Hasta La Ideas

Courtesy of Aaron Panone (top) and John (Prolly) Watson’s (bottom)

Boston-based industrial designer Aaron Panone can’t seem to sit still for a minute: we had a look at his CNC-controlled drawing machine, a collaboration with Matthew W. Moore, and he’s back with a ridiculously awesome bicycle part, the “144#47” chainring. (In the meantime, he also had time to submit another recent project, a custom drum harness, which unfortunately got lost in the endless tide of inbox inundation.)

Seriously, Prolly’s photos look like renders, not least for their poppin’ teal backdrop…

This marks Panone’s first “self-branded product”—he does a fair share of consulting for clients, including his Somerville neighbors, Geekhouse Bikes—the result of an eight-month quest to find the right machine shop, which turned out to be a two-man operation in Peabody, Massachusetts. Panone notes that “I am very glad that I waited, because I have not seen CNC machining of this caliber in a long time.”

Track bike enthusiasts (myself included) should already have guessed that the name comes from the BCD and tooth-count; purists will also be glad to learn that it’s designed for a 1/8” chain. The first run is limited to 30 black and 20 clear anodized pieces, designed and manufactured right here in the U.S. of A., available in Panone’s online store at remarkably minimal markup.

More photos & details after the jump…

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