Detroit is in Michigan, a state that has some rivalry with Ohio. Apparently Detroit-based Shinola is putting that aside to honor Ohio’s own Wright Brothers with a special version of the Shinoloa Runwell bicycle. The Wright Brothers Bike will feature a gloss black finish, bamboo fenders and a Torpedo headlamp. Just 25 of these 11-speed internally geared bikes, which were created to honor the Wrights’ incredible contribution to America’s history of innovation and industry, will be offered for sale at the company’s stores in Detroit and New York City.
Shinola Official Website: THE WRIGHT BROTHERS LIMITED EDITION RUNWELL
From a company like Shinola we’d expect a shinny bike and they didn’t let us down. The Detroit revival company that is known for its quality watches has also taken pride in making quality bicycles. To commemorate its new business the company has introduced a one-off, brass-plated work of art. The Runwell frame was built at the Waterford Precision Cycles in Wisconsin and then brass plated in Detroit. While it isn’t for sale it shows that the company truly knows style.
When we think of Detroit we think of cars and maybe Motown music, or more over how the city could use a turnaround. Fortunately some smaller shops like Detroit Cargo are trying to get innovative and taking the good old Motor City innovation in a new direction with quality products.
Detroit earned the moniker “The Motor City” because it was the car city in its heyday. Those times are in the past, but the days of “wheeled” innovation aren’t completely in the city’s rearview mirror. It might not be new car companies, but there is a serious bike movement in Detroit. New startup Shinola, a bicycle company based in the suburb of Waterford, is about to roll out a line of commuter bikes including the Runwell (above), a commuter bike that features disc brakes, Shimano Alfine 11 internally geared hub; and the Bixby, a three-speed that evokes the look of a classic European bike with just a hint of art deco influence.