Beauty & The Bike
Date: May 12, 2010 | Category: Guides

May is national bike month, so in honor of the hundreds of thousands of individuals making the trek in the rain or shine 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 like to spotlight some of the top ecofabulous bike gear that’s available on the market. Each year we add to our growing guide in order to provide you with everything you need to get out there and get cruising!
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!
Cool 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. Newer to the market are the bamboo bikes from Organic Bikes, available in single or 3-speed using 100% recycled alloy. While bamboo is a great option in terms of sustainably sourced material, it’s often being shipped from halfway across the world. Another option is to look for a manufacturer that produces close to home and has incorporated environmental procedures into their practices. For Bay Area residents, check out Marin Bikes. Or better yet, buy used! VeloSwap.com and Craigslist.org are great sites to find gently loved cycles. |
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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 a rechargeable battery that get’s juice from the sun, this handy little device shines with the power of an LED light (but there’s a regular battery for back-up so you won’t be left in the dark!). Once removed from the bike, it doubles as a pocket size flashlight. |
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:
Keep your bike parts sparkly clean and (and totally lubed) with Green Oil’s collection of ecological Bike Wash, Degreaser, and Chain Lube made from 100% biodegradable, naturally occurring plant oils and extracts. And when it comes time to cleaning the hands that cleaned, 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. Swobo offers jersey’s for men and women made of 100% merino wool (a naturally pesticide-free, renewable material), and Outlier has sleek cycling caps made from long wool fibers, typically used in fine men’s suits! |
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 for shorter rides where padding isn’t required. |
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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! We also love Freitag’s messenger bags that utilize recycled materials like well-traveled truck tarpaulins, old seat belts, bike inner tubes beyond repair and recycled airbags. Alchemy Goods also produces a great commuter bag using recycled inner tubes and seatbelt material (love the bright green trim!). |
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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. Or try Organic Bike’s brightly colored Saddle Bag made from reclaimed waterproof agricultural bags. |
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Early Lessons:
Start young ones off on the right foot… or wheels in this case. This tiny tot bike is made using sustainably sourced birch wood with non-toxic paint and lacquer. Touting real rubber inflatable tires (just like a big kid bike!) the entire piece is packaged in a recycled paper carton with water-based inks. |
*Top photo courtesy of justmakeit.
Comments
laurence alvarez-roos
Date: May 12th, 2010 at 11:23 am
I love bikes and ride them as much as possible! but do cars really produce 1 Lb. of CO2 emissions for each mile??
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