herman van Hulsteijn. Sotheby's approached the Dutch designer after seeing his unusual bikes on the internet with their distinctive curved frame. Herman van Hulsteijn suggested designing a tailor-made bike for them using an ancient process that had intrigued him for years.

Shinola's Very Limited Runwell Di2 and All Their Other American Made Bikes.

The heart and soul of a Shinola bicycle begins in the legendary Waterford Precision Cycles factory in Wisconsin, where their frames and forks are individually handcrafted by experts using double-butted cro-moly steel.

Once shipped to their Detroit workshop, they undergo a custom-level assembly by Shinola's bike specialists, and each component is fitted by hand and tested for precision. This close attention to each and every detail ensures that every bicycle that ships from their Detroit workshop delivers impeccable reliability and an unbeatably smooth and responsive ride.

At the moment they have the Runwell, The Bixby, The Bixby for Women and now the Limited Runwell Di2.


The Very Limited Runwell Di2


This limited edition Shinola Runwell Di2 ($4,500) has been creating lots of buzz since Interbike. Shinola has committed to making only ten, and folks are lining up to get one while they last.




Classic styling meets the performance benefits of race-proven shifting and braking technology in The Runwell Di2 Limited Edition. Features the enduring style and predictable handling of an American-made lugged steel frame and fork, combined with the latest performance technology of Shimano Di2 electronic shifting and Alfine hydraulic brakes, Alfine dynamo front hub, and Supernova E2 Pro bright light.





Lightning quick, push button shifting, with handlebar-mounted LED control panel, and on-demand lighting make The Runwell Di2 Limited Edition a classic bike that’s also incredibly convenient. They've built out The Runwell Di2 Limited Edition with their own aluminum front rack, black alloy fenders and fender-mounted super bright PDW FenderBot tail light. Cables, wires and Di2 battery are internally routed.






Due to the extremely limited availability of The Runwell Di2, each bike will be built to order, with an anticipated ship date of March 2014.

Only available in white
$4500
buy it here


The Runwell:



Inspired by the enduring French style of Porteur bicycles, first used by newspaper couriers in Paris, The Runwell delivers a classic blend of urban style and practicality. Meticulously designed to yield the best characteristics of a lugged steel frame and fork, we've engineered The Runwell to handle predictably and smoothly for city riding, commuting and errand running. Virtually maintenance free, courtesy of the high-end Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal hub, daily riders will never need to worry about adjustment, maintenance or exposure to rain and snow.





Stopping power, in any weather condition, is assured with the quiet and smooth disc brakes. Internal cable routing keeps the cables out of sight and out of the elements. Racks and fenders fit easily onto the frame. Responsive and predictable handing, classic and enduring style, low-to-no maintenance, stopping power in any weather condition, with an American-made frame and fork—The Runwell is truly a unique and worthy voice in the crowd.







Available in dark orange, light orange or blue.
$2,950.00
buy it here

The Bixby:




The Bixby--an Editors' choice by both Outside Magazine and Bicycling Magazine--riffs off the fun look of the curved top tube, but improves on the fit and function with nimble frame geometry and a Shimano 3-speed internal hub.The American-made steel frame and fork are designed for comfort, utility and smooth urban riding, in dry or wet.




The Bixby is offered in both a classic men's and women's frame design, with thoughtful touches like gender-specific saddle design and proportional geometry. Like The Bixby's big brother, the Runwell, The Bixby frame has custom Shinola dropouts, fork crown, rack and fender mounts and internal cable routing.




Available in green or charcoal
$1,950.00
buy it here


The Women's Bixby:




The Bixby riffs off the fun look of the curved top tube, but improves on the fit and function with nimble frame geometry and a Shimano 3-speed internal hub. The American-made steel frame and fork are designed for comfort, utility and smooth urban riding, in dry or wet.





The Bixby is offered in both a classic men's and women's frame design, with thoughtful touches like gender-specific saddle design and proportional geometry. Like The Bixby's big brother, the Runwell, The Bixby frame has custom Shinola dropouts, fork crown, rack and fender mounts and internal cable routing.



Available in charcoal, pink or taupe
$1,950.00
Buy it here



Shinola also makes watches and leather goods. Check out all their cool American-made items here

all images and bike descriptions courtesy of Shinola.

The First Flat-Packed Wooden Bike You Assemble Yourself. The Sandwichbike by Basten Leijh.

It's new. It's cool. It comes in the mail and you put it together. Dubbed the Sandwichbike, this Dutch Design original was inspired by the concept of flat packing, home assembly and Bleigh Industries' never-ending drive to create exceptional products.

Plywood Bikes, Handlebars and Rack by Dots Design Studio of Thailand.

The Dots Design Studio of Thailand continues to perfect their PLYbike design, now executing their third version of the plywood street bike with a Brooks seat, as well as offering two styles of wood bicycle handlebars and a wooden wall-mounted bike rack.

Philippe Starck's PIBAL, an Urban Hybrid Bike/Scooter, Gets Produced In 3000 Units by Peugeot.

PHILIPPE STARCK UNVEILS 'THE BICYCLE OF THE FUTURE' DESIGN IN BORDEAUX



When Bordeaux wanted to expand its bike sharing program, it turned to its citizens for input, garnering 300 responses, and the resulting ideas were integrated into a concept bike by designer Philippe Starck. The result is a crowd-sourced bicycle that is claimed to be the “ideal city bike”.

The 2013 Indian Chief Vintage LE - A Super Duper Limited Edition (Only 35 Available).

Polaris, who now owns Indian Motorcycles (and Victory, too) has been busy building new bikes. The latest is the very rare (only 35 are available) 2013 Indian Chief Vintage Limited Edition. Capitalizing on its classic heritage, it exudes Indian style and tradition. With its Two-tone Pearl White & Thunder Black Paint scheme, chrome highway pegs, arrow-style shift rods, quick-detach passenger backrest and luggage rack - it’s a bike that turns heads, whether it’s parked or cruising down Main Street.

Be Cycle & Fashion. 12 Designers Customize Bikes For Charity.

above: Kenzo Takada's custom Peugeot is one of twelve bikes that will be auctioned off in September
 
Idenium PR agency, web-tv channel The Heart and Sylvie Burger Council have garnered several big names in fashion and design: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Ylan Anoufa, Gabriella Cortes (founder of Antik Batik), Karim Bonnet, Francois Duris for Peugeot, Marithe and Francois Girbaud, Kaori Ito for Elieux by Jean-Claude Jitrois, Jerome L'Huillier, Ora-Ito, On Aura Tout Vu for Swarovski and Kenzo Takada to design and execute custom Peugeot Bikes which will be auctioned off and whose proceeds will benefit ACT Responsible, whose aim is to promote environmental and social causes.



above: 4 of the 12 designers pose with their bikes, which are shown in greater detail below

A cult object and symbol of a responsible attitude, cycling has recently made its comeback in many major cities. Very likely, it became the flagship of the new eco-committed generation. Meanwhile, fashion, luxury and design have established a real dialogue for several years with creative and sustainable development, turning it even more attractive. Therefore it made sense to these French and International fashion designers to participate and customize one of the famous "fixed gear" bikes made & provided by Peugeot.



Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, who designed more than one bike as well as the logo, for the project:




Antik Batik (Gabriella Cortes):



François Duris:



Kenzo Takada:



Karim Bonnet:


Jean-Claude Jitrois:


Marithé & François Girbaud:



Ylan Anoufa:



Kaori Ito for Elieux and Jerome Huillier:


By transforming these twelve bikes into true pieces of art, artists expressed their vision of an ethical fashion, in line with the times, in order to sensitize the public to experience the daily life and sustainable development in a friendly and creative way.


For Caroline Saslawsky (shown above with Herve de Clerck), founder and President of Idenium, Sylvie Burger, project consultant (SB Conseil) and Anna Neneman, co-founder of OHC: "It appeared obvious to combine our expertise to create a unique event gathering ecology & glamour marrying these two worlds increasing then both values: sustainability and fashion."

The bikes were revealed for the first time this past week at the International Advertising Festival in Cannes from June 21-26th. The bikes will be auctioned off in Paris in September by Mr. Cornette de Saint-Cyr.

all photos by Guillaume Malheiro

The bike customization concept has been created by the Press agency IDENIUM and co-produced by Sylvie Burger Conseil and ONE HEART CHANNEL, a TV channel dedicated to solidarity and environmental causes.

all images, press release information courtesy of Idenium and ACT Responsible