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June 13, 2011

Joel LaChance: A Shade Tree Mechanic

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If you’re traveling through New Haven’s East Rock neighborhood some morning, you might see a man pulling a red wagon loaded with bicycle tools.

That’s Joel LaChance, the Goatville Cyclesmith, who also painted on his wagon: “a shade tree mechanic.”

He really does work under the shade of a tree, at the corner of Orange and Cottage streets. But LaChance also wears a straw hat to shield his face from the sun.

RANDALL BEACH: A bike man returns, this time without walls

 

October 21, 2010

The Path Less Pedaled visits New Haven

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“The Path Less Pedaled is an open-ended bicycle tour – and an exploration of what it means to live outside the lines. In March 2009, Laura Crawford and Russ Roca made the decision to drop out of the status quo and find something new in an open-ended journey.”

Last week they pedaled into New Haven as reported on their blog….

Bike Friendly New Haven –

“New Haven is probably more associated with the venerable Yale University than it is with cycling (though, as some residents like to proudly point out, the first chain driven bicycle was invented in New Haven!). Yet, during our stay we found the seeds of a growing bike community.”

 

March 15, 2010

Bike charity keeps on giving; Beefing-up the cell phone ban; plus CT sustainability news!

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“Wheels keep on turning for needy youth”

“Connecticut lawmakers warm to beefed-up cell phone ban for drivers“ “The proposed law, introduced by Gov. M. Jodi Rell this winter, also ups fines to $200 and $300 for second and third offenses, and it adds a new $500 fine for drivers who commit a moving violation while using a hand-held device. It would also return 25 percent of revenue from tickets written by local police to municipalities.”

“Knowing when to turn in the keys” “ITNAmerica was founded by Katherine Freund after her 3-year-old son was seriously injured when he was hit by a car driven by an 84-year-old. She had an unusual reaction; instead of lashing out at the driver, she became angry at the system. Intuitively, Freund knew that crashes caused by older people were not the problem — they were the result of a transportation system that wasn’t meeting the needs of an aging population.”

“Green efforts encouraged at grass roots.”

Bridgeport mayor unveils “BGreen 2020″ sustainability plan “The Greenprint lays out the plans for sweeping change in the city — in how we do business, in how we plan our neighborhoods and streets, and in fostering a more energy efficient stewardship of our resources,” Finch said.”

 

January 26, 2010

New Haven Neighborhood Quality of Life SURVEY 2010

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New Haven’s various Community Management Teams (CMTs) and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven along with DataHaven are conducting an important survey to assess the needs of individual communities throughout New Haven. Please participate, even if you don’t live in New Haven (residency not required). If you just work or shop here, you might still have some input. Anyone can take the survey here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/neighborhoodsurveynewhaven


This Survey and Workshop process will provide a starting point for each CMT and/or neighborhood to form their own plan of action around local quality of life concerns. By engaging additional residents, these problem-solving teams will attract new members, thereby increasing their future ability to take action.

You DO NOT need to be a current resident of any of the neighborhoods in New Haven in order to complete the survey; we welcome area business owners as well as employees, visitors, and shoppers. The participating Management Teams and sponsors thank you in advance for your responses. Your continued involvement will be vital as we work together to improve our neighborhoods. For more information on how to get involved in your local neighborhood please email newhavensurvey@gmail.com or call 203.936.9643.

 

January 8, 2010

The Undisputed Original

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This design of bag has been used in the transportation of mail and goods by numerous types of messengers, including Pony Express riders, postal workers, messengers on foot (especially in ancient times), and bicycle couriers. Some Royal Mail carriers in the United Kingdom currently use large messenger bags to deliver mail.

The design of the modern messenger bag traces its origin to the utility lineman’s bag of the 1950s made by De Martini Globe Canvas Company, which was founded by Frank De Martini and run with his two daughters, Kathleen and Marge. It was formerly located in an underground shop at 177 Mott Street in Little Italy New York City, and later Purchases by Rod Hanson.[citation needed] The original bags were handmade to order on the spot by the De Martinis themselves and cost $20 to $40. The present bags are mass manufactured, and for the large bag were $80 but recently were raised to $100. Custom work or additional frills are no longer done. The bags originally allowed lineman to carry necessary tools within easy reach while climbing utility poles.

Frank De Martini at work.

You probably don’t know that the originator of messenger bags, De Martini Globe Canvas, has been operating out of New Haven for the past few years. That’s because the founder, Frank De Martini, died and his daughter sold the name and company. Hopefully, the product hasn’t changed because it seems to be heavily endorsed by messengers. The web is full of comments praising De Martini bags as the originator of the style, and a truly reliable product.

Here’s my favorite review:

“Rode with Globe Canvas bags for two years in sunshine and in rain/snow in DC and RVA and never had a problem or delivered a soiled package.
It was a solid piece of gear, and in its ugliness dwells the beauty of nostalgic utility. It is not one of your metro-sexual bannana republic style totes.
It is a piece of working gear for folks who generally don’t have a need for modern chic in their gear.”
R/
WB

The New York Times even did a piece on De Martini in 1985:

A street hatch opens onto a steep well of crooked stairs. Below, large spools of colored canvas lean against old tables and sewing machines, while fluorescent lights vie for ceiling space with huge pipes. Scissors and awls lie about and pictures of schooners line the walls.

This is the underground shop of Frank Martini, the 76-year-old owner and sole employee of the Globe Canvas Company at 177 Mott Street. A sail maker by trade, he began making bicycle messenger bags 20 years ago. He has sold them wholesale to the more than 50 bike messenger services in New York ever since. No one else makes messenger bags, although some have tried.

“Everybody gets them from him,” said Glen Janus, a spokesman for Streetwise, a messenger service that has used the bags throughout its 10 years of business. “He’s a legend

While Mr. Martini labors below ground, .his work hugs the backs of speeding cyclists above who appreciate how the bag conforms to odd-size parcels, adjusts to unevenly weighted loads and endures heavy rains. Wearing his bag over his shoulder, Giovanni Headley, a veteran messenger, said. ‘If you take good care of it, it will take good care of you.”

If anyone has any experience with De Martini Bags, leave a comment below.

 

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