Khakis

As often happens, this week I came across a couple of very similar things independently of each other within the space of a few days. In this case its bicycles, specifically khaki-coloured, double top-tube bicycles.

The first is by Beg Bicycles, spotted at a Home-Counties-Lady-Who-Lunches-Type Christmas fair - this is not the sort of thing I would normally frequent; I was there for work. Nevertheless, these bikes do seem to be the real deal; solidly made by a Belgian family firm in lugged steel, classic upright geometry and all mod cons. Their 'Bertie' is a nice approximation of a mid-century porteur and is available in that all important olive drab/khaki or 'Toad', as they say. They also do snazzy crates for your front rack and nice ladie's bikes too.

And via the Archival Clothing blog, we have something with a slightly more substantial heritage. The '1918' is an updated replica of an American WWI-era military bike by Oregon's Winter Bicycles. Really nice craftsmanship and finishing details on this one - shifter on stem, custom rack, seat clamp/seat stay integration, and a nice paint job.