Bamboo Bikes from Panda Bicycles

"The One" Bicycle from Panda

A friend of mine just sent me a link to the website of Panda Bicycles of Fort Collins, CO. The designer-builders at Panda use bamboo frame sections joined by steel lugs. The bamboo is claimed to provide a more "supple and responsive ride" than that provided by an all-metal frame:

Using bamboo as the primary building material results in a super strong, ultra durable frame that provides style and comfort unlike any other frame material.

The founding team opened shop in picturesque downtown Fort Collins in 2009. The model you see to the left, "The One," a single-speed "fixie" commuter, was the first model out the door. It has currently been joined by three more models, including "The Action," a nine-speed city bike with vintage English styling.

For those who want to choose their own components, Panda also sells the frames alone. They also sell their own line of bicycle-centric apparel for men, women, and children.

Check out the Panda blog here.

Stratasys Mojo 3D Printer Leases for $185/month

Stratasys Mojo 3D Printer Kit

Stratasys still has its Mojo 3D printer lease program going here in the US. This is an industrial grade, professional printer of the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) type that you can lease for as little as $185/month. It prints with the Stratasys ABSplus material.

You can find a YouTube video of the Mojo in action here at a post we did about it earlier this year.

You can get a free printed sample by registering with Stratasys here.

Please note again that the lease program is available only in the United States.

   

Jake Von Slatt's Steampunk Workshop Blog

Jake Von Slatt Guitar Tube Amp

Check out master steampunk-craftsman Jake Von Slatt's Steampunk Workshop for all sorts of cool steampunk events, music, crafts, and more.

The steampunk-themed guitar amp you see here was designed and built by Jake Von Slatt for Nathaniel Johnstone when he was with the Seattle steampunk band, Abney Park.












       

Classic AJS Scrambler

AJS Scrambler

Just because it's beautiful...

I don't even remember where I found this pic. Stumbled across it today while going through some files and thought I'd post it here for your enjoyment, just because...









    

Walt Seigel Motorcycles Cafe Racers

Walt Siegel Motorcycles Ducati 900 Cafe Racer

BIKEEXIF is far and way one of our favorite motorcycle blogs. We found this beautiful Ducati cafe racer built by Walt Siegel there today, then jumped in to the Walt Siegel Motorcycles website.   Check out his bobbers and cafe racers. We especially like the H-D Ironhead Speed Glide.

Dues Ex Machina Builders and the Kawi WS650

Deus Ex Machina WS650 Custom

Thanks to the crew at Deus Ex Machina, I am falling in love with the Kawasaki WS650... at least as the basis for all kinds of cool customs. For example, the bobber they call Le Gicleur Noir that you see pictured here.

Also check out their Moto Grigio WS650 cafe racer.

"Return of the Cafe Racers" Readers Rides on Pinterest

ROTCR Reader Donny's CL350 Cafe Racer

While preparing our previous post on the Roland Sands Technics Sportster cafe racer, we found that the folks at Return of the Cafe Racers blog have put up a Pinterest page that features pics of their readers' cafe racers. Check it out here.

Roland Sands Technics Sportster Cafe Racer

Rolands Sands Technics Sportster Cafe Racer

Hat tip to one of our favorite blogs, Return of the Cafe Racers, for a story about this Sportster cafe racer built by former roadracer turned bike builder, Roland Sands. It was commissioned by Panasonic to publicize their Technics audio products. Note the details of the front wheel, which is designed to resemble a Technics analog turntable for vinyl records.

This custom started life as a stock Sportster 883.

If you've got a Sporty and are considering remaking into a cafe racer, check out the Roland Sands Design line of cafe racer accessories for the Sportster.

Also check out the Technics Sportster video here at Return of the Cafe Racers.

Connecticut & Oregon Shootings and the Deinstitutionalization of the Mentally Ill

After the Aurora, CO shootings last summer, we did a post here about a book, My Brother Ron, that had just been published by our old friend, Clayton Cramer. My Brother Ron tells the story of the movement to deinnstitutionalize the mentally ill in this country. This disastrous social experiment has brought turmoil and violence to our communities as thousands who should be institutionalized were turned loose on the streets of our cities.

There is also a deeply moving personal context to this book: Clayton's older brother, the "Ron" of the title, is schizophrenic and has been living on the streets for decades.

Through My Brother Ron, Clayton Cramer has made an important contribution to the debate about the treatment and housing of the mentally ill, and the prevention of violence in our communities, for which gun control is not the answer. In the light of these two new shootings, I recommend this book to you.

Update: Here's a link to an article on this general subject by Clayton published last May by the Federalist Society.

  

Blade Runner Sequel Site

Sean Young as Rachel

I found this site, Blade Runner 2, dedicated to news about the upcoming Blade Runner sequel. It is an independent site, not affiliated with Ridley Scott or the production company.  Pretty, cool, check it out.