Form vs. function – a design argument that will always have two sides. Lorenzo Martone thinks you can have both, which is why he created the Martone Cycling Co. The company features a line of monochromatic bicycles that are all equipped with red chain, a large handlebar basket, and a SRAM Duomatic rear hub, and matching tires. Outside of the Fashion world the bikes may be relatively unknown – though Martone is extremely happy that some big names in fashion have been seen rolling around on his bikes, including Karl Lagerfeld.
Check out more after the break, including a bike that might be easily confused with a Ghost Bike (uh oh).
All of the bikes are priced at $899, and include a steel frame that is offered in 5 colors and 52cm and 56cm sizes for the men, and one size fits all 50cm for the women. For a company that is marketing specifically to the fashion conscious which will include a lot of women, it’s disappointing to only see one women’s size offered, though taller women can obviously buy a men’s bike instead. Both the men’s and women’s bikes roll on 42mm deep double wall alloy rims with 700x32c tires that are propelled with the SRAM Automatix which auto shifts between two gears depending on your speed. Not the most lightweight bike at 31 pounds, the bike may be a hand full if you have to hike up and down stairs on your daily commute.
If it wasn’t for the red chain and the red lettering, the white Real may be considered a fashion faux pas based on the striking similarity to a ghost bike – a completely white bicycle put in place as a somber memorial to cyclists hit or killed on the streets.
Fortunately, if you like the white there is also this silver and white Regard which mixes things up with a silver frame, fork, and crank.
It seems black is always in style as well, which you can show with the Mercer. You can order a Martone and get it shipped directly to you 80% assembled for $40-110 shipping in the US.
