Saturday, November 28, 2009

Cool or weird?



A friend sent this link to the new "Moof" bicycle, designed in Amsterdam Sjoerd Smit and offered for sale ($600) by Areaware, a NY design firm.

(See more on the Moof here) 

At first, I was taken by the in-frame light and the recognition of the basic beauty of the commuter bike frame.

The more I look at those huge TIG welds and think about the unforgiving aluminum, the more I'm inclined to dismiss it as a designer project that will come and go without leaving much mark.  But what do I know?

Any thoughts?

9 comments:

  1. I would more expect to see this in the Museum of Modern Art than on the road. But, it has piqued my curiosity. Maybe just once around the block--at night.

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  2. I like the athestics of it...but the practicality leaves a bit to be desired. No racks and if the lights quit where do you get spares? Also it claims they are solar powered, that won't be worth a crap if you park it in a shed or lock up in the shade. I am not a huge fan of aluminum frames, having had a couple fail under me. FWIW I do own a couple of aluminum bikes...but that is 2 out of 30.

    Aaron

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  3. @Aaron,
    30? Wow. Kind of puts my garage-bursting 10 in perspective. Only 7 of the 10 are actually mine, but since I bought them, it's fair to blame me for the lack of space. But 30... you're my new excuse: "But Aaron has 30 bikes! If he gets to, why can't I?"

    There was a time when 30 would have sounded crazy. Now I totally get how you get to a number like that. One cool, irresistable, must-be-saved bike at a time.

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  4. @Anon,
    There are moments when I like that top tube and moments when I really hate it. Over time, I think the "hate" side would win. Something about it sticking past the stem and seat post looks brutish.

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  5. @Mike,

    That 30 is my bride's count...I think there may actually be a few more ;-)

    Not all are mine, she has 3+ bikes plus 1/2 the tandem. A couple more are stored for my children (who are grown).

    There is plenty of storage room, I have a 40' shipping container that serves as my storage/shop as well as a couple of barns if needed, sometimes it pays to live in the country. :-D

    Aaron

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  6. Um...that toptube is weird, not in a good way.

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  7. that settles it. i'm with Dottie.

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  8. These designer projects are usually focused more on making some sort of conceptual point, than on making the object serve its purpose. Aside from liking the forms, I am also not a fan of aluminum bikes. I'll pass.

    One new bike concept I do like is Wytze van Mansum's project for Cannondale.

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  9. Filigree, that Cannondale project is stunning. I love the integrated fenders and I'm mesmerized by that bottom bracket.

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