FORM MEETS FUNCTION

A few summers ago, I moved to London to travel and live in and experience a foreign country and culture. While traveling I became enthralled with the beauty and practicality that cycling encompasses in Europe.
Before this time, I had never really considered cycling as both a pragmatic and artful means of function. For the longest time in the US, cheap and inferior products have been pushed to consumers, destined for early failure and capital re-purchasing. In Europe, however, the bicycle lives as an extension of the human experience. It is about much more than sport or transport, it has been an altruistic function from form, and it is the very definition of this sense. When I returned home I began obsessing over the bicycles I had experienced in Europe; the efficiency of their gears, the beauty of their design, and the practicality they embellished. There were a few specialty shops that sold them here in the States, but due to import tariffs and shipping they were marked far too high for my means at the time. So, I decided to do it myself, to create my own artwork, and use my passion and resourcefulness to bring this idea into reality. I researched quite a bit, and learned about the qualities and details that made the bikes I had fallen in love with in Europe so special. There was the utilitarian quality of internal gears, the pragmatism of rack casings and fenders, the comfort of leather saddles and wider tires, and the classic design of lugged frames and rod brakes.

One detail led to another: frame geometry, threading and sizes, tools, mechanisms, and gear efficiencies. It all seemed so overwhelming, but I knew if I just took it one step at a time I could overcome the task. Finally, I completed my first bike. It was a roadster of the British tradition. My hard work and long hours of detailed dedication had paid off! Unfortunately, the frame ended up being too short, the handlebars didnt sit quite right, and the chainring was the wrong measurement, but the knowledge and experience I had gained were invaluable and led me to my next effort. This was another roadster, but with twist of Dutch comfort. It was a masterpiece, or so I thought, although I soon learned it was too long for me and the gears I had chosen didnt quite engage like I had imagined. So, I went back to the drawing board. This time, I had created a functional representation of my vision that I was satisfied with. It was my take on a vintage Japanese single speed, with a salvaged frame and thoughtfully chosen components to accent it. It had taken months to achieve, but I couldnt quit because I knew the satisfaction that lay at completion. Ive ridden this bike for a year now. Last night I rode it to the shop and carried home my groceries. At that moment, a subtle beauty and gratifying feeling of completion overcame me. I had solely created this design, researched the most appropriate components, taught myself the mechanics, and implemented the idea, and here a year later, that idea was being realized. My form had indeed met its function!

WHAT I WANT: (Research/Brainstorming) I want to create a bicycle that reminds me of a simpler time. A time when quality was more important than quantity. A time when design and function where not mutually exclusive, but shared a common vision. A vision of practicality, style, and pleasure. At Slow Bicycles, we hope to embrace this philosophy. STYLE: Clean, classic, and minimal are words you can use to describe our approach. We derive our style from classic European influences. British Path Racers, French Porteurs, Dutch Comfort, and Danish Design Philosophy mark our tradition.

SEARCH: After much research from forums, chats, bicycle shops, and carriers I came to the conclusion that I could not find what I was looking for unless I wanted to pay a high premium or try and re-work vintage pieces (which all too often require more matainence than they are worth, and are not readily accessible). This sort of form and function no longer existed except in expensive niche markets. I want to offer this quality and beauty at a reasonable and accessible price, so all can enjoy. IDEA: If I could not find what I wanted, maybe I should start it myself. Enter, Slow Bicycles brand. Traditional Framesets Designed in Austin: -Classic 531 Tubing (The Best You Buy in the Bygone era!) -Lugged Joints (They may weigh a bit more, but they are the strongest and longest lasting way to build a bike) -Threaded Forks (Classic Style and Function!) -Track Ends (Versitility and Ease of Use) -Relaxed Yet Quick Geometry -Minimal Design with Choice of Branding And, Two Models: No. 139 and No. 133

EXAMPLES: -Sogreni -Recyckel -Cooper -Mercian -Pashley -Gazelle -Velorbis Vintage: -Porteurs -Path Racers -Alien -Bertelli

Slow Bicycles Price Plan (Patterened Prices) Cost Frame -Maxway Bottom Brackets -Andel/Cobra (68x110) -RPM/Sugino (68x103) -Sugino JIS (68x103) -Tange Brakes -Tektro r350 front -Tektro r320 Brake Levers -Tektro Cross -Tektro 313a Right or Left -Tektro 4.1 Inverse -Gran Compe Silver Cranks -Andel -Sugino RD Grips -Dimension Leather Stitched -Hunte-Wilde -Brooks Leather $120-150 Retail $300 $20 $22 $30 $22 $17 $15 $16 $10 $20 $50 $80 $90 $15 $10 $60 Handle Bars (check out eai) -Nitto Straight -Kalloy Straight -Nitto Track CrMo b123 -Kalloy Track -Nitto Swept Back -Kalloy Tourist al081 -Nitto North Road b352 -Sunlite North Road -NItto Bullhorn -Sunlite Bullhorn -Nitto Moustache -NItto RB-009 -Nitto Promenade -Nitto NordEast Headsets -Tange Levin NJS -Tange CDS Pedals -MKS Sylvan Track -MKS Sylvan Touring -MKS Stream $18 $52 $30.5 $10.79 $39 $11.89 $55 $32 $21 $20 $14 $17.5 $17.75 $18.75 $25 $20 $65 $25 $38 $16 $50 $15 $50 $17 $65 $50 $40 $30 $28 $20 $25 $25 $30

$4.25 $15

$75 $8.75 $4 $50

(Prices Cont.) Saddles -b17 -b17 special -flyer -flyer special -team pro classic -b17 narrow -b67 Seatpost -Kalloy Radiussed -Nitto Dynamic Stems -Nitto Technomic -Nitto Dynamic -Nitto Deluxe -Nitto Jaguar -Kalloy Tires -Ruffy Tuffy -Pasela TG -Pasela -Pasela Whte Wheels -Wein. DP18 Pol. fx/fx sb -Wein. Dp18 Pol. Loose -Sun M13II Pol. fx.fw -Vel. Deep V Pol. fx/fx -Vel. deep V Non Pol -Mavic Open Pro/Dura Ace -Mavic CPX22

$57 $80 $65 $95 $70 $65 $65 $12. $54 $32 $36

$70 $92 $80 $110 $85 $80 $80 $18 $75 $40 $45 $89 $89 $15 $40 $22 $17 $30

$110 $82 $82 $194 $179 $114

$140 $100 $100 $220 $200 $380 $150

$29.5 $15.9 $11.9 $22.9

Implementation

2010

est.

Slow Bicycles

Vision
I want to create a bicycle that reminds us of a simpler time. A time when quality was more important than quantity. A time when design and function where not mutually exclusive, but shared a common vision. A vision of practicality, style, and pleasure. At Slow Bicycles, we hope to embrace this philosophy.

Asthetic
Clean, classic, and minimal are words you can use to describe our approach. We derive our style from classic European influences. British Path Racers, French Porteurs, Dutch Comfort, and Danish Design Philosophy mark our tradition.

Observation
Companies I draw from: http://www.sogreni.dk/Bicycles.php http://www.recykel.dk/%5B_ri_saikl_%5D.html http://www.pashley.co.uk/ http://www.pashley.co.uk/ http://www.cooperbikes.com/ http://www.velorbis.com/

Inspiration

Research
After much research from forums, chats, bicycle shops, and carriers I came to the conclusion that I could not find what I was looking for unless I wanted to pay a high premium or try and re-work vintage pieces (which all too often require more matainence than they are worth, and are not readily accessible). This sort of form and function no longer existed except in expensive niche markets. I want to offer this quality and beauty at a reasonable and accessible

Frames
Enter, Slow Bicycles Frames and Models. Traditional Framesets Designed in Austin: 1. Classic Reynolds 531 Tubing (From a Bygone era) 2. Lugged Joints (Strongest Way to Build a Bike) 3. Threaded Forks (Classic Style and Function) 4. Track Ends (Versitility and Ease of Use) 5. Relaxed Yet Quick Geometry 6. Minimal Design with Choice of Branding

Models
(No. 133) Frame: BB: Crankset: Grips: Handle Bars: Headset: Pedals: Saddle: Seatpost: Stem: Tires: Wheels: Total Custom Andel Andel Hunte or Dimension Kalloy/Sunlite Tange NJS MKS Sylvan Brooks B17 Kalloy Kalloy Pasela Sun M13II Price $300 $20 $80 $10 $15 $25 $20 $65 $20 $20 $20 $100 $695 (No. 139) Frame: BB: Crankset: Grips: Handle Bars: Headset: Pedals: Saddle: Seatpost: Stem: Tires: Wheels: Total Custom RPM/Sugino Sugino RD Brooks NItto Tange NJS MKS Sylvan Brooks B17 Special Nitto Dynamic Nitto Dynamic Pasela TG Deep V Price $300 $20 $100 $60 $40 $25 $20 $90 $70 $45 $25 $200 $995

Resources
https://www.missionbicycle.com/ http://www.velomine.com/ http://www.bertellibici.com/

Suppliers
http://www.maxway.com.tw/ http://www.maxone.com.tw/ http://www.y-s-paint.com.tw/ http://www.jbimporters.com/web/ http://www.qbp.com/ http://www.euroasiaimports.com/