Beauty and the Bike: an ecofabulous Style Guide
Date: May 14, 2009 | Category: Guides, Stores & Resources
May is national bike month, so in honor of the hundreds of thousands of individuals making the trek in the rain or shine (or snow!) to show their commitment to a carbon-free lifestyle (a car with a solo driver releases a pound of CO2 per mile, by the way), we thought we’d spotlight some of the top ecofabulous bike gear that’s available on the market.
After all, as any cyclist knows, once you get into the sport, whether for commuting, pleasure or racing, there are a host of accessories – some necessary for safety, some just plain fun (hello handlebar streamers!) – and it’s important to note that while the overall act of biking itself serves to reduce your carbon footprint, the various biking paraphernalia (often made of PVC, synthetic fiber, and virgin resources) should be just as eco-friendly as your human-powered energy.
Here are the top picks for biking in ecofabulous style!
| Bamboo Cruising:
Who knew that one of the greenest ways to get around town could be even greener? These bamboo frame bikes from Calfee Designs are truly functional and have won numerous cycling awards, but environmental enthusiasts cheer about their eco-friendly construction - which includes hemp fiber lugs and a tung oil finish. |
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| Head over Wheels:
Helmets are for heads with brains in them. With a program specifically dedicated to producing helmets with a low impact on nature, MET Helmets are the top of the line for safety and sustainability. Besides being eco, these sleek, Italian-designed helmets are just cool! |
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| Sun Salutation:
With 2 rechargeable batteries that get their juice from the sun, this handy little device shines with the power of 3 LED lights. Once removed from the bike, it doubles as a pocket size flashlight. |
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| Nice Rack:
Keep your bike secure and free up floor space with a Cycloc. The inner storage area is great for keeping lights, gloves or other accessories. Make sure to purchase the black color as it’s the only option made using 100% recycled post industrial plastic! |
| Good, Clean Fun:
Get rid of the grease and grime using “Just Soap” and water. Made using a human-powered bicycle blender, the soaps contain pure vegetable oils, essential oils, and organic herbs and spices to create a mild, moisturizing bar that’s aligned with your human-powered ideals! |
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| Do Sweat the Small Stuff:
Look good while doing good for the planet. Carbon-free commuting is great, but make sure your apparel is environmentally conscious as well - both Novara and Cannondale have bike jerseys made using recycled polyester, helping keep the use of virgin resources to a minimum. |
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| Below the Waist:
One of the extra perks about biking is how absolutely fabulous your backside starts to look - show it off while on the road in a pair of capri bike tights or shorts made of recycled polyester. For a more casual look, this pair is great as well. |
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| The Messenger:
Rickshaw Bagworks is continuing to revolutionize the satchel industry. The aptly named “ZERO” bag, designed to eliminate waste, gets an update with the new waterproof eco x-pac fabric in mint green. Made from 100% recycled polyester, the fabric is actually a special high-performance sailcloth for ocean-going racing boats - this way you don’t have to worry about a few pesky rain drops getting in the way of your ride! |
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| Road Trip:
In case one bag isn’t enough (or if you’d just rather not have anything on your back), panniers are a great option for the urban commuter. The Detours Toocan Juicy Pannier truly packs a punch - it’s made out of 30 recycled juice box containers. |
*Top photo courtesy of Girlhula.
Comments
Allegra
Date: May 14th, 2009 at 9:52 am
I have a rickshaw diaper bag and I LOVE it…
Kittykatang
Date: May 18th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
what an excellent article, thank you. I live in Australia and I’m now on a mission to track down a bamboo frame bike.
kamajii
Date: May 21st, 2009 at 6:53 am
How’d you miss the lightweight wood and laminated bamboo bikes in road and commuter styles at renovobikes.com?
Green, Eco Links of the Week | Modern Eco Homes
Date: May 22nd, 2009 at 8:41 am
[...] May is national bike month, so in honor of the hundreds of thousands of individuals treking around to show their commitment to a carbon-free lifestyle, Ecofabulous has highlighted some cool eco bike gear. Head on over HERE. [...]
caitlin
Date: May 27th, 2009 at 9:46 am
They look beautiful! We’ll definitely check them out!
Bridal Wedding Guide - Ideas & Themes » Blog Archive » Birdhouse Table Cards
Date: May 28th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
[...] Vintage tea cups make great storage at Re-Nest- EcoFabulous delights us with Beauty and the Bike: An Ecofabulous Style [...]
Russ
Date: April 7th, 2010 at 6:52 am
I’m both green and a fitness enthusiast who rides about 2688 miles per year in Chicago to and from work. This requires some logistical planning with regard to clothing. The resistance I so often hear from others, men and women, is that they don’t like to have to change out of sweaty clothes, either from biking or walking. Doesn’t anyone make business-casual clothing that breathes such that clothing changes aren’t always necessary? THAT seems like a green fashion idea.
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