Bottle cage, redefined.

This past weekend, Signal Cycles, the local custom bike company started last year by Hollywood Bike Gallery staffers Matt Cardinal and Nate Meschke,  showcased its timeless bicycle crafts in Indianapolis at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Besides a lot of people oogling over Nate’s and Matt’s creations at the show (which reportedly drew more than 6,000 visitors), Signal Cycles also got noticed by the folks of popular bicycle news web sites velonews.com, cyclingnews.com, bicycleretailer.com and pedalpushersonline.com.

One of the highlights in the Signal Cycles booth was a custom designed front bike rack with an integrated dual wine bottle cage, which featured – very fittingly – two bottles of Commuter Cuvee pinot noir, another fine product of a Portland craftsman with Bike Gallery roots.

Here is one of the accolades Signal Cycles received from cyclingnews:

“Custom racks are always a big part of NAHBS and if such a category existed, Portland builder Signal Cycles would probably have taken the prize with its superbly brazed wine bottle carrier. [...]”

And they continue:

“Before you pigeonhole Signal as a rack company, though, the company also displayed complete bikes such as an elegant randonneur machine and a sweet yellow townie. The randonneur bike also sported rather unique fender mounts and a neat rear brake housing stop, and both bikes were fitted with gorgeous dropouts.”

Nice work Matt and Nate! We’re sure the bottles of wine will come in handy to celebrate another successful show. A votre santé!

For more impressions of Signal Cycles’ at NAHBS, check out the various pictures posted on flickr and at Signal Cycles’ blog.