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My New Electra Bike- Design, Style, the Color Orange and a Sweet Ride
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 07:50PM 
I'm inlove with my new bike... as a die-hard fan of well designed stuff and objects that embody ones extension of style, I originally wanted the highly coveted and impossible to get Petro Zillia featured in the thumbnail to the right and below. The Petro is a creative collaboration between the Electra Bike Company and Fashion Designer Nan Tochterman. As you can see it has mega - beaucoup - style and some amazing colorful features. To my limited understanding - its been discontinued...though I know ebay has had some sales.
Seeing as it (The Petro) was such a hard to obtain object and my bike riding days were here and now, I settled for a different Electra bike, the townie. I test rode this orange townie and a cruiser (the one with daisy's) and well, I fell inlove...it felt like riding the BMW of bikes! Because of how the handle bars are situated I ride sitting straight up instead of leaning forward, which has helped my posture and back pain tremendously! The rest is history, because I had to have it...and what Lola wants..,
The 'Townie' has what is called 'flat foot technology' which to my understanding is just a design structure that swoops down that middle bar so short people like me (5ft.1 inches and a HALF!) can stand up. I can't tell you the pathetic small kids bikes I've had to use - so that I could accomplish standing up in the past.
I also bought the 'Quick release' basket and fell in love with that too. As an avid - no plastic bags person the quick release basket is such a sweet way to go to the grocery to pick up a couple of things. I sewed my own inside liner to really make my bike's look unique and I even added an inside pocket for my camera or cellphone. Since I'm still pining for some of the Petro pizazz, I'm working on my own handmade poms-poms and I plan to order fenders, paint them white like my back rack and customize them myself with my new found spray painting skillz. I'll be sure to share the progress!
Reader Comments (12)
omGosh!!! this bike transcends fabulousness! i have got to see you riding this bike, full speed with hair blowing in the wind and you screaming with glee!!!
nice ride amarettogirl! how many miles have you put on the orange flash already? where is the video of you riding through the town waving to the commonfolk on your mighty Italian steed?
I love, love, LOVE your bike! Orange is my favorite color, so rich and lively, and if we didn't live in a hilltop city, I think I'd be looking around for one of my own.
I'M IN LOVE WITH IT TOO! it's adorable!
your basket is too cute. i love how you sewed a liner in. excellent idea. your bike is truly one of a kind. i can't wait too see your future additions.
this bike is just to cute. I think i will get me one are they all the same colors.
I have a Petro Zillia, and she's a real beauty - but your bike is spectacular! LOVE the lining in the basket. One problem with my basket is it's leather straps, so you've got the edge there!
I'm actually in love with your bike, we should do some type of temporary swap, haha!
Sar
x
I LOVE your bike, orange, Electra's and your basket liner! LOVE!! You should sell them on ebay. I am a lucky owner of an Electra Hawaii in a beautiful silvery green. My accents are black and I have the black metal pull away basket. Your basket and liner are so much cuter.
I ljust ove the matching basket......For more great style granny bicycles take a look at www.velorbis.com I just love the red and white Dannebrog model
This is a super cute bike... a girl in my neighborhood has an orange Felt cruiser which I really envy!
Regarding Tess's comment on the liner, I came across these very cool bike basket liners that look similar to this one but also have straps so you can carry it with you like a handbag. I believe the site was www.bettybasketliners.com
I love that basket liner! I desperately want to make a liner for my bike. You didn't happen to create a pattern when you made this, did you? I have the same quick release basket on an Electra Jenny 3i.
Hey are you a professional journalist? This article is very well written, as compared to most other blogs i saw today�.
anyhow thanks for the good read!
Awesome!
I'm looking to get my wife a Townie a lot like that. But we're in New Zealand so I'll need to import it.
She's likely to want to jazz it up a bit. I really like your idea of a personalized liner for the basket; looking at the pictures I'm surprised how much of a difference it makes to the bike's look. Did you get around to spray painting some fenders? If so, how did it go?
Like you she's not tall: are you able to put both feet down on the ground okay while still on the seat, or do you need to stand forward over the bar?