The best bike I never bought (yet!)

I saw a Gazelle the last time I was in Oxford - no, not a fast moving animal in a zoo park, but a Dutch bike locked to some railings!

Look at the simple, practical, features it has:

• a three-speed hub gear
• a nice sturdy carrier
• "proper" full-length mudguards
• a built in stand (at the back of the carrier)
• a full chainguard to keep the grot off your trousers/skirt/legs
• a front hub dynamo and built in lights (although the front light is missing from the bike pictured!)
• a relaxed sit-up-and-beg riding position

Bit of shopping

Last night, after work, I popped into one of the supermarkets in town.
Just got a few bits in my front basket.
Then home again.

Today's shop - a half a gallon (imperial) of milk (2.2 litres), potatoes, cartons of orange juice, and (underneath the juice - out of sight) a can of baked beans and a can of peas.

This is what a bike is ideal for - those trips when you just want a few bits

Pictures: our BikeBins after two years of use

We've had our BikeBins hard-sided pannier boxes (read our original review of them here) for a little over two years now.
So here's some pictures of how they are getting on:

The Cycle Caravan

I came across this recently, and I thought I'd share it with you.


It's a Pathe news clip from 1939, and it shows two people pulling a small caravan by bike. Then after that I will describe what "modern" options exist.

Angling for a ride ...

surely one of the best ideas for a "custom" bicycle is:
the Anglerfish art bike by Group D Creative Collective in Australia, recently seen in the Sydney VIVID 2012 festival.

The bikes are clothed in a tub-like structure, then wrapped in cloth, then illuminated from within - giving the effect of a lighted giant fish moving along as the cycle is pedaled.

See their work here: