A Fresh Bicycle Requires Fresh Gear

April 26, 2009 • 4:31 pm • POSTED BY Adam Flanagan

This weekend was the nicest so far this Spring, and with that everyone was out riding their bikes. Twitter was blowing up with reports of people riding up the Schuykill River Trail, and there’s nothing better than BBQ hopping from neighborhood to neighborhood on a bicycle. My nose was bombarded with all kinds of BBQ smells as I rode around over the weekend, it was the best feeling. With all the excitement and people biking around I thought I’d share a few of my recent cycling obsessions after the jump.

A lot of us ride our bikes for different reasons, and let’s face it, we’re not all bike messengers, no matter how badly we want to be zipping around town all day and eating lunch in the park. Some of us commute to our office jobs on our bicycles, and not all of us can wear cut-off jeans to work, which is why I love this New York based brand Outlier. They have a super classic, sophisticated style, but also use very sophisticated materials that work well with cycling. Their inspiration comes from those wonderful vintage images of men with mustaches riding bikes, but with a modern twist in their fit and fabrics. Many of their clothes are made of ultra fine Merino wool from New Zealand, but they also have some fancy technology in their clothes too. Like the 4Season fabric they use for their pants, which is a nano-tech fabric modeled after the surface of a Lotus leaf, plus the pants look classic and fresh. Browse and purchase some of their gear, including hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and pants, at their site, Outlier.cc.

Since Summer is quickly approaching, I’d suggest the Montana based company Freeman Transport, to those that don’t have to take a “staycation” this summer. Their track bikes with S & S coupling (so the frame can break down and fit into a tavel bag) is perfect for that trip to Puerto Rico, or wherever. You’ll get to avoid renting a bike, and you can ride around in style. Plus, when you purchase one of the custom bikes, for $2,475, you get an extremely durable waxed cotton and leather bag for the bike to fit in. Check out their store for some great gear as well, including some nice t-shirts with their gorgeous script logotype, at FreemanTransport.com

If for some reason, you still didn’t get out and ride you bike this weekend, maybe you’re just not feeling motivated enough, then go and buy Fast Friday. The documentary about the rise of fixed gear bike culture on the West coast. Here’s the trailer.

Fast Friday | Seattle Fixed Gear Film from www.getoutdoors.com on Vimeo.