Wheels Up // Industrial Designer Ron Arad Reinvents The Wheel

This one's been kicking (or maybe "pedaling" is more fitting) around the Internet for a few months, but since it combines some of the things that we love most—bikes, design and innovation—we've gotta share.

Last year London's W Hotel asked six creative professionals to create one-of-a-kind bikes to benefit a good cause. All of the rides were interesting, from Benedict Radcliffe's "W New York Bike" to Natasha Law's vodka-equipped "Wyld Bar Bike," but industrial designer Ron Arad's contribution was surely the most mind-blowing. Arad created a bike that forgoes tires and tubes for sprung steel wheels. This is really one of those cases where seeing is believing, so check out the video below for proof that you can cruise smoothly down a city street on nothing but metal.

Visitors to the W Hotel on London's Leicester Square were able to give Arad's unique creation a spin for a couple months, and in December it was auctioned off to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. We don't know who the lucky high bidder was, but you'll definitely be able to tell if you see him or her out for a ride!

Behold, an entirely new meaning for the phrase "pedal to the metal":

Two Nuns Bike by Ron Arad from Dezeen on Vimeo.

-- John Ruscher

Wheels Up // Stay Safe And Know Your Rights As A NYC Cyclist

The NYC edition of the Bicyclist's Accident Report is in the works.Since cycling-related accidents are a serious problem in New York and many of you rely on bikes to make your way around the city, the Bicyclist’s Accident Report caught our eye right away.

The brainchild of Boston lawyer Josh Zisson, who specializes in bike law, and graphic designer Tim Jacques, this simple, well-designed card provides urban cyclists with visual diagrams demonstrating their rights and bike-related laws, as well as a form to remind them what information they should collect following an accident.

"My plan for the cards is to have a version in every state and every major biking city, along with a localized version of the Bike Safe Boston website that the cards will refer people to," Zisson says in his description of the project.

His goal is not only to help educate people about local laws and cycling rights, but also to help connect cyclists with lawyers who are experienced in bike law. "Too many people in the biking community have no way of knowing whether a lawyer is any good or not, so they end up going with the first one who finds their police report and sends them a letter," he says.

The Boston and California editions have already been printed and distributed, and the NYC edition is in the works.

Get your Biking Rules handbook here.That card isn't the only way to stay safe and informed, though. The fine folks at Transportations Alternatives have their own terrific site, Biking Rules, which provides heaps of helpful information for cyclists, including a list of "cycle savvy lawyers," rights and laws related to NYC cycling, a Biking Rules Street Code, a handbook that you can download for free in English, Spanish or Chinese, and a free badge to declare your support for safe cycling in NYC.

Now you've got all of the information you could possibly need. Strap on that helmet, cycle smart and stay safe.

-- John Ruscher

WHEELS UP // London Designer Katy Beveridge's Zoetrope Bicycle Animations

We couldn't resist sharing this video, as it combines so many things that we love: bikes, ingenuity, design, DIY craftwork and more. For a dissertation project at the renowned Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London designer and illustrator Katy Beveridge created some amazing zoetrope animations mounted on bike wheels.

As the wheels spin, the images come to life, and Beveridge's animations become more complex and eye-popping as the video progresses. "This is a piece created to question whether it was possible to film animation in realtime," Beveridge says in her description of the video. She also refers to animators who have created similar work, such as Jim Le Fevre and Tim Wheatley. And, as if the visuals weren't awesome enough, the soundtrack remixes bike sounds from the filming of the video.

So who's gonna be the first person to try this with a 3rd Ward ride?

-- John Ruscher

FASHION SPOTLIGHT // Brooklyn's Outlier Synthesizes Comfort, Performance And Style

Outlier's OG Pants in action

Abe Burmeister spent a year looking for a good pair of pants for biking in the city. "I wanted a pair of pants that I could ride in, work in and go out in without having to worry whether it was going to rain," he says. "After a year of looking I gave up. They weren't on the market, and I figured if no one was making them then it was up to me to figure out how. I went to the garment district, started asking questions and eventually wound up with a pair of pants."

After a friend connected him with Tyler Clemens, who had been working on similar ideas, Brooklyn's Outlier and the OG Pants were born. Three years later, Outlier's products have expanded from those first pants, which were designed to repel the weather and dirt of any bike commute and still look good in the office, to an entire line of functional, durable and fashionable clothing. Their latest collection is called In A Technical Nature and features everything from a Merino henley and wool peacoat to chinos, a scarf and button-down shirts.

Hit the jump for more on Outlier, including a photo gallery of their new collection.

Other than its expanded line of products, how has Outlier changed in three years? "Well, we're not working out of Tyler's living room anymore for one!" says Burmeister. "Insanely enough, we actually have employees and an office. And more importantly we know enough to make much better garments than we used to."

Just as they did with the OG Pants, Outlier has always aimed to create clothing that is truly innovative and unprecedented. "We like to make garments that do not exist yet on the market and fulfill a real need," Burmeister says. "We're always thinking about ways to make things better, making clothes that are more comfortable, more durable and better looking. Designing for us is an iterative process, we makes tests, experiment, produce samples, test them, tear them apart, build them back, test some more and repeat until we get to the point where we are happy. Sometimes it takes a day, sometimes it takes years, we just keep pushing until we find the solution."

For Outlier its also been about rejecting corner-cutting and disposable products:

"People need to start realizing that if they are buying the cheapest stuff, they are actually getting ripped off," Burmeister says. "The discount driven culture we live and shop in right now is toxic."

And it's not just about the quality of goods, but also the broader implications of our throw-away culture. "It's a downward cycle that leads to labor abuse, environmental damage and a world filled with shitty products," he says. "If we keep demanding disposable products we can't be surprised if suddenly our jobs are also disposable. The only way to break this cycle is to wake up and start looking for quality and buying meaningful goods that both work well and last a long time."

That driving philosophy has transformed Outlier from a single pair of pants into a full-fledged fashion brand. Burmeister acknowledges that starting up a clothing company isn't easy, but Outlier has proven that all of the hard work can pay off nicely. "It'll suck up all your free time and all your savings, but in the end it's amazing to make real products that people can relate to in the physical world," he says. "Plus, you get exactly the clothes you want."

Storm King Parka, Autumnweight 60/30 Chinos, North East Pivot Shirt and Merino Henley - photo by Emiliano Granado

Autumnweight 60/30 Chinos, Soft Core Wool Vest, Merino Henley and North East Pivot Shirt - photo by Emiliano Granado

Liberated Wool Peacoat and Autumnweight 60/30 Chinos - photo by Emiliano Granado

Liberated Wool Peacoat, Autumnweight 60/30 Chinos and North East Pivot Shirt - photo by Emiliano Granado

Merino Henley, North East Pivot Shirt and Autumnweight 60/30 Chinos - photo by Emiliano Granado

-- John Ruscher

BIKE & DESIGN // Bridget Fleming of downtownfrombehind

For Bike Month, we’re bringing you a series of conversations at the intersection of cycling, art and design. This is our last entry!

Our favorite downtownfrombehind shots

Downtownfrombehind has all the essentials of an addictive blog: authentic street shots, interesting people, unique and personal fashion...and lovely bikes! Think of your favorite fashion blog—filled with funny, sexy, and classy people—on two wheels, and you’ve got this. Every shot is an inspiration and now the founder, Bridget Fleming, tells us what inspires her.

3rd Ward: How did you get involved with cycling?

Bridget Fleming: I was four when I unwrapped my first bike; it was red with a white basket. Twenty plus years later, I collected the cheapest bike I could find on Craigslist from Staten Island in the middle of a New York winter. It’s red, it has a white basket, and I think I left it locked on Grand Street in Soho.

3W: What do you love about it?

BF: It’s a great alternative to walking or taking the subway. It’s green and a fun day out with friends. Below 14th street, the city is relatively bike-friendly.

3W: Are you finding anything out about the types of people who cycle through your project?

BF: Most of the people photographed for the project are creatives, most moved to New York for their career and most own a bike.

3W: Why “Downtown from Behind”?

BF: It’s every street below 14th, so essentially 'downtown', always photographed of a subject riding their bike from behind. The name, Downtownfrombehind, stuck.

3W: What have you learned through the project?

BF: Where the sun will be on almost any street at any given time of the day below 14th.

3W: Anything about the relationship between art and cycling?

BF: I think there is a close relationship between art and many day-to-day objects and tasks. I am definitely more aware of the art in bike design since working on this project.

3W: Why are the photos from behind?

BF: It provides more of a balanced portrait between street and subject and a less self-indulgent portraits for riders.

BIKE & DESIGN // John Watson of Prolly is Not Probably

For Bike Month, we’re bringing you a series of conversations at the intersection of cycling, art and design. Through a combination of fixed freestyle, track, and road cycling crossover appeal, beautiful photography, and prolific posting, John "Prolly" Watson has made his blog Prolly is not Probably the place for bike content. His influence has resulted in collaborations with a variety of brands, and he is a go-to news source for reports on cycling shops, products, and design.

3rd Ward: Why bike? Do you think cycling has changed you physically, psychologically, or philosophically?

John Prolly: Every one I know who rides has a story about how cycling has single-handedly changed their lives. I was recently about 60 miles out on a solo ride, when I came up on a guy struggling on a climb. He said before cycling, he was a strict political conservative (I'm in Texas now by the way) who was against any "green agenda". Then he picked up a bike to get in shape and slowly but surely, he got hooked. Since he'd started riding, he said he's been less aggressive and, in his words, "ignorantly assholish." His wife and kids enjoy his company and his co-workers like having him around. Now, it's hard to say that I've had a similar experience, but cycling gives you attainable training goals. And endorphins are one hell of a rush.

3W: What is your advice for someone who wants to start cycling in a major city? In New York in particular?

JP: Be safe about it. Wear a helmet, get lights and if you're on a track bike, get a brake. I have been riding a bike in NYC for six years and it's no easy task. You never know what's going to pop out from behind a car or roll into your path. Be alert and don't think that bike lanes are some magical safety net. I've always felt like riding with traffic is safer than on the side of traffic. Don't ride on the god damned sidewalk or against traffic. Those are my two biggest pet peeves!

3W: What are the elements of your ideal ride in NYC?

JP: It's gotta be the spring time. Everyone's out, shedding clothes and enjoying the city. I love riding River Road to Nyack and Piermont and any ride to Ft. Tilden is always a blast. I've ridden all over the world. Holland, Japan and all over the US. I've been to a lot of cycling-friendly cities and unfortunately NYC is not yet one of those.

3W: What's a favorite cycling story?

JP: I had a great time I had on my bike was with Isaac, Harry (of NY Bike Jumble) and Scott. We decided to ride from Brooklyn to Philly for the Philly Bike Expo. We took 70% off-road trails, along the Delaware Canal and made great time. We spent the trip talking shit, getting stoned and avoiding falling into the freezing water of the canal. Once we got to Philly, the weekend was spent documenting amazing hand-built bikes, drinking and having a blast with friends. Riding in Tokyo exclusively on my fixed freestyle was awesome, too. Zipping through the crowded streets with a bunch of strangers. It was a great way to make friends.

3W: What are the surprising or unique aspects of the communities built around cycling that you've been a part of?

JP: There are polo guys, roadies, track bike guys, track racers, messengers, fixed freestyle, BMXers but over the recent months, these barriers have been broken and you're seeing the cycling scene in NYC really pull together and form a community. Scenes come and go, but communities build for the future.

3W: What lead you go beyond riding and start blogging, etc.?

JP: When I got laid off from my Architecture job back in March of 2010, no one was hiring and rather than driving myself mad, I just put that energy into my blog. I have become Prolly and there's really nothing that can take that away. The bottom line is, I didn't start the blog to "get stuff." A lot of the new bloggers in the scene see my formula and emulate it. I get tons of emails from kids asking how to get what I've got and it's not that simple. But people try, they mimic my voice, my positive attitude and my content. I'll post something that I found on my own and 30+ blogs will post it minutes later, hardly ever crediting me as the source. It's frustrating, but that's the internet. I never really expected for the site to blow up and here I am, traveling all over, doing a range of bike journalism, working on products, and shooting photos almost as much as I'm riding.

3W: What bike you've owned has been most important to you and why?

JP: Gah, I don't know. I really really love my road bike. It's an Eddy Merckx MX-Leader made from Columbus MXL tubing. It was developed by Merckx for his big-dogs. For a 225-pound guy, it rides like a rocket. I'm getting my first custom bike this year from the guys at Geekhouse. It'll be on display at the NAHBS here in Austin and I'm confident that will become my all-around bike once I get my grubby hands on it! (3W: design process here). I really also love my Eddy Merckx track bike. It's my exact size and the colors on that thing are so 80's it hurts! Later this year, I'm hoping to get a custom Icarus track bike, although after seeing Ian's recent work, I might wanna get a custom road bike! I've thinned my collection down to a few select bikes that get their job done with a bit of stylistic flairs on the side.

Bike & Design // Gage + Desoto

For Bike Month, we’re bringing you a series of conversations at the intersection of cycling, art and design. We spoke with Mike Spriggs and Brett Cleaver of Gage + Desoto, who specialize in marketing, branding and design services for cycling companies.  Catch Mike out ahead of the chase group while fashion blogging for Rapha's Survey.

This Friday night, check out G + D's new location, shared with Trimble Racing, at Trimble's Red Hook Criterium Photography Exhibition Benefit! 70 Van Dyke, Red Hook Brooklyn, 7-10pm.

3rd Ward: What is Gage + Desoto?

Mike Spriggs:
G+D started as a design outlet for me. And where else to start but with t-shirts? I've always had a love of typography and logos, and I was able to bring a little of that to my friends in the cycling community.

Brett Cleaver:
Mike and I met at a bike shop, hit it off and have paired up on cycling related projects since. By pooling our resources we've turned his T-Shirt company into a unique marketing, branding and media experience.



3W: Why bike?  Do you think cycling has changed you physically, psychologically, or philosophically?

MS:
I grew up in the suburbs of Boston, and biking was just something we did, we didn't even think about it. My friends and I would map out routes all over the city.  Cycling connects you to a place unlike any other mode of transportation. You can certainly get that same benefit from walking, but in a city this size it would take you forever.

BC:
It’s certainly changed me in many ways, the most obvious being mentally and physically due to the hours and miles I log each year from training and racing. Also, the cross country honeymoon journey my wife and I undertook last summer saw us both overcome numerous tests of will on a bike. It's been a true progression that is more for me than anyone else.

3W:Tell me about cycling and design.  Does design bear a new relationship to cycling right now?  Has there always been a strong nexus?  Why?



MS:
Cycling and design have always been intertwined. From an industrial design perspective, cycling is constantly evolving. Newer, faster, lighter, more efficient - that has been the dictum since the invention of the safety bike.  And that draws in a certain type of individual - the tinkerer, the inventor. As bikes become more lifestyle-centric, it makes sense that there's a new wave of products to fit a new user group. Whether it's the perfect mini-pump or the brightest flashing light or the sleekest helmet, people will always want to update the look (and hopefully the functionality).



In relation to graphic design, I have always been drawn to its strong presence in pro racing, (particularly in Europe). Whether it's trading cards, downtube logos, team kits, or posters, graphic design is everywhere in professional cycling. Pro teams are rolling billboards for various brands that come and go. Bicycles themselves are often made to be replicas of what the pros use, right down to the lettering and decal placement. Vintage european bicycles are currently eclipsing fixed gear bikes as the must-have accessory, and what people are responding to are the colors, the designs and the evocation of an era.

BC:
I've always been a fan of bold designs and colorways. I pride myself on unique and outspoken accessories - having that one item that everyone comments on. The pro peloton really takes hold of that premise - being able to spot your teammate or your logo on television or having that slight bit of graphic edge over a competitor. Granted some of the designs are gaudy, but they all serve a purpose and some of the worst designs are looked back at in reverence. So, there has always been a strong bond between design and cycling. It's certainly why a Mapei jersey will always bring a smile to my face.

3W: What's exciting to you at the intersection marketing or design and cycling?

BC:
All of it. If there is a rule book or limitations we're not bound by them.

MS:
I am truly excited about the idea that someone will actually make a practical, durable, and affordable city bike that anyone can use, every day. In the daily ride category we currently have: crappy bikes from China that literally fall apart in weeks; "hybrid" bikes, which is a mountain bike crossed with a road bike, and is therefore practical as neither; we have fixed gear bikes which exclude anyone new to cycling who just wants to get around town; and we have bespoke handmade bikes that no one in their right mind would lock up on the street, ever. Missing from that is a proper townie bike. Upright and stable, relatively light, with a coaster brake, rack and basket. Nice, but not so nice that you can't lock it up to a pole while you go to the movies.  Very low maintenance. We are starting to see brands like Linus, Civia, and Public fill this void a bit (the magic will be when the price v. durability issue is balanced), and I hope that niche keeps growing.



3W:What are some of the unique aspects of your business?

BC:
G+D offers companies a fresh approach, often on a grassroots level paralleling a punk rock band or streetwear brand. If bike brand x needs to meet record label y, we bring them together.  If we think an event would be cool at a coffee shop, we make it happen. We take what some may think are absurd ideas and run with them, because no one else is going to. At the end of the day, we want people to say "Gage + Desoto did what? Oh snap, that's a great idea, actually!!"



MS:While the bike industry is small, it's still pretty far flung geographically, and a lot of deals are made over a handshake with a trusted partner.



3W:What's a cycling story you like to tell?

BC:
The most memorable isn't very positive, but somewhat humorous. It involved a series of punctures on a 18km climb in a stage race, Vuelta Nicaragua. I double flatted without realizing it at the time and stopped with the team car to fix the front wheel. Of course, only one guy on the team brought a spare set of wheels and they were his time trial wheels. So, the spares were a deep dish carbon front wheel and disc rear wheel. Guess which gringo went up part of the mountain with a disc wheel before getting his original wheelset back? Yup, I then proceeded to close a 10-minute gap that had come out of my three stops with the team car. The week didn't get much better, unfortunately.



3W: Who are a couple of your favorite people in cycling and why?



BC:
Those willing to take a risk and pursue something because they think it's rad.

MS:
My favorite people in cycling are actually the folks who get on crappy bikes and ride to wherever they are going, every single day. They do it without pretension, not expecting any recognition, not as part of any group or fad. They have been riding the same bike forever, they have no need for bike lanes, or advocacy, or fancy accessories. They just ride. And they are everywhere in NYC.