apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i have to say something that has been bothering me. I love this blog and the postings are always interesting, but I can never find a link to click for the top image on any of these. I really want to find out more about that bike, but there is no link to the product page. I really wish you all would put a link up there, or if it is there, make it easier to spot because i never can.

MFlick,

That's built by Ant Bikes at http://www.antbikemike.com/

Beautiful, and when you look at the prices, remember these are transportation vehicles, not weekend toys.

it's a gimmick to force you to sign up for the daily emails. i patronize this website more than enough (multiple times daily), and don't find the need to overburden my already stuffed mailbox.

the bike is the Light Roadster by A.N.T.Bike (Alternative Needs Transportation) in MA. http://www.antbikemike.com/lr.html

More power to A.N.T. Bikes, but you'll never catch me paying that amount for a bicycle, sorry. Look, we "go Green" because we want to respect our planet's resources. My time and money are my resource too. Shopping used is the way to recycle and not throw dollars away. When it comes down to dollars and cents, any bike that costs a few grand IS a trendy status toy.

I can't bring myself to spring for an ANT either, though my better half does have one (and he rides it daily), but when I decide to spend big bucks on something really beautiful, I try to find something handmade.


Paying a few grand for a mass produced bicycle is one thing, and I'd pass, too. All you are paying for is status. A handmade bicycle is a different story. You are paying for craft and supporting a crafts person.

This site is so full of beautiful objects that are made in all kinds of factories from the joyful commune to the horrific sweatshop and most of the time it doesn't show in the price tag.

Recently I was staring the price tag on a $300 blouse and pondering the people out there with money like that to burn and what it must be like to be them, when I noticed the shirts other tag: "made in china." $300 for a sweatshop shirt.

If you're smitten with the ANTs but don't want to wait in line (Mike has a 14 month waiting list) check out Rivendell's off the rack frames, or custom work at Vanilla Bicycles and Ira Ryan. Or you can buy local with Johnny Coast

When it comes to bicycles, you get what you pay for (to a certain degree). Cheaper bicycles come with cheaper (plastic) components that fail more quickly if you frequently ride it.

With my bicycle over the past $10 years, I've easily spent at least 2X more than what I've paid for it ($300) in repairs and maintenance and accessories (gear replacement, derailleur failure, brakes, lock, lights, helmets, rack and panniers, tubes, etc).

If you're a committed rider, then it is worth the time and money to buy a bike with good components. But there are a lot of more affordable options out there that don't cost $2K for those that can't afford the handbuilt/custom options. I'd love a new bike (cuz it would be fun) but I'm now sentimentally attached to my little blue cheapo bicycle now...

Happy riding!

That is one gorgeous bike, that will sadly never be mine.

There is a company in Vancouver, BC called Jorg & Olif that imports the most beautiful Dutch city bikes. These bikes come in different styles, including those redesigned for life in North America, and have all sorts of fantastic accessory options.

Check out the website http://www.jorgandolif.com, but if you're ever in the neighbourhood, you must check these bikes out for yourself!

Bike thievary is so common place in LA, the last thing I would invest serious cash in is a fancy-pants bicycle.

My rusty and trusty 10-speed, equipped with equally rusty side baskets, gets me to where I need to go w/o having to worry if it is going to still be locked up upon my return.

Saving the planet is almost as important as keeping my anxiety to a minimum.