Starting Bike-Related Biz in Chicago + a Kickstarter in May

I just thought Chainlinkers would like to know about a design business I'm starting, developing and making products for people who walk, bike or take transit in the city.

The name is Toynbee Carriage Co, because the main focus will be improving how we carry things around when we're on foot, on a bike or on transit. 

http://getoynbee.blogspot.com/2011/10/so-here-goes.html

Our first product will be a tiny device that keeps your bike from always falling down when you just want to lean it on something, or while loading it with cargo (trust me, it works better than a kickstand!).

In May, we're going to be launching a Kickstarter campaign to get the thing into production, and I've already sorted out the details of manufacturing the product in Chicago, so they should be ready to deliver in July.

If you want to follow the progress of starting Toynbee, or the launch of the Kickstarter, then follow us on Facebook, and then eventually when I get a website launched in June.

http://www.facebook.com/ToynbeeCarriageCompany

Thanks for reading, and I hope you'll like the stuff we're gonna design for you.

---Carl

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Permalink Reply by Carl on May 21, 2012 at 9:53am

OK, well, the Kickstarter is launched!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/487830610/spokebug

 

Spokebug, the first product from Toynbee Carriage Company, has just been launched on Kickstarter.

Toynbee is a new company started by Carl Boyd with a mission to develop products for urbanites who walk, bike or use transit.

Spokebug is a clever little device that keeps your bike upright while loading cargo, and when you just want to park it against a wall or pole. Flip up the clip, and the bike stays still, and doesn't fall over.

This is currently only available on our Kickstarter, along with two other new products that are designed as part of our mission, and made in Chicago. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/487830610/spokebug http://www.facebook.com/ToynbeeCarriageCompany

 

Thanks for looking.

---Carl

Permalink Reply by Ace Mann on May 21, 2012 at 10:23am
You got my $55 great idea & best of luck.
Permalink Reply by Carl on May 21, 2012 at 10:33am

Thanks, Ace! You were our pivotal 33% backer! Spokebug is now very likely to reach full backing!

Thanks, Brah! =)


Ace Mann said:

You got my $55 great idea & best of luck.
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on May 21, 2012 at 10:39am

Like!!!!!

Carl said:

Thanks, Ace! You were our pivotal 33% backer! Spokebug is now very likely to reach full backing!

Thanks, Brah! =)


Ace Mann said:

You got my $55 great idea & best of luck.
Permalink Reply by Legacy Frameworks on May 21, 2012 at 11:26am

This is great guys, glad there are more people jumping in like I did. Kickstarter wouldn't have me so I bootstrapped it.

Your spoke bug is great, I'll be getting a few for my bikes. If you want to put your Chicago made products on Chicago made bikes, drop me a line. I would be happy to talk with you. Reminds me of the old down tube to tire clip thing I have floating around. 

Keep it up, I'll be pulling for you.

Permalink Reply by rb on May 21, 2012 at 11:40am

Yes this reminds me of something in the way back machine, called I believe a flickstand- don't have any more around the stable...

http://gearinches.com/blog/misc/flickstand

congrats on building a local business and also having local manufacturing 

Permalink Reply by Carl on May 22, 2012 at 5:16am

Thanks, folks! 

Yeah, Flickstand was a cool device, but it didn't work if you had fenders, and there are so many shapes and sizes of downtubes these days! And Flickstand hasn't been in production for years.

---Carl

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on May 22, 2012 at 12:34pm

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