What A Concept 12: Corroded Concept

Happy Friday!  What a concept brings us a weathered idea this week that surely will fascinate.  Some things are always more interesting when designs meander off the beaten path, but that doesnt always mean it is a good idea, or bad either.  Isn't that definitive! Lets check out this weeks installment of the What A Concept! K.ed Volume 12.

In the time I have been out rescuing old bikes, and trying to restore as many as I can, the biggest enemy of our two wheeled friends is rust. It rests in scratches in paint, festers, weakens lugs, destroys gears, cables, and pits our chrome finishes. It's nasty, and never ends its assault.

Part of the attraction to older bikes is the patina they acquire over their years, and much like people, develop a visual personality that is unique. Rust is a part of that patina, but not a kind, or truly welcome one. Because of its destructive nature, the very presence of it spells trouble. 

photo-Partisan Vodka

That having been said, introducing the winner of the Partisan Vodka's bicycle competition. The FeO2.  Two teams were given 700€ and six weeks to create a unique bike that could be replicated for a short, promotional run.  The winning entry (the FeO2)  from the trio of Hans Steinkopf, Sebastian Faber and Christian Görmer. It  has been forcibly oxidized and accessorized with some interesting military style pieces.   A front rack holds an army surplus woolen blanket, that is secured by a regulation leather belt. A custom leather pouch mounted below the Brooks leather saddle,  contains a flask that resembles a gas can.  

Photos-Partisan Vodka

Overall, from a slight distance this bike looks rather nice.  Somewhat classic styled and interesting.  But that rust bothers me.  A matte paint in a brown or "rust" color would have been sufficient to create the effect without inviting the grim reaper to a new bike.  Oh, but its just a texture, a finish for an artsy appeal!  So what, the one thing bikes have going for them is their practical nature.  Usefulness in a package of fun with some allowance for self expression.  Paint was introduced to bike frames to not only add color, but to stop rust from appearing like this.  Why?  Because as I said before, its destructive, it shortens the usable life of a bike, and it can stain your pants.  

If offered in a better finish, it would be not much different than a number of already made bikes, with the exception of the flask, and blanket, which, I'm sure you can find if you really want to add them.  This moves design away from making advances, to going sideways in an effort to impress, assumably, hipster types.  

Aesthetics are important, and as such are the reason why so many finishes are available.  For those that do not like paint, there is chrome, or bare metals that do do not oxidize.  There is also carbon fiber.  It just seems a waste to put forth the effort to hand build a bike to be given such a limited usable lifespan.  

Total rating?  Need to even ask?  well, be surprised, because its only a 5 Hipstars.  The rust thing really did take down what could have been a neat theme idea with the can, and blanket, but those were not enough on their own to merit more than 1 Einstar... After all, those components are only decorator touches.   I did however like the bar sweep, the rack/with bar stem clamp and the offset rods off the side of the head tube.  Of course the Brooks leather is nice, just not unique.  

5 Hipstars!