The Kona Ute in the US

It is with great pleasure that I announce that indeed, the Kona Ute - which I'd previously reported on - will be sold stateside in '08. It will be sold in one size and color, seen here, for $799. The bike will feature a custom chromoly frame and fork, Deore derailers and disc brakes. I am stoked about this bike. Other neat bikes to look forward to are the Smoke 2-9 with fenders and rack mounts for only $369 and a really sexy cruiser called the 88.

Mackinaw Bike Porteurs

Utility cycling and bike commuting are the things I try to focus on with this blog, in case it's not obvious. In any case, here is an awesome photostory about the Mackinaw Island Dock Porteur-cyclists and the sweet rigs that allow them to carry 250-500lb loads on the FRONT of their bikes. It boggles the mind. Also check out cyclofiend's working bike photos.

Utility bikes.

If you are one of the few enlightened individuals who has managed to escape the cult of the car, you might find yourself in a tough place when you need to move large, bulky items like kayaks, tables, and beer kegs. Until recently a bike-trailer has been the only option, but trailers can be cumbersome, unstable, and prone to theft. A few years back the Xtracycle was invented, and people began converting their extra bikes into utility bikes, or SUBs. In recent years several custom bicycle builders have introduced utility bikes, but they're hand-built and thus quite pricey (though still much less than a car). Thanks to increased demand, there are now a few mass-produced, purpose-built utility bikes available in the US (they've been available in the UK and other parts of the world for many years). The Bakfiet is a bike with a large basket between the main-frame and front wheel, good for hauling large quantities of cargo (kids, cats, vespas, whateva) that you want to keep an eye on. They're now available from Clever Cycles in Portland. Another option-in-the-works for Americans is the Yuba Mondo. These long-wheelbase bikes are used by coffee farmers in developing nations to increase their profitability. For more on that check out Worldbike.org, Project Rwanda, or Bikes to Rwanda. They can be used by you to increase your moxy. According to Ben at Xtracycle (they will be an American Distributor)the price range is $600-850. Why do I bother to write about all this you might ask? Aside from the fact that they're cool and "green", I'd rather get hit by one of these than by a station wagon so the more people that buy them the better for me.

Clever Cycles opens in Portland

Clever Cycles, a new bike shop by the folks that brought you the stokemonkey just opened it's shop doors for the first time. The new shop in Portland is oriented towards the utilitarian and commuter bicyclist as opposed to the racer, and is one of the few importers of dutch bikes in the US. According to their own description:
"Clever Cycles sells stylish, practical bicycles and accessories for everyday use. We serve households and businesses seeking to avoid dependence on cars. Dutch bakfietsen and city bikes, folding bikes, and our Stokemonkey electric assist for Xtracycles offer passenger and cargo capacity, plain-clothes comfort, all-weather readiness, and low maintenance."
Check out their new digs if you're in the Portland area.