Sylvan Cycles out of the US is playing around with some faceted wood prototype frames. These are somewhat different that the other wood frames we’ve looked at in that they are using a faceted composite wood. The ‘look’ is interesting but I can’t get past the fact that the main tubes look like pencils…

In their words: “Our proprietary wood composite technology enables us to create frames that bring together a rare combination of performance, comfort and sustainability. The result is bicycles that offer exceptional ride quality, high-performance, and great looks. (Actually, they’re drop-dead gorgeous, a blast to ride, and green by design.) They’re forward-rolling examples of what’s possible.

Our proprietary construction processes utilize sustainable materials in ways that rival or surpass conventional frame materials for performance. For example, our wood-composite tubes are as stiff as comparable steel tubes — but 30% lighter; offer damping properties similar to titanium, superior impact resistance to carbon — and the incomparable aesthetic of wood”

They seem to be offering a range of frames, including a 26 and 29″ XC frame.

Check out Sylan Cycles [here]

See the madness that is this bike in all its glory…. [here]

“The NYC Helmet is designed with every rider, every season, and a greener environment in mind.

As unique and dynamic as the City of New York itself, the NYC Helmet is an innovative modular system consisting of two components: a protective polystyrene inner shell and a soft fabric outer cover with integrated straps. This design allows its owner to customize and personalize the outer cover, which easily separates from the protective shell for easy storage and cleaning” (Fuseproject)

A really solid idea to get people to wear helmets in a country where they are not mandatory. The idea of designing a helmet that can be seem as part of a greater ‘unit’, in this case NYC’s planned bike share system, and then making it look like something applicable to the environment and can be user defined, is just damn smart thinking. I am pretty sure the large amounts of casual riders/commuters you see wearing skate/bmx style lids is an indication that not everyone likes the UFO aesthetic of most helmets these days and a simple idea like this can go a long way.

What’s best about this is that the whole notion/problem of how to lock a helmet up when you don’t want to carry it, has been resolved in such a simple way…

[Fuseproject]