Tucked away in a tiny back alley of the Shibuya district of Tokyo, not far from the Meiji shrine, Bonsai Cycle Works is the creation of cyclist and bike builder Hideo Yoshida. Once a student of fashion who then spent years working for a large bike shop in Tokyo, Yoshida finally branched out on his own in 2011. A popular spot for the local lycra set, Bonsai Cycle Works has also gained popularity the world over through Yoshida’s blog and Instagram account.
Japanese company Rin Project designs a line of casual bike gear for those that not only love to ride but want to look good both on and off the bike. The brand was started in 2000 by Hiroshi Yamada, then president of Chat Noir and once a fashion industry exec in France. After a car accident in 1995, Yamada decided to ditch the car and live a bike-centric life, designing apparel, gear, and accessories that made his new lifestyle possible.
For Spring 2015, Thule expands their popular Pack ‘n Pedal pannier line with the new…
For anyone that lives in a bike theft heavy area, carrying more than one lock to secure your bike is the norm. You normally need a lock for the frame as well as the wheels, and even that doesn’t guarantee your bike won’t be stripped for parts. Now you can secure your entire bike, components and all, with just one key using the Total Bike Protection system from Pinhead.
Will the threat of being caught on tape make motorists behave better around cyclists? New company Fly Lites seems to think so. The company created a bike tail light with built-in HD camera that records in real-time what happens behind you, keeping you riding worry free at all times.
Thankfully, I don’t have to commute every day to and from work, but I do ride my bike around town to run errands, attend events, or go out at night. The following seven essentials I either currently use, or sit on my immediate wish list to round out my base bike commute kit.
