Several months ago we made friends with the proprietor at Xian Cao Mi （仙草宓） an awesome chain of shops that make delicious Taiwanese treats. We chatted at length about bikes naturally. He was a big fan some of our previous projects including the beer trike we put together for Lazy Pug last summer. Being a big part of the food and beverage community here in Chengdu, he was hip to a number of other awesome little shops looking to get into vending by trike. 

The benefits are obvious. Taking your treats to the street offers extra visibility, it’s unique and most importantly, it’s a low-cost way to introduce your goods in a special way to a larger audience. Not to mention the fact you can cater the bike to fit the style and spirit of your business. This was exactly what was going through our friend’s head when the idea dawned on him that this was the perfect way to sell ice cream.

So our friend at Xian Cao Mi introduced us to a close pal at Alexander’s. Alexander’s makes gourmet ice cream. With locations throughout China it is easily one of the most successful ice cream chains around. And it’s not hard to understand why: Alexander’s funnels their passion for making tasty frozen treats into delivering nothing but the best ice cream to its customers. Delicious.

This attention to detail really shines with the folks at Alexander’s. When we began to discuss ideas of how to design a set of trikes for selling ice cream near their Tai Goo Li location, nothing went amiss. They understand that in order to deliver the finest ice cream and ensure customer happiness, the full experience need be attended to. The bikes were designed to match their surroundings, simple, sleek and modern with a nod to the traditional style of Chinese culture.

Like using but the freshest ingredients for a batch of ice cream, Alexander’s picked only the best bits to complement the bike’s utility. A Brooks saddle, quality hand-built wheels, and a custom-built storage box with hand-made bamboo umbrella cover: everything about this bike breathes excellence. It rides great and looks even better. And nothing is more valuable than to have a bike that while functional, speaks to the value of whatever it is you may do. Simply because it shows.