The Leather X Porteur bicycle covered in saddle leather is a one-off project from French designer Nicolas Yvars that's handmade using vintage parts. Yvars tells BikeRadar.com the beautiful bespoke conveyance combines his three passions – "leathercraft, street fashion and luxury" – and is modeled on a type of bicycle once used by newspaper sellers in Paris. It took him more than a year to track down the parts which he assembled himself, outsourcing only the frame painting and wheelbuilding. Bespoke touches include a hip flask attachment under the saddle and hand-stitched detailing on the leatherwork. Yvars says he has no plans to produce the bike, which combines great looks with agility and comfort, but is using it to promote his marketing company, Ateliers d'Embellie. However with think that demand for the Leather X Porteur might turn out to be so great he'll consent to assemble others for the right price.

There are two ways to take in the Tour de France. One is to cram yourself into a spot along some godforsaken stretch of road with all the other riffraff. You can hope to get a look at the action ... as long as they person in front of you isn't tall. Or, you can find your way to Monaco's F1 circuit, where the race departs. Instead of schlepping out to the site, you can stay nearby. Without the hassle of getting to and from, you might actually enjoy the experience!

To help you enjoy the kickoff of the 96th Tour, the Fairmont Monte Carlo has put together a great package. Stay from July 1 to July 5, and you can pick up a room for €529 (around $735) a night, with a buffet breakfast included.

So, if you've ever wanted to witness the greatest cycling spectacle of all time, here's your chance to do it the right way. Once the riders depart, drop some cash on the roulette table, and sip a wine carefully crafted in Provence. Do everything that those dedicated athletes can't. The lucky racers won't be back until next year, but you can take a few more days to play with the wealthy.

Your Memorial Day weekend may include a bicycle but likely it's nothing like this. The new Fendi Abici Amante Donna bicycle is designed for luxury cruising. There are two versions, a $5,900 iteration with Fendi's Selleria leather accessories and a detachable Fendi case and the deluxe bicycle for $9,500 that also has removable fur saddlebags. WWD reports that at a celebration event at Fendi's Fifth Avenue flagship four bikes, two of each style were sold. I love a good classic bike but this one just goes too far for me if only for the impracticality of the fur saddlebags. It seems to be a bike you could never leave unattended unless you wanted to take the accountrements with you.

[via NY Mag's The Cut]

Aurumania has a mission to turn ordinary objects into sparkling, golden collectibles, and this Swarovski-studded gold-plated bicycle is a perfect example of that mission. Each Crystal Edition Gold Bike (available in a limited edition of only 10) is hand built and features "every visible surface" plated in 24 carat gold and more than 600 Swarovski crystals accenting the frame. I wouldn't think it's intended for real use on the street (they also sell a gold-plated bike rack for display, if you're interested) but they do offer a 10 year "no questions asked" guarantee so maybe it is. Can't imagine chaining it a bike rack on the curb though. €80,000

Via Luxurylaunches

With the environment to think about, and our wallets also due to ever-growing transportation costs, investing in a well-made custom bicycle is sounding a lot more appealing to many people than it did just a few years ago. Now whether you can justify forking over as much for a bike as you would for a car is another story, but for some having a customized two-wheeled ride is worth it. KGS Bikes has a special fitting process that makes their bikes customized to fit each individual buyer, and meet their unique needs. The prices range from $8,000 - $32,000, with the highest price point buying you a "one-off work of rolling art."

Via Bornrich

Last year, the Gap offered a brightly striped holiday Vespa. This year they are going even greener, selling blue argyle-printed Electra bicycle. The bike comes two sizes, the adult version for $499 and a kid's version for $299.

The bike is part of Gap's holiday campaign that includes the usual crop of celebrities looking adorable in sweaters and scarves (this year's cast includes Jon Hamm, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Hudson, Rainn Wilson and Mary-Louise Parker). The ads feature ttaglines centered on the theme of "your own." Each individual in the campaign provided a handwritten response to various fill-in-the-blank taglines about the holiday season. Twilight's Cam Gigandet's tag-line reads "Fulfill Your Own New Years Resolutions," Actor Rainn Wilson wrote, "Merry Your Own Naughty Elf," and Actress Milla Jovovich's simply says, "Celebrate Your Own Gift."

The Gap has also created a series of videos with actors, musicians and comedians in holiday attire performing remixed versions of traditional holiday carols. The videos include Selma Blair and Rainn Wilson singing "Baby It's Cold Outside," Jon Heder and Janelle Monáe performing a unique version of "Winter Wonderland," "Jason Biggs, Romany Malco and Freddy Rodriguez sounding bells to "We 3 Kingz," The Dixie Chicks and Sandra Bernhard belting out "Deck the Halls," Flo Rida and Trey Songz remixing "Jingle Bells" and a performance of the entire holiday cast performing a never-before seen remix of "Jingle Bells" led by Flo Rida and Trey Songz which is embedded after the jump.

Kids are notoriously rough on their toys and sometimes it's worth it to spend a little extra to get something that can stand up to the abuse. Outdoor toys like bikes not only take a beating from your kids but from the weather also, which is why some parents might opt to splurge on this titanium tricycle. Not only does it have a nearly indestructible and rust-proof titanium frame, but it also looks classy with its carbon seat and white leather saddle, plus bright white wheel rims.

Although I still prefer the traditional red tricycle this one does look pretty snazzy. $2,500

In Los Angeles, Derringer Cycles are the new Bentley. Whether you want to go green or just look good doing it, you'll want one of these moto-hybrids.. You can reach speeds of 40mph, pedaling not required. (Hence the hybrid in moto-hybrid: you can pedal as if on a traditional bike, use the engine for assistance, or rely completely on your bike's 4-stroke engine.) Depending on how often you choose to pedal, your moto-hybrid can get up to 180 miles per gallon.

The Derringer cycle was conceived by famed industrial designer Adrian Van Anz (Brad Pitt is a fan) to "take the compromise out of environmentalism," riffing on parts Ducati and parts Schwinn. You can order up your hand-built cycle in splashy colors ranging from Fresco Blue to Bad Girl Pink (there's Good Girl Pink, too), or custom paint jobs like 22-carat engine-turned gold. Check out the gallery for all the cool options.

Derringer has a retail store at 7954.5 West 3rd St., L.A. and can talk bikes with you over the phone at 323-944-0091. Cycles sell for $3,500.

Get fit, be green, and travel in style on one of the new James Perse Cruisers. Available in 4 colors, the vintage 50s and 60s-style Beach Cruisers (meaning they have wide tires for handling the sand, low wide-set handlebars, and coaster brakes) are custom built and in limited edition. Features include a Hydroform steel frame, hand-aged leather seat and handle grips, wide 2" rims and tires, and a limited edition serial number and serial number tag. Only available at James Perse boutiques for approx $2200.

Via Acquire

With gas prices hitting high levels even the wealthier consumer is experiencing the joys of pedal power. There are a variety of innovative bicycle designs on the market, perhaps none as distinctive as Strida. Strida is folding bicycle that weighs around 20 pounds and transforms in five seconds. It is made from lightweight, rustproof aluminum and a Kevlar belt replaces the traditional metal chain. The horizontally-mounted handlebars and a soft yet sturdy seat provide a more comfortable upright riding position with a clear view of the road and a secure center of gravity from which to steer. The model shown above sells for $800.

Sometimes stuff just catches me a certain way and I can hardly stop laughing, and this Sella Bicycle Seat Stool is one of those items. Designed by Achille Castiglioni, it's really a very simple creation consisting of a black racing bike seat on a pink steel column and (get this) a rocking base.

I totally understand that in many ways furniture design is an art form and practical usability isn't always a top priority, but if you're going to call something a stool there's at least a slight implication that it could be sat on, if you were so inclined. But I'm afraid anybody trying to take a seat on this baby is simply cruisin' for a bruisin'. Oh well, it does look nice! £336.


Via Wists

I've seen foldable bikes before but not ones with their own posh trunk. The foldable Brompton bike in a box from luxury trunk makers Pinel & Pinel makes packing for a weekend jaunt easy. The leather-covered trunk is available in a variety of colors and has nickeled brass handles. It sells for $12,000 from Vivre.

Mercedes-Benz is launching a new emissions-free way to travel: the Folding Bike. It's obviously not their first bike, but it it is a unique bike in that it's designed to fold up all handy and fit in your vehicle's trunk in just two swift moves. Designed to be folded not only quickly but also cleanly (no grease or dirt on your hands!) and measuring just 800x800x220mm, it will not only take up practically no space in your garage but will fit comfortably in the boot of your Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet -- ready for a quick ride anytime. Available in April 2008.



Via Treehugger

Who doesn't like to ride in style? Now it doesn't have to be a car but a blinged-out bicycle! This limited edition bike included in the spring/summer 2008 fashion line-up for Chanel was designed in part to celebrate Coco's passion for the sport. The plush, quilted-leather seat, functional saddle bag and smashing double-C logo are also accompanied by an 8-speed gear. Get your exercise and look amazing spending only $12,400 for this one of a kind bike. Just don't wear your sweats with it -- you will have to look snazzy to take this one for a ride!

I love the outdoors, so it's always a bit of a bummer when this time of year swings around and it starts getting darker earlier. For you bikers out there who find yourself pedaling in the dusk and the dark this is something you might want to check out: the Betty, by Lupine Lighting Systems. It's made to attach to your bike or your helmet (or wherever) and it's the brightest (and possibly most expensive) bike light ever made. The Betty is so bright, in fact, that if you pedal too slowly or stop completely it will start dimming itself automatically because it needs your self-generated wind to keep from overheating. Nice motivation to keep pushing yourself!

Made of seven LEDs, the Betty bike light is about as bright as a car's headlights (watch out for deer!). $1185


Via Book of Joe