You’re invited!

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Join Adventure Cycling Association and Swift Industries for a special gathering at a very cool location in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle on Wednesday, March 20, with Executive Director Jim Sayer. Meet kindred cycling spirits and learn the latest about bike travel and cycling in North America, including Adventure Cycling’s work on a new Bicycle Route 66, a fantastic new Idaho hot springs loop, the U.S. Bicycle Route System, and national advocacy. Food and drink will be provided, including brews from nearby Peddler Brewing Company.

Please RSVP at info@adventurecycling.org or 406-532-2751 by March 18.

When: Wednesday, March 20, 7:00-9:00 pm
Where:Swift Industries (a four-person handmade bicycle pannier company) 1415 NW 49th Street, in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, just three blocks from the Burke Gilman Trail. Bike and car parking available, transit accessible.

Are you able to lend a hand? We are looking for a volunteer or two to help with the event by picking up some snacks and beverages and prepping the gathering location. Please contact Beth Petersen at info@adventurecycling.org or 406-532-2751 if you are interested.

We look forward to seeing you in Seattle!

Sincerely,

Beth Petersen
Member Services Manager

Adventure Cycling Association
Inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle

www.AdventureCycling.org
Phone: 800-755-2453

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The North American Hand-built Bike Show

Here’s the challenge: there are three bicycles showcasing with our bags at NAHBS in Denver this weekend.

The first four people to tweet or intragram photos of all three bikes get a treat from Greg Heath at Donkelope Bicycles!
You’ll need to show Greg all the photos to get your goody, and your photos need to be tagged #swiftindustries if posted on Instagram!

Have fun, and good luck!

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A tribute to the spirit of the times!

 

 

 

 

Zeitgeist Saddle Bag

We’re so excited about changes to the Trunk Saddle Bag that we’ve decided to rename the bag the Zeitgeist Saddle Bag. Bicycles are no longer a subcultural trend, but have nested themselves in the dialogue about contemporary urban and rural planning, personal and family lifestyle, transportation, and pleasure. Here’s to the timeless cultures of the bicycle!

New features in 2013: We’ve been sewing the trunk saddle bag for three years now, and we’re really excited to have gathered experience and feedback to bring you an improved saddle touring bag this season. Visible changes: An elongated flap ensures that you can stuff your saddle bag to the gills, and we’ve rotated the side pockets to better accommodate both saddle attachment and the use of the Bagman support. Only to the trained eye: we are reinforcing the points that carry the most load with covered bar-tack stitching and have made the side pockets less deep by an inch to keep small gear close and snug. You can now upgrade either saddle bag size to Expedition status for $17.00.

NEW Expedition Upgrade $17.00

Add four dee rings and two integrated daisy chains to your Zeitgeist Saddle Bag flap. You can lace in bungee or webbing straps to add a jacket or sleeping mat to the exterior of your bag. Perfect for the light packer and heavy packer alike.

Have a look at more on the product page here.

Swift Industries closed to custom orders January 2013

Custom orders closing from January 1st to February 1st, 2013. (That means pounce if you’re hoping to get bags in January)

Ready Made orders will be waiting for good homes for the duration of our closure, and available for shipment within four business days of purchase.

Ready Made panniers

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Here at Swift Industries we are molding the culture of our company, and we’ve landed on an annual tradition that breathes vitality into our work, and that is, well, less than conventional.

We close our doors to custom orders for the month of January. Last year was the first time we had given it a shot, and it was one of the most fulfilling choices we’ve made. Here’s what I told you a year ago:

“In September, I hatched a seedling of a plan which soon became my beacon as the summer rush seamlessly folded into the holiday rush, sans pause.

This little idea? Close Swift Industries for six weeks. I know, it seems like a little feat–and you might say: she’s the boss, what’s the big deal? Well, I must be honest, it took a great deal of courage to take the time to slow down. Infact, I will argue that slowing down is antithetical to doing business.

This year was the first in six that Jason and I didn’t do any bicycle-touring together. Damn. I was so busy sewing ten hours a day that I had no way to step out and skip town. We understand that touring season is part of cycling season, and that we’ll be committing to working while others are playing. But it dawned on me that we not only get to, but we need to, create a culture around this company which allows us to play as well. So here’s to tradition: We will be closing our doors every year to take time to rejuvinate and get our restore our creative forces. We hope the time will lend itself to touring, and certainly will commit ourselves to taking a break during the middle of the winter. This year we cooked, and slept, and went to the coast, and biked, and trained the dog to get in the trailer, and did a whole lot of creative work behind the doors at Swift Industries.” --From Head, Heart and Hands, 2012

Team Swift will be in and out of the studio as usual, but for four to six weeks we will be egging each other on as a creative team, we’ll be riding our bikes a lot, and attending to the body of the business that gets neglected during our day-to-day hustle.

We have caps, tool rolls, and Ready Made stock available for the month, as well as Gift Certificates and Wool Cycling Jerseys.

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Thanks for the most successful year yet! You’ve all breathed life into an independent business right here in Seattle, and we love you all so much for your enthusiasm and support.

We’re livin’ the dream cuz of you!

See you on February 1st when the queue opens up again

XOXO

Martina, Jason, Sonia, Ilana, and Loki