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Bamboo Bike Studio, Brooklyn

http://bamboobikestudio.com/go/home

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Bicycle Projects in Africa and Latin America

Bikejuju has assembled a list of wonderful organizations that are taking the initiative to promote and provide bicycles in economically strapped areas of Latin America and Africa. To read about the positive advances bicycles can make in these areas and check out a list of current organizations that are already making a difference, click here.

 http://www.bikejuju.com/2009/bicycle-projects-in-africa-and-latin-america/

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A Victory for bicycle culture: NYC's recently approved Bicycle Access to Buildings law.

Read more here.

http://gothamist.com/2009/12/10/bicycles_may_now_be_brought_inside.php

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This forkless cruiser is totally blowing my mind right now!

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Check out the Riding Pretty blog

SOLD - 1980's Mens Huffy Omni 10

This bike was yanked from a damp basement a couple of months ago. Under the rust and masking tape (the tape was struggling to hold some important parts together) was an ugly shade of blue that begged, "Sand me."

I took the whole bike apart, sanded the frame down to bare metal, and painted it a custom shade of candy apple red at the request of the buyer.

The buyer, seen in the pictures, also made some wise choices as to the gearing (single speed freewheel), the bar grip (none), and the seat (orginal saddle - a lovely compliment to the new paint). New tubes, tires, and a brake tune-up finished the project. Oh, and check out the wine cork bar plugs...

Special thanks to Ethan (buyer) and Molly (photographer) for making this the best Five and Dime Photo Shoot yet.

$100.00

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Donate Bikes to Kids in West Africa

Bicycles for Education, a group that lists its mission as promoting gender equality and community empowerment in Togo, West Africa, seeks bicycle donations to benefit students there.

Students in Togo walk up to 20 miles a day to attend school, and dropout rates in rural areas are more than 90 percent for girls, according to the group.

For more information click here.

SOLD - 1970's Mens Western Flyer Ten Speed

I found this Western Flyer ten speed tucked away in the back of a Goodwill. It was in solid shape despite the usual flat tires and rust. The biggest problem was the disgusting array of cartoony faux cowboy western decals that were plastered all over the bike. After removing the decals, I found even more rust and removing that rust totally ruined the original paint. Here's what I had to work with:

I already had a buyer for the bike so I decided to do a custom paint job in colors that I knew he liked. The cream/hunter green frame compliments the brown leather seat and hand grips perfectly. New tubes, tires, and a tune up had it ready to ride. The bike is pictured above with its buyer and can now be seen cruising the streets of Lancaster, Ohio.

$100.00

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The gang at Metrofiets in Portland have built what is quite possibly the most amazing bike, EVER! Working kegs, built in bar top, and a sound system. A mobile party! Check out the full story here.

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SOLD - 1968 Ladies Austrian Sears & Roebuck Five Speed

I procured this rare bike from a dude who also tried to sell me his above ground pool and his 1977 Ford pickup truck. He was the kind of guy who "knows a guy" for just about any situation you may find yourself in. You need a truckload of granite slag for your driveway? He knows a guy. You wanna learn how to build a perpetual motion machine? He knows a guy. You lookin' for a weird old bike from Austria that was made in the 1960's and sold at Sears? He knows a guy.

This is one unique ride with a great combination of original features: 27" wheels, a two-tone leather seat, five speeds, some wild Austrian decals, lots of chrome, and a "rat-trap" rack on the back. It was a little dirty and rough with oxidation. The chrome cleaned up very well and the original paint shined up nicely. I tuned the brakes and gears and added new tubes, hybrid gumwall tires, and hand grips.

With a leaner frame, fenders, a rack, and five speeds, this is a perfect city bike.

$150.00

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"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race."

- H.G. Wells

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I'm proud of how much Pittsburgh has done for the cycling community. Incredible trails, bike friendly buses and businesses, car-free commuter events, and more. If you live in or around Pittsburgh, or plan on visiting soon, check out this site:

http://bike-pgh.org/

SOLD - 1976 Fuji Sports 10 - My Bike

I received a call from a woman a few weeks ago. She said, "I know you sell bikes but do you ever do trades?"

Normally I don't.

She went on, "I babysit this little boy who loves to ride bikes but his was stolen. A thoughtful neighbor gave him an old ten speed bike but it is waaaay too big for him. He can't even get his legs over the bars. I think you would like the style of this bike a lot. I thought you may have something that would fit him."

I told her I had a possible match in a used mountain bike (a gawdy looking thing with lots of logos and shock absorbers and technical flare) that I didn't want anymore. I arranged to come check out what she had to offer. When I pulled up to her garage I saw this 1976 Fuji Sports 10 Road Bike and I instantly fell in love. I wanted that bike! Now, the big question was, would this little kid like the bike I had to offer? Suddenly, I felt strangely nervous. The lady called in to the house and out came the kid. I was at the mercy of his young opinion. I gently rolled the bike up to him and presented it as an offering in hopes of his acceptance. He looked at me, then at the bike, then to his babysitter, then back to the bike. With each glance his smile grew larger. Things were looking up! I told him to take it for a test ride. He looked to the babysitter for permission, which she granted, and he hopped on and pedaled down the street.

The babysitter called out, "Do you like it?"

He lifted his head skyward and screamed, "OH YEAH!"

Everybody wins.

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"Revolution might be too much to expect, but I do believe that Americans are more ready to forsake their 'cars on steroids' than they have been for a while."

- David Byrne, talking to Death and Taxes magazine about his new book, Bicycle Diaries

About Five and Dime Bicycles

My wife had her mind set on getting a retro balloon tire beach cruiser. She shopped around and found one that seemed affordable, about $150.00, from a big department store. I wanted to surprise her by buying it and having it waiting in our living room for her to find when she returned home from work. After seeing the bike first hand at the store however, I had my doubts as to whether it would hold up or not. I left the store, headed home, and went online to read some user reviews from people who purchased the same bike. What I found was not pretty. Complaints ranged from "uncomfortable ride" all the way to "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE FELL APART AFTER ONLY 2 MONTHS!!! SOMEBODY CALL THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU!!!"

So, department stores might not be the way to go. I started hitting Craiglist in search of a quality vintage bike. I found several that looked perfect but every time I contacted the seller I was informed that the bike had already been sold. That got me thinking that there just might be a market for clean, solid, reliable vintage bikes. If a bike is still in good shape after 20, 30, 40, or more years, it is obviously built well. Plus, old bikes are just plain cool.

The goal of Five and Dime Bicycles is to provide incredibly affordable, eye-catchingly unique, ready-to-ride vintage bikes. We're rescuing old bikes from basements, garages, yard sales (where I found my wife's bike!), and flea markets and getting them back where they belong - on the road. We personally favor the style of old ten speeds, road bikes, and cruisers so that's what you'll find the most of at Five and Dime. Riding a bicycle is economical, fun, good for you, and good for the environment. We're looking forward to matching up old bicycles with new owners.

Think globally, bike locally. - Five and Dime Bicycles

SOLD - 1986 Free Spirit

1986 Free Spirit 26" Ladies' Campus Cruiser. The previous owner must have loved this bike because it has been very well taken care of. All I had to do was tune it up, clean it up, shine it up, and it was ready to ride. The sunset orange paint matches the brown leather seat and brown hand grips perfectly. This bike rides like a cruiser but has the thinner tires and weight of a road bike making it very agile and perfect for city commutes. There are many, many years of good riding left in this bicycle!

$100.00

SOLD - 1988 Murray Monterey

This 1988 Murray Monterey 26" was rescued from the clutches of some abusive little children at a yard sale. The heathens had almost completely destroyed it. Perched like vultures on the porch steps, the kids shot us icy glares as we carried the bike away to safety. When we found it, the tires were flat, handlebars bent, rims taco'd, and frame covered in rust. Here's a picture:

(warning - not for the faint of heart)

The bike was completely stripped down, aligned, tuned up, given a new two-tone paint job, tubes, and tires. It is a heavy bike with a solid steel frame and it cruises like a dream. Balloon tires and a wide, springy seat make for a very comfortable ride. This bike has been getting a lot of attention in the short time that we took it out for photos. I wish I had a few more of these ready because I could sell them all quickly.

$135.00