This "Growler" concept city commuter is just a working sketch prototype in a series of thoughts on what we carry around with us and the importance of those items.  They took a  Growler from a local pub and set off to design a bike around it. Awesome! With or without the beer, this changed how we view typical beach/city cruisers.

29er fat wheel set, monarch springer front end, 2 speed internal kickback hub, disc brakes.



photos: dean van dis

Welcome to Bikespiration 17! In this installation we have some bikes that make the Summer heat not so bad when riding in style. Imagine riding one of these slick bikes around town. The one that really caught my eye this time was the sculptural time trial frame by English Cycles (see above) that won the 2013 NAHBS Best in Show award, no less. You can see more about this bike on cycleexif.com

If you find any bikes out there that you think would be great in Bikespiration series. Please send me an email at pdragon65[@]gmail.com.

Check out the other installments - Part 1, Part 2, Part3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16

Designer Basten Leijh created the custom build bike dubbed "Sandwich Bike". A Dutch Design original that was inspired by the concept of flat packing, home assembly and our never-ending drive to create exceptional products. Now it is time to share it with the world, so that you can get involved too.

The Sandwichbike fits in a small, flat package, so we can send it to you by post. The fun will begin the moment the postman rings your doorbell. Everything you need is in the box including the tools, so you can start assembling right away. In total, there are less than 50 parts. If you can make a sandwich, you can surely build a Sandwichbike.



Sandwichbike Ready to Ride from Sandwichbikes on Vimeo.

Source:  Sandwichbike

The Zeit Eco electric scooter takes a new look at individual urban transport and entertainment. With Zeit Eco scooter freedom of mobility becomes accessible to everyone. The scooter has a spacious glove compartment that can fit your personal items such as tablet, purse, breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Zeit Eco also allows you to keep all your gadgets and devices charged with a built in USB port. A single charge can provide up to one hour or 15 miles at full throttle. With the fold down handlebars and footrests you can also take it on the go.

The Carma Project is a really neat project, sponsored by ad firm Leo Burnett Lisbon. They created a bike with as many reclaimed car parts as possible, watch the video below! They built the bicycle out of scraps from a retired Mercedes hoping that the heavy karma of the car could be re-balanced by riding the same number of kilometers in a greener way: just by cycling.




Source: blog.makezine.com

The Connor wood bikes ($4, 500) elegantly form and function into a ride-able work of art. The design embodies simple, pure fun in the most unique way possible on two wheels. Enjoy the unbelievably smooth ride and the distinct look that only an individually crafted, hand sculpted wood bicycle provides. Find out more information by visiting there website.

Italian automobile manufacturer Lamborghini are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a limited edition BMC road bike. Limited to only 50 units, the impec Lamborghini 50th Anniversary Edition combines high-end Italian components with the Swiss made impec frame, and a custom Lamborghini 50th Anniversary Aventador Yellow Paint job. Retail price is set at $32,508 USD. For the complete specs and ordering information visit BMC’s website.



Source: Luxuryes

How would you like to have a different way of securing your bike then carrying around multiple locks?  How about the concept design of this Saddle Lock.

Per the designers, "Saddle Lock provides a way to quickly lock the rear wheel without the need for additional locking accessories. The seat post swings down around the main frame when a button is pushed. The saddle features a cut-away shape that allows it to sit over the rear wheel. A combination lock allows the release of a special alloy rotating lock that extends from one end of the saddle to the other, securing its connection to the wheel."

Saddle Lock is a 2012 red dot award: design concept winner and was designed by Lee Sang Hwa, Kim Jin Ho & Yeo Min Gu.



Source: YankoDesign

Designer Reagan Appleton gives a different spin on the meaning to mounting a bike. The Scotland native's Bicycle Taxidermy business commemorates speedy metal steeds (bicycles) by mounting their parts on wooden plaques, bearing a striking resemblance to the trophy heads that hunters display on their walls. I find this to be a brilliant way of still having a connection to those parts that owners have a hard time scrapping after replacing their bike parts. Rather than leaving them lying around, taking up space, Bicycle Taxidermy offers a artistic alternative.

Appleton says, "A somewhat sentimental take on a mass produced object becoming defunct, the handlebars are given the care and craft of a preserved family pet(!) The bikes have now been re-appropriated as a family heirloom."

Check out more on there site to find out the different pricing to convert some of your parts into Bicycle Taxidermy



Source: mymodernmet.com

Metrofiets has created some interesting custom bikes for different companies and now they want to make The Standard Cargo Bike ($3,599) for the public. It's stiffer, lighter and faster and comes with the following components:

• Hub-powered LED lighting - Bausch & Muller
• Fenders - Berthoud stainless steel
• Cargo box - Marine-grade wood
• Saddle - Cardiff leather
• Disc brakes - Avid BB7

Fork and tube sets are a mix of custom drawn 4130 steel made in the U.S. by True Temper and TIG welded at the Metrofiets workshop. Check out more on their website and see some of the custom built cargo bikes.



Source: bookofjoe

Designer Madella Simone has come up with a new type of concept bike. MOOBY which plays with the word mobility to show that this one-speed is up for the challenges of urban riding. It even offers a modular system that makes it possible to re-skin your ride with a more personalized graphic. That means you can keep on changing the look depending on your mood. Simone hopes that more riders will be drawn into the fashionable style and opt for 2 wheels over 4.



Source: Yanko Desgin

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a better way to ride your bike with out getting a flat. How about a airless tire would that work? The "Energy Return Wheel" concept by designer Brian Russell demonstrates the possibilities of advance wheel technologies in the video below.

Instead of air, it uses rubber stretched over a series of carbon nano tube reinforced composite rods to provide its cushioning. These rods can be adjusted, changing the tension of the rubber to suit different types of terrain, improves flexing and recoil cycling. Plus it means no more having a pump, tubes and patches. Would you get a pair of these?



Source: Designboom

Serfas Vida Hybrid Tire 700 x 38 (Google Affiliate Ad)
Serfas Drifter City Smooth Tire for Mountain Bikes 26 x 1.5 (Google Affiliate Ad)
Serfas Drifter City Smooth Tire for Hybrid or Road Bikes 700 x 32 (Google Affiliate Ad)

The Bicymple is a simple unicycle that removes the need for a chain. This working prototype was created by Josh Bechtel and Scalyfish Designs. The design is made of a CroMo Steel frame that is just two simple bars that run above and between the two wheels.

"By removing the chain, the number of moving parts and overall complexity is significantly reduced. A direct-drive, freewheeling hub joins the crank arm axis with the rear-wheel axis, shortening the wheelbase and minimizing the design. "

If your still wondering how do even ride this thing, then check out the video below and it will clear up a few things and demonstrate the interesting possibilities rear steering adds to your ride.



Source: Dvice

Here is a bike that I thought about putting in Bikespiration Part 12 but I thought it needed it's own post.  This  Thonet Bike was designed by London-based architect Andy Martin and was designed using bent wood.  The reason behind the name is because Thonet's steam bending process was used to make this bike and was originally developed in the 1930's to make chairs. This bike was one of three developed but this one was chosen due to the aesthetic beauty and modest connection with the heritage of the company. The Thonet Bike will be available in limited edition and will cost you about $69,505.00 dollars. If you want to read more about the bike go to mocoloco.com