Ever wonder what to do with all your old, popped bike tubes? One company, Retread based out of Adventure Cycling's hometown of Missoula, Montana, has come up with some great solutions. Wallets! Belts! Bike pants straps! I ran into this company at our annual MissoulaMade Festival, where local artisans sell their crafts and wares to enthusiastic, local holiday shoppers.
Adventure Cycling’s executive director, Jim Sayer, sports a bicycle tube wallet and can attest to their durability -- he’s had his for over 10 years! He purchased it from a company called Used Rubber USA. (They also makes bags and briefcases from waste truck inner tubes).
My favorite Retread product is their Strap, a pants leg bike strap made from a bike tube, velcro, and reflective tape. Brilliant -- why didn’t I think of making that?
Beyond recycling bike tubes, Retread also uses old billboard banners to make bags and billfolds.
And while I was excited about their bags and wallets, I was most inspired by their business cards -- they run old cereal boxes through their printer to make their cards. Though people always warn you not to do so, I tried this at home. Alas, it did not work. Best to leave it to the experts!
photos courtesy of Retread
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GREENCYCLE is posted each Saturday by Kylie Paul, Adventure Cycling’s sales and shipping specialist. With a lifetime commitment to conservation, Kylie hopes to share the many ways that bicycling and Adventure Cycling are helping to improve our planet!
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