Everyone knows D.C. is a bike-obsessed town, and it's great to see so many sustainably chic ladies looking cute on their commutes. But, although we know that safety is more important than style, dealing with a bike helmet when you're not riding around can be a bulky burden. After you dismount, should you lock it to your bike frame (risking easy theft), or carry it around everywhere (risking extreme awkwardness)?
Local lady Debra Zusin and her business partner, Mariana Chambers, founded GiveLoveCycle to create an elegant solution to this very problem. Zusin, a lawyer who commutes using Capital Bikeshare, needed a bag that could carry a helmet, extra shoes, and other necessities — without making her look like a bike courier. Along with Chambers, a longtime friend and avid New York City cyclist, Zusin designed a sophisticated bowling bag-style satchel that holds everything, and also looks appropriate in the office or out at night.
The waterproof, discreetly reflective bags are available for pre-order in a compact size for $135, or a larger carryall version for $185. If you dig the concept, there's a Kickstarter campaign in effect to fund the final stages of production on the first collection of bags. Rewards for backers include actual bags as well as limited-edition accessories. Get your piece of the pedal-friendly pie now — and expect to see these beauties zipping around town very soon.