I love workspaces. All kinds.

Last March I had the good fortune to be able to be allowed a peak into the spot where a company called Cielo manufactures their bicycles. Neatly tucked away within the Chris King Precision Components factory is a little section where they operate. My friend Daisuke was in town and we had the extreme pleasure of visiting this little nook where great things happen. Daisuke was in town from Japan and more than excited to see what the King family had cooked up with Cielo. I was also happy to use this as my in to see what went on behind what were normally closed doors.

I took a few photos and we milled around trying to look important, when really I was in awe (admittedly this is how I feel every time I get a glimpse of bicycle builders spaces anywhere) and then we went on our way. I wrote about it on the Rapha Blog and chalked it up as just another amazing workshop that I was fortunate enough to experience. There it would sit, in the memory bank with a tag on it titled “awesome” until it was again something that needed talking about.

This little trip became relevant once again when, recently, Chris King decided to start making the bikes for another company based here in Portland called Beloved Cycles. The bikes being produced are pretty much anything and everything you could ever hope for in the City Riding department of cycles. And hopefully you hope for the world when it comes to riding your bicycle in your city. Because you should. My high school basketball coach left me with the best fashion tip that anyone could hope for. Even thought it was his way of trying to help us get our shit together on the court, I think it applies to most aspects of life. It went like this:

“If you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you play good. And when you play good, you win.”

We won with these bikes. They look good, feel good, and this is the bike that I want to be cruising around the city on.

So, our bike launch last week was even more exciting than your usual bike launch. I mean all new bike launches are exciting and spectacular, but this one a bit more so. The Rapha Bicycle Collection was something that we have been working on for a while now. A collection of some of our favorite people to work with, and both Chris King and Beloved fall into that segment of the population. Plus, it gave me the perfect chance to go back and revisit my day with the Chris King family of bicycles. And just so you know, this is going to become even more interesting when we (and by we I mean The World) has a chance to see the Every Day in person at the 2011 North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Austin, Texas next month. So, stay tuned for that as well.

I was recently in the Los Angeles area and was recommended a visit to Mohawk General Store. “Check that place out, I think you’ll dig it,” is what the text message read. “A General Store?” I thought to myself.  The images that instantly come to mind are the Cracker Barrel restaurants that dot the landscape throughout the midwest. My grandparents insisted every time we came to town that we take in the great atmosphere and indelible flavors that the Cracker Barrel had to offer. Mohawk General Store, for the record, is nothing like that place.

In fact, it could be said that this place is a pretty great place to spend a few minutes. Peruse their great collection of “goods,” if you will. I only say “goods” to stay in keeping with the General Store theme, and though I did try to purchase a sack of grain and 40 pounds of hard candies, I could do no such thing here. This place is more dedicated to fashionable styling for men and women alike.

The fashion selections within the place were impeccable, but at the same time there were no real surprises as to what was found inside. Wood Wood belt. Retrosuperfuture glasses. Some pants, some shoes, that stuff. However, the two things that help to set this place apart from other shops of the same ilk were the Antiques and the Sound Equipment that were for sale, but also expertly displayed to give the whole place a sort of travel/expedition feel. Not really sure what the musical connection relates to (check out the Mohawk Blog which contains more than a few musical refs as well) but all the pieces that were positioned throughout the shop worked well with the overall decor. Oh yes — I was also excited to see copies of It’s Nice That #4 resting smartly near the entrance — love those guys.

So, if you happen to be on West Sunset sometime soon and feel a hankering for your old days of lounging creepily in the gift shop area of Cracker Barrel, well, then go next door to Circus of Books. If you are in the mood for something a bit more tasteful and interesting, then I suggest the stylish interior of the Mohawk General Store.

4011 West Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, Ca. 90029

Open Monday – Saturday 11-7PM Sunday 12-6PM