Zen and the art of bicycle bag building

Blending American utilitarianism with Japanese spirituality is tough to do seamlessly, as the seams are all clearly going to get visibly stretched and bulged-out by that Buddha dude. Pulling it off: Lazy Monk.From a pair of bicycle-riding Japanese expats now settled in Duluth, Lazy Monk hand-makes stylish, tough-as-nails bags (all from super-duty 1000 Denier Cordura-Plus & 18oz nylon-coated fabric) which're blessed with "Buddhist prayers for your transportation safety", and employ the traditional embroidery technique of Sashiko originally worn by Japanese peasants, though the fact that they had laptops even in feudal society shows just how far ahead that country is. Take a spin with:AcalanathaThe largest of Lazy Monk's three sizes of messenger bags is available in a variety of hand-stitched tessellations, and is named for "the best known of the Five Wisdom Kings of the Womb Realm" -- so, suck it in continued obscurity, Trilokavijaya!Mesa Perfectly sized for tools or a spare tube (should you actually be using it whilst biking), it's kinda like a mini version of the messenger bag, only with a reflective waist-belt, meaning you'll just have to trust them that it's a "hip pack".MonkpackBrand new and available in every color from camo to celery, this backpack employs a rectangular design inspired by traditional canoe packs, as they feared a fresher design might rock the boat.And so ish doesn't get all loose inside your new bag, they're also hawking multi-colored zippered pouches, themselves sporty enough to make you feel lucky without any rub at all.