If you had $10,000 to spend on a new bike would you opt for one wrapped in vegetable tanned leather and embellished with custom wool knitting? What if it had leather pedals and Oaxacan wool rug panniers? Well, if you didn’t pre-order the $20k crocodile skin fixie, then you may not be WILL’s target market. But you might have a leather fetish, or you might just be curious nonetheless…
The picture paints the thousand words that could be written on this one-of-a-kind contraption WILL has entitled Oaxacan Bike #2.
WILL states the culture of Mexico was the inspiration for this 1935 Elgin cruiser wrapped in finely crafted materials that “take WILL fans on a journey” and honor a culture of weaving and hand-looming. The final product is certainly worthy of any cycling-journeyman or art-collector. Who hasn’t always wished to display leather-wrapped spokes?
WILL’s Leather Bicycling #1 is said to pay tribute to the Western Pre-Revolution period and its original means of transportation — the horse. Gazing upon the Leather Bicycling #1 long enough will transport the viewer back to a far simpler time of leather crafted saddles and one-of-a-kind saddle bags reminiscent of the Pony Express. There is an apocryphal rumor that Portland’s mail-carriers will soon be delivering their packages via these bicycles during summer months.
In keeping with the Western theme the Leather Bicycle #1 boasts ornately embossed saddlebags, an embossed bike seat, and handlebars wrapped in hand-stitched, oiled bridle leather. Not one Western detail has been spared a most generous leather-wrapping treatment — not even the fenders.
William Adler is the man behind WILL Leather Goods. He is quoted as stating, “My dream is to create unexpected products and experiences that ignite adventure, passion and inspiration.” It appears he has done exactly as such with these two, bike projects; they truly are unexpected.
