The First 100% FSC-Certified Wood Bicycle in the U.S. From Renovo & Collins

above: the Renovo R4 Pursuit model made with FSC-certified CollinsWood.

The Collins Companies has just announced that it has commissioned the first 100% FSC-certified bicycle in the nation. In case you were wondering, FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council.

The bike, manufactured by Renovo Hardwood Bicycles, is an “R4 Pursuit” model that features a stiff, powerful and lightweight frame. All of Renovo’s bikes are custom-made – adjusting the stiffness and ride quality to the customer’s individual riding style and weight.

Renovo is one of the few companies in the world that manufactures wood bicycles (but not the only one, be sure to see Woody Bicycles ) and the only one making them with hollow frames.

Here's a few of Renovo's beautiful wood bikes and frames made with Black Cherry, Hard Maple, Birch, Hickory, Padauk, Sapele, Laminated Bamboo and exotic woods like Purple Heart, Bubinga and Wenge:








“I am proud to have used 100% FSC-certified wood on this particular bike,” stated Ken Wheeler, owner, Renovo Hardwood Bicycles. “We utilized a species combination of CollinsWood® from the Collins Pennsylvania Forest including; Black Cherry, Hard Maple, and Birch.”






Collins had this bike commissioned for one of their employees, to demonstrate their continued commitment to this mission. “Although wood bicycles are still in their infancy, we are constantly exploring new ways to have CollinsWood incorporated into everyday products and we want our customers to explore new uses,” said Cameron Waner, marketing coordinator for The Collins Companies. Waner continues, “Specifying FSC-certified wood in their projects is one of the most powerful things our customers can do to change the way wood products are harvested and sold around the world.”

The bike made its worldwide debut at the Greenbuild International Conference in Chicago, on November 17-19, 2010.

Renovo Bikes

Biomega Designs New Bikes For Puma

Copenhagen-based bicycle company Biomega has designed 5 new bikes for Puma. Designed for urban commuters, the new bike line combines European design with US riding styles, resulting in a completely new Trans-Atlantic bike paradigm.



Each of the five bikes is available in either all white, all black or tri-color options and special features like folding and integrated handlebars which distinguish these from others on the market.




DISKO


The PUMA Disko Bike mixes BMX features (handlebar, sloping top tube), city bike features (upright seating position), folding bike features (folding functionality), and 24” wheels (in between a BMX 20” wheels and a city bike 28”).

The PUMA Disko was developed for city dwellers and requires little maintenance. It incorporates BMX handlebars to hold the body in an upright, heads up position for better navigation. The bike folds at the top tube, reducing it by 50%, to fit in tight spaces such as underground transit systems, the trunk of your car or a small city flat.



The PUMA Disko also features an integrated locking system as part of the bike’s structural framework, intended to both safeguard the bike from theft and simplify the commuting process by alleviating the need for a separate lock.



A double loop of heavy gage wire replaces the down tube of the bike’s framework and hooks onto the bottom bracket of the seat tube. The built in locking mechanism utilizes a pin release system, which frees the wire enabling it to be wrapped around a stationary object and secured back into the bike. $970.00 buy it here

PICO


The PUMA Pico Bike mixes BMX features (handlebar, sloping top tube, 20” wheels), mini-bike features (low elongated top tube, upright seating position), carrier bike features (optional front carrier), and folding bike features (optional folding functionality).



The PUMA Pico comes with or without an innovative front carrier integrated in the handlebar for the quick and dirty drop of grocery bags. The design references a BMX, but holds the body in an upright, heads up position for city navigation.



The bike comes with or without a folding system integrated in the top tube, reducing it by 50%, to fit in tight spaces such as underground transit systems, the trunk of your car or a small city flat. $695.00 buy it here.

NEVIS LADY


The PUMA Nevis Lady Bike mixes city bike features (handlebar, 28” wheels), cruiser features (laid back seating position), and carrier bike features (optional front carrier).



The PUMA Nevis Lady comes with or without an innovative front carrier integrated in the handlebar for light transport of your daily needs. Developed for city dwellers, the Nevis features a traditional cruiser handling style. The geometry holds the body in an laid back, heads up position for navigational position. $725.00 buy it here

NEVIS MAN


The PUMA Nevis Man Bike mixes city bike features (handlebar, 28” wheels), cruiser features (laid back seating position), and carrier bike features (optional front carrier).



The PUMA Nevis Man comes with or without an innovative front carrier integrated in the handlebar for light transport of your daily needs. Developed for city dwellers, the Nevis features a traditional cruiser handling style. The geometry holds the body in an laid back, heads up position for navigational position. $725.00 buy it here

FUNK

The PUMA Funk Bike mixes city bike features (dual brakes, free wheel mode, 28” wheels) and track bike features (handlebar, aggressive seating position, fixie mode).

The PUMA Funk comes with track bike handlebars. The geometry holds the body in an forward, leaning position for aggressive urban commuting. The design references a track bike, but uses aluminum for lightness and includes brakes for security.



The bike comes with a back wheel that can be reversed to switch between a single speed free wheel and fixie. $860.00 buy it here.

The story behind names and colors:

The Names

The latest PUMA Bikes are named after islands in the Atlantic Ocean. This method is grounded in the Trans-Atlantic inspiration behind the bikes’ design, where smart and practical European design meets laidback, urban American style.

Disko Island is a large island in Baffin Bay, off the west coast of Greenland.
Funk Island is a small island northeast of Wesleyville, Newfoundland, Canada.
Nevis Island is an island in the Caribbean Sea, located southeast of Puerto Rico.
Pico Island is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores.

The Colors
Flashy against the gritty city. PUMA Bikes boast bold color combinations. From lemon yellows to funky fuchsias to ocean-glass turquoises, the colors are likewise inspired by vibrant island color. They fit the Trans-Atlantic theme and defy the expected.


all images and information courtesy of PUMA.

Electra Bikes Is In The Lead When It Comes To Style.

The Electra bicycle company is relatively new to the cycle industry when compared to standards such as Schwinn and Raleigh, but makes some of the best looking bikes out there. They have been receiving some recent press about their two new Alexander Girard bikes from the design community, but if you're not familiar with the company and their complete line, you should be.

Whether you like surferesque cruiser bikes, preppy ladylike wheels or rat fink rides for the wee ones, they have it. They have 5 different collections, many styles and apparently do more than just look good, having been the recipient of Bicycle magazine's editor's picks and other awards.

First off, I'll show you the two new Alexander Girard bicycles:



Electra Bikes has added two special Alexander Girard Bicycles to their 2009 models. The Madonna and the Tree of Life bikes are in available in Ladies' styles only, in the colors shown above and are part of the Amsterdam Collection.

The Madonna (Red):



details:



The Tree of Life (white):

details:




Below are the available accessories for both Alexander Girard Bikes:


Electra Bicycle Company is a Carlsbad, California-based bicycle brand/company, founded in 1993 by Benno Baenziger and Jeano Erforth. The company offers a wide range of modern cruiser bicycles for men, women and children and helped bring the cruiser bike back into more popular use.

Their collections consist of The Amsterdam, The Cruiser, The Townie, The Kids as well as Tandem bikes. All of their bikes are aesthetically pleasing with great looking graphics, colors and designs. They have a vast range with styles running the gamut from preppy to beachy, hot rodder to florals, retro to streamlined.








Below are some details for you from some of their many bikes. Wild color combinations and imagery like florals, Hawaiiana, Rat Fink, flames, pin up girls, retro patterns, pin-striping, polka dots, distressed type, classic colors, whimsical baskets, and even matching training wheels for little boys or girls.




























About their flat foot technology (click to enlarge):


They have many accessories for their bikes. Specially designed seats to match certain models and designs (like the three shown below), bells, baskets, flowers for the handlebars, decals and more, are perfect accompaniments to the great looking bikes, regardless of style.





Their frames are built to last a lifetime. Made from the finest tubing, TIG welded with fastidiously applied paint and details. All steel and aluminum frames carry a limited lifetime replacement warranty for the original owner.

Go here to find a dealer near you.


Their website.
The International site, their store in France.
Learn more about the company here.

USA (Main Office)
Electra Bicycle Company
3270 Corporate View, Suite A
Vista, CA 92081, USA
Tel: (760) 607-2453
Fax: (760) 598-7350