Once again, Spring has passed but let’s pause for some Italian style. Wood rims are historic, artistic, but also magnetic fashion.
Vogue Italy recently covered some wood equipped bikes. Subtle, compelling design.
I recommend visiting the Sartoria Cicli website to enjoy some beautiful images.
Classic Italian Simplicity.
Spring is also a time of visual miracles in Northern Italy. Here is a lovely scene at the Ghisallo Sanctuary.
Miracle in the mountains.
Islay (eye-lə) is an island off western Scotland and the source of Laphroaig, a single malt whisky of transcendent character. Among Islay’s 3500 residents are individuals deeply possessed by cycling madness. Brian Palmer is one of their better-known spokespersons and his Washingmachinepost blog is a vibrant current of cycling ideas and adventures.
He recently began riding a set of Ghisallo wood rims, thanks to the skilled building of Portland’s Jude Kirstein. I highly recommend the first episode of his wood rim experiences, “Woodn’t it be good…?”
Brian’s Ibis on Islay.
Bravo, Brian. We look forward to more of your clever, quirky insights.
Bob Freeman, restoration maestro at Elliot Bay Cycles here in Seattle, has finished a tour de force. His just-completed 1961 Cinelli is perhaps the nicest example I’ve seen. It’s an amazing job. Restorations like this have many twists and turns, tight spots, and obstacles. But when the finished machine glows like this one, you know it was worth it. 48 lovely images of the bike are here.
© Bob Freeman
