NAHBS Goes Floral
I had been looking forward to the 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) and now the images are finally beginning to show up on flickr and various cycling websites. Lots of beautiful bicycles, with Randonneur and Porteur aesthetics looming large. Another theme I've noticed is the prevalence of floral designs, especially in accessories. Have a look:
[image by sleepyneko via flickr]
This handmade rack with a leaf motif is from Banjo Cycles and part of a matching front and rear rack set. These must have taken a long time to make!
Front rack with wooden inlays, on a Yipsan Cycles mixte.
Some custom "tree" headbadges by Poka Cycle Accessories. Love the look of enamel paint on these.
Also Lilly of the Valley headbadges.
And check out this beautiful chainguard, also by Poka. I would love one of these!
[image by sleepyneko via flickr]
Brooks saddle, carved by Kara Ginther for Banjo Bicycles.
Fleur de Lis lug/sleeve on an A.N.T Scorcher.
[image by thebicycleescape via flickr]
Looking at the popularity of floral designs at NAHBS this year, I wonder whether it reflects a growing female customer base for bicycle builders. Or perhaps these are just as popular with men. What do you think?
[image by sleepyneko via flickr] This handmade rack with a leaf motif is from Banjo Cycles and part of a matching front and rear rack set. These must have taken a long time to make!
Front rack with wooden inlays, on a Yipsan Cycles mixte.
Some custom "tree" headbadges by Poka Cycle Accessories. Love the look of enamel paint on these.
Also Lilly of the Valley headbadges.
And check out this beautiful chainguard, also by Poka. I would love one of these!
[image by sleepyneko via flickr]
Fleur de Lis lug/sleeve on an A.N.T Scorcher.
[image by thebicycleescape via flickr]Bamboo frame with floral motif. This is a Bamboosero bicycle made by Bikeys in New Zealand, the floral artwork done by a Maori artist.
And these magnificent floral details are by Velocolour (check out additional details here).
And these magnificent floral details are by Velocolour (check out additional details here).
Looking at the popularity of floral designs at NAHBS this year, I wonder whether it reflects a growing female customer base for bicycle builders. Or perhaps these are just as popular with men. What do you think?
that chainguard is GORGeous! Love, love, love.
ReplyDeleteand carving the Brooks saddle? Absolutely brilliant.
there is nothing like good design.
thanks for sharing!
Beautiful! You have a great eye for plucking the best florals :) I want to make a ring out of that lily of the valley headbadge. These designs look intended for female customers. Not to propagate gender stereotypes, but Mr. Dottie would not be interested in a rack with a big daisy on it, while I most certainly would be.
ReplyDeleteThe chainguard! What a beauty. Poka is amazing:)
ReplyDeleteI'm a man (I think so... :D) and I love those decorative/ornate bicycle accessories.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog (Introduced to me by a friend).
holly cowWOW. i want that chain guard. mine
ReplyDeleteHi everybody,
ReplyDeletethe bamboo bike was built here in my hometown, Gisborne,NZ by *Bikeys*, amazing craftsman and owner of LBS. The artwork is by a local Maori artist.
By the way, we love your blog.
:)
Looks like there might be some competition for that chainguard : ) Thankfully, it looks like Poka is producing these in quantity, rather than this being a one-off just for the show.
ReplyDeleteJulz, thanks so much for the info. Is there a website? I can't seem to find it by searching for "Bikeys".
Hi Velouria,
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bamboosero.com/locations-new-zealand.html
It is the only website that I could find. I visited the store yesterday and the owner happily mentioned about the bike that is at the show.
hmm... i wonder if the floral frenzy (Tm) in bicycle design has less to do with changing gender demographics, and more to do with simply being an extension of the highly stylized art that hand-built bicycle building has become? in general, hand-built bike designs have been getting more exotic, more flamboyant, more extreme than ever before... and also more "organic". so maybe the floral themes are just an extension of that? maybe, or maybe it could be a reflection of a target gender shift. i dunno.
ReplyDeleteas for the chainguard: i don't particularly care for the floral design, but i think a version of it without the laser cut floral pattern could be a huge hit, as the flowing, curving shape resembles the classic french porteur chainguards (one of which i'm dying to get my hands on!!!).
That chainguard is my new "must have" accessory!
ReplyDeleteThis chainguard is so money, baby.
ReplyDeleteAhh... I see that all those Art Nouveau books I handed out at last years show have done their insidious work (cue maniacal laugh)
ReplyDeleteOh, drool! It's hard not to want one of each.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty I would be afraid to use them!
ReplyDeleteoh where can I get one of the Lily of the Valley headbadges?? I'm constantly drawn to them visually
ReplyDeleteFiona
girlcanbike.com
Wow, what a nice collection of flowery bicycle parts!
ReplyDeleteSo many pretty things! Velouria, someday, maybe in some other life, you really ought to have your own Lovely Bicycle Shop - preferably on-line so us non-Bostonians can wander in, too. You have such an eye for beautiful things.
ReplyDeleteThose Headbadges are beautiful! Thank you for spotting these and posting the links & pics :)
ReplyDelete