Shinola's Very Limited Runwell Di2 and All Their Other American Made Bikes.

The heart and soul of a Shinola bicycle begins in the legendary Waterford Precision Cycles factory in Wisconsin, where their frames and forks are individually handcrafted by experts using double-butted cro-moly steel.

Once shipped to their Detroit workshop, they undergo a custom-level assembly by Shinola's bike specialists, and each component is fitted by hand and tested for precision. This close attention to each and every detail ensures that every bicycle that ships from their Detroit workshop delivers impeccable reliability and an unbeatably smooth and responsive ride.

At the moment they have the Runwell, The Bixby, The Bixby for Women and now the Limited Runwell Di2.

The Very Limited Runwell Di2

This limited edition Shinola Runwell Di2 ($4,500) has been creating lots of buzz since Interbike. Shinola has committed to making only ten, and folks are lining up to get one while they last.

Classic styling meets the performance benefits of race-proven shifting and braking technology in The Runwell Di2 Limited Edition. Features the enduring style and predictable handling of an American-made lugged steel frame and fork, combined with the latest performance technology of Shimano Di2 electronic shifting and Alfine hydraulic brakes, Alfine dynamo front hub, and Supernova E2 Pro bright light.

Lightning quick, push button shifting, with handlebar-mounted LED control panel, and on-demand lighting make The Runwell Di2 Limited Edition a classic bike that’s also incredibly convenient. They've built out The Runwell Di2 Limited Edition with their own aluminum front rack, black alloy fenders and fender-mounted super bright PDW FenderBot tail light. Cables, wires and Di2 battery are internally routed.

Due to the extremely limited availability of The Runwell Di2, each bike will be built to order, with an anticipated ship date of March 2014.

Only available in white
$4500
buy it here

The Runwell:

Inspired by the enduring French style of Porteur bicycles, first used by newspaper couriers in Paris, The Runwell delivers a classic blend of urban style and practicality. Meticulously designed to yield the best characteristics of a lugged steel frame and fork, we've engineered The Runwell to handle predictably and smoothly for city riding, commuting and errand running. Virtually maintenance free, courtesy of the high-end Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal hub, daily riders will never need to worry about adjustment, maintenance or exposure to rain and snow.

Stopping power, in any weather condition, is assured with the quiet and smooth disc brakes. Internal cable routing keeps the cables out of sight and out of the elements. Racks and fenders fit easily onto the frame. Responsive and predictable handing, classic and enduring style, low-to-no maintenance, stopping power in any weather condition, with an American-made frame and fork—The Runwell is truly a unique and worthy voice in the crowd.

Available in dark orange, light orange or blue.
$2,950.00
buy it here

The Bixby:

The Bixby--an Editors' choice by both Outside Magazine and Bicycling Magazine--riffs off the fun look of the curved top tube, but improves on the fit and function with nimble frame geometry and a Shimano 3-speed internal hub.The American-made steel frame and fork are designed for comfort, utility and smooth urban riding, in dry or wet.

The Bixby is offered in both a classic men's and women's frame design, with thoughtful touches like gender-specific saddle design and proportional geometry. Like The Bixby's big brother, the Runwell, The Bixby frame has custom Shinola dropouts, fork crown, rack and fender mounts and internal cable routing.

Available in green or charcoal
$1,950.00
buy it here

The Women's Bixby:

The Bixby riffs off the fun look of the curved top tube, but improves on the fit and function with nimble frame geometry and a Shimano 3-speed internal hub. The American-made steel frame and fork are designed for comfort, utility and smooth urban riding, in dry or wet.

Available in charcoal, pink or taupe
$1,950.00
Buy it here

Shinola also makes watches and leather goods. Check out all their cool American-made items here

all images and bike descriptions courtesy of Shinola.

Can't Pay 20k For Jeff Koons and Dom Pérignon's Balloon Venus? Get The Limited Gift Box Versions Instead.

The news broke last June that artist Jeff Koons and Dom Pérignon collaborated on a limited number (650 worldwide) of manually assembled and hand polished champagne holders inspired by Koons' Balloon Venus.

The two-foot tall polyurethane resin version (shown above) of the artist's bulbous take on the 25,000 year old fertility symbol, Venus of Willendorf, was designed to cradle a bottle of Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2003 and is offered in a limited edition of 650 worldwide costing $20,000 a piece.

above: Jeff Koons and Dom Pérignon's Richard Geoffroy with Koons' Balloon Venus for Dom Pérignon design and the hot pink full-sized sculpture that inspired it.

If you can't afford the $20,000 Balloon Venus bottle holder (and if you can, I'd like to be your friend) than perhaps the limited edition gift box is a better choice.

The Limited Edition gift box was designed by Jeff Koons himself for both Dom Pérignon Vintage 2004 and Dom Perignon Rose Vintage 2003. The exterior of the boxes feature silk-screened spot-varnished images of a yellow Balloon Venus and a hot pink Balloon Venus (to match the respective cuvees) on a dark background.

above: Koons' full-sized Balloon Venus in yellow

From the outside, the gift box extends the feeling of being in the presence of Balloon Venus, as the reproduction features a 360 degree view of the sculpture.

A view of the artist’s studio is visible on the reflective surface of the Balloon Venus, a reference to the place where Jeff Koons takes his inspiration, just as the Abbey of Hautvillers is where Richard Geoffroy, Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon, creates the Dom Pérignon vintages.

The gift box opens to expose the bottle, unveiling first an elaborate design that simulates the iridescent interior of the original sculpture made of high chromium stainless steel with transparent color coating dress. The iconic Dom Pérignon bottle erupts, exactly as it does from the body of the Balloon Venus for Dom Pérignon.

Similar to the boxes, the bottle foils give a pop twist to the color of its cuvée, Blanc or Rose, interpreting the tension between the colors and the dark bottle. It bears a metallic shield with the same color layout as the foil and the box.

The label plays with colored surface on the depth of the shield, emphasizing its allure, playful and yet mysterious.

Richard Geoffroy of Dom Pérignon said that the label first approached Koons with the idea two years ago, and gave the artist free rein on the end design of the package.

The limited edition boxes can be found at select specialty liquor and wine stores all over the world.

Dom Pérignon has previously collaborated with such artists as David Lynch, Marc Newsom, Martin Szekely, and the estate of Andy Warhol for limited edition champagne buckets and bottles.

Dom Pérignon
images courtesy of Dom Perignon and Jeff Koons

Cool Concrete Docking Stations for the iPhone 5.

Modern and industrial looking, these are concrete docking stations for the iPhone. A minimalist design created by Jordan Castro of the Massachusetts-based company Zeitgeistfactory, it is handcrafted from a proprietary blend of cement and recycled stone dust which is a by-product of the countertop industry. Each dock is designed to stand vertically or horizontally. The removable concrete peg fits snugly into place via two silicone o-rings.

In white concrete: