Poppy Gall Design Studio Blog » 2 WHEELED INSPIRATION

Design Inspiration – Carved Saddles

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:38:50 +0000

When one imagines carved saddles, images of scroll and acanthus leaf patterns and shiny hardware atop Palominos come to mind. Craftswoman Kara Ginther has envisioned an entirely different kind of saddle. She expresses her design through intricately hand carved Brooks leather bicycle saddles. What a brilliant idea!

According to Ginther’s website her techniques for carving leather seats are quite straight forward. She only uses world renowned Brooks saddles. First she traces her design by hand and then embosses it with an awl into the surface of the saddle. She then carves away super thin slices of the outer layer to achieve a light and dark contrast. Some of her designs are hand colored. The carving doesn’t hamper the integrity of the saddle – it only enhances it.

She welcomes custom designs and her prices depend on the size, complexity and content of the design. Text, for example, is much more difficult that an organic pattern and is more expensive. Custom saddles range in price from $99 to $400 – that’s after you provide the saddle. When you’re splurging on a handmade custom titanium and carbon bike, what’s another couple hundred bucks for a really special saddle? Tally-ho!

If you’re not into cycling, she also custom carves Dansko clogs! Visit her etsy store here.

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Happy Holidays!

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:13:39 +0000

Don’t you love this card designed by my creative cycling friend, Ann? Have a wonderful weekend everyone. My studio is closed today. I’m taking a few ski runs, decorating my tree and starting my wrapping!

Anke-Eve Goldmann: Motorcycle Racer & Designer

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:04:37 +0000

I’ve come across the story of yet another inspiring and pioneering female motorcyclist – Anke-Eve Goldmann, a six foot tall German motorcycle racer. Slim and striking, she felt comfortable with both cameras and eyes focused on her as she proved her mettle on two wheels.

It appears that from the 1950’s onward she competed in Endurance and Speed competitions, but was barred from competing at higher level Club or GP racing because she was a woman.

I find it especially interesting that Goldmann designed her own motorcycle racing leathers. Apparently she worked with German leather riding gear manufacturer Harro in designing her custom riding gear. I’m presuming there wasn’t much in the way of motorcycling gear available for women in the 50’s so she helped create her own.

The custom summer one-piece riding suit she designed had a distinctive diagonal zipper starting at the neck and angling across her upper torso. A look that is certainly current today in women’s fashion. Harro went on to manufacture her designs for public consumption.

In winter her jacket featured a wide multi-buckled belt, too large to be merely a kidney belt. Perhaps it helped keep her warm in cold temperatures. Her winter riding suit was significantly bulkier and larger than her svelte summer cat-suit, and clearly accommodated woolen under layers.

After her closest friend died in a riding accident, Anke-Eve Goldmann seems to have given up motorcycles altogether, and began to travel with a backpack to remote Asian locations. Traveling alone, she trekked through Burma, the Sunda Islands, Vietnam, and Cambodia, not many years after the conflicts there had ended. More of her story at The Vintagent.

More Photos

You might also like to read about globe-circling motorcyclist Elspeth Beard

Mini Masi

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:38:29 +0000

This “mini Masi” photo caught my eye on Fixed Gear Girl Taiwan, not only because of the edelweiss apron the guy is wearing but because I once owned a Masi Gran Criterium made by the Italian frame building maestro, Faliero Masi. I loved that bike and logged well over 20,000 miles on it. I retired it after I crashed it in a criterium in Washington D.C. It belongs to a woodworker now and is sometimes covered with sawdust.

I don’t know the origins of this picture, whether it is an actual miniature frame with components, perhaps being held by the maestro himself, or just a very clever Photoshop job. I’m not actually even sure it is a Masi since I can’t quite read the lettering on the down tube, My quick google search to learn more left me empty handed. If anyone can shed any light on this photo, please let me know!

You might also like Vintage Cycling Toys

Design Inspiration – Cyclisme Buttons

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:00:50 +0000

Sometimes the best ideas are so simple that I wonder to myself, “why didn’t I think of that?”. (Bottled ice tea comes to mind). These buttons, from Buzzworks, which celebrate bike racing and its’ heritage are awesome! So simple, yet communicate so much about le cyclisme! The 24mm buttons come in 3-packs.

(Greg and Joop are also available)

For more Two-wheeled inspiration click here.

Design Studio Portfolio – Stowe Unfunded Sports Cycling Kits

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:15:46 +0000

Most of the projects I work on take about 18 months to come to market and for me to be able to show them in my portfolio. By the time the products are for sale in stores I have often “forgotten” about them!

This was not the case with the women’s cycling kits I designed for a fundraiser for Stowe Unfunded Sports. Project coordinator Pascale Savard and I started working on the jersey and short concepts in late May and they were delivered at the beginning of August. That’s super fast in my world!

The design direction demanded that the kit be feminine, sporty and somewhat retro – but NOT “girly”. Pascale is in love with Pantone 293, so that is the blue color we chose for the main body. I used a lot of white, making the kit both visible and feminine. 70’s cycling jerseys inspired the striping and makes for a clean look. The big Stowe logo adds an identifiable and retro touch. My biggest challenge was balancing the placement and colors of the sponsor’s logos on the jersey side panels, sleeves and back pockets.

Proceeds from the sales will go to help fund cross-country running, Nordic skiing, golf and the alpine ski teams in the Stowe schools. Kits are available while they last at H.E. Shaw’s General Store in Stowe, Vermont.

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Design Inspiration – La Vuelta a España Poster

admin — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 07:20:45 +0000

Note the spare tire laced around the cyclist’s upper torso and the double waterbottle holster on the handlebars in this official 1965 poster for La Vuelta a España stage race. The bulls add a nice Spanish touch. German cyclist Rolf Wolfshohl won the race that year.

The 66^th edition of the race begins today in Benidorm, Spain.

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Rainbow Bicycle

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:09:53 +0000

Have a lovely weekend!

photo: David B. Weaver

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2-Wheeled Inspiration – 6-Pack Holder

admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:07:17 +0000

This stylish leather bicycle 6-pack holder was originally designed to hold bicycle polo mallets. It’s use seems more universal for toting brewskis (or rakes and shovels or kayak paddles). You can even have one custom made. Click here for more info.

For more 2-wheeled inspiration click here.

Bicycle Couture – Knapp Light Summer 2011

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 07:04:07 +0000

I can’t resist showing these fun confections from the Knapp – a new fashion brand from Sofia, Bulgaria designed by ELLE Bulgaria fashion editor Antonia Yordanova. The Knapp Light collection for Summer 2011 features bicycles as design elements! While I can’t see myself riding a century in one of these creations, or even pedaling down to the store to pick up some milk, I applaud Yordanova’s design eye, and of course her bicycle theme! To see more click here.

Via: Adventure Journal