The "Little Lifter" offers a solution to a common bicycle commuting problem: it makes lifting and maneuvering your bike easier. Everyday obstacles like stairs, curbs, garage hooks, trolleys and trains can make carrying your bike challenging.
Like attaching a briefcase handle to your bike, the Frame Handle lowers the bike's center of gravity and takes advantage of your most commonly-used muscle groups to make lifting feel easier, lighter, and more in control.
Crowd-tested on Kickstarter and featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) Design Store's "Best of Kickstarter," the Bicycle Frame Handle is easy to install, weatherproofed, sustainably handcrafted from American leather, and available in colors to match your leather saddles. It comes in sizes Regular and Large for different bicycle frames (see size info below).
Our customers say a monogram is a great way to deter thievery, and the frame handle can be monogrammed with up to 4 characters.
How does it work? Watch a 1-minute introduction video (from Kickstarter) on our Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/walnutstudiolo/bicycleframehandle
Yes! Our Bicycle Frame Handle works on mixte/step-through frames, folding bikes, cargo bikes, mountain bike storage and more! Read our blog post for customer photos and more ideas: https://blog.walnutstudiolo.com/2021/05/04/more-ways-the-bicycle-frame-handle-can-help-with-lifting-and-storing-all-kinds-of-bicycles/
HOW TO INSTALL: Watch an installation video on our Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/walnutstudiolo/framehandle
BLOG POSTS:
- More Uses for the Bicycle Frame Handle: alternate locations on unique frame types (mixte/step-through frames, e-bikes, folding bikes, cargo bikes), extra lifting point on the rear rack, bicycle storage "loop" for wall-mounted hooks
https://blog.walnutstudiolo.com/2021/05/04/more-ways-the-bicycle-frame-handle-can-help-with-lifting-and-storing-all-kinds-of-bicycles/
- Fitting the Bicycle Frame Handle with Water Bottle Cages
https://blog.walnutstudiolo.com/2021/03/26/fitting-the-bicycle-frame-handle-with-two-water-bottle-cages/
- Understanding Bicycle Frame Handle Sizes: Regular vs Large
https://blog.walnutstudiolo.com/2021/09/07/understanding-bicycle-frame-handle-sizes-regular-vs-large/
- Protecting Your Paint Job with the Bicycle Frame Handle
https://blog.walnutstudiolo.com/2022/07/17/protecting-your-paint-job-with-the-bicycle-frame-handle/
COLORS: Honey, Dark Brown, Black.
MATERIALS: Bridle leather, nickel-plated steel hardware
DIMENSIONS: The Little Lifter measures approximately 7.5” end-to-end, with the handle itself running approximately 5.5” long.
SIZES: If in doubt, order the size Large.
- The "Regular" size will fit most bikes. It fits tube circumferences approximately 3.15" - 5.75".
- The "Large" size fits tube circumferences approximately 3.75" - 8.25" (usually mountain bikes and e-bikes).
SIZE NOTE: The standard "Large" order comes with one regular belt, to fit the seat tube, and one large belt to fit the down tube. In nearly all cases, the seat tube is a size Regular to fit the standard-sized seat post, but if you need TWO large end belts - such as for a Brompton - simply leave us a note under 'Special Instructions' and we will include two large end belts upon request at no additional charge.
MONOGRAMMING: Yes! This item can be monogrammed with up to 4 characters using our 1/2" font set. Monogramming can add 2-3 days to the turnaround time. Monogram placement is shown in the last photo. More about monogramming (special characters, fonts, etc): https://walnutstudiolo.com/pages/monogramming-service. Please specify your monogram in the "Personalization" box.
CARE: Cleans easily with mild soapy water. In-house Leather Care Dressing available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/112352383/leather-care-beeswax-leather-conditioner
- About Our Leather: https://walnutstudiolo.com/pages/about-our-leather
- Leather Care Recommendations: https://walnutstudiolo.com/pages/leather-care
PHOTOGRAPHY: Credit to Erin Berzel Photography and Austin Goodman.
TESTIMONIALS:
Before Kickstarter, the Little Lifter was field-tested by a dedicated volunteer crew of Walnut Studiolo fans, friends, and customers in March-April 2012. Here’s what they had to say about it in their feedback forms:
“It is a useful tool and [I] am finding it to be more helpful every day. But you won't realize how useful until you try one out. I was showing it to my husband and explaining what it was for but he really didn't 'get it' until I made him pick up my bike with it.”
“The other day the side of the bridge I wanted to cross on was closed so I had to ride underneath, lift my bike up the stairs (and running because i was on the way to a final for class!). Get back on my bike cross the bridge, jump off, carry it down the stairs, under the bridge and back up stairs on the other side - the handle makes those sort of activities a breeze.”
"I also have found that it is easier to hang my bike upside down in the garage by using the handle to flip the bike.”
"It's been useful for carrying my bike up my apartment stairs, and upstairs for work. It takes the burden of holding it on my shoulder and I can easily pick it up and trot on up, or down stairs!“
“The handle made it much easier to lift the bike up onto the hook [on the metro] and for upside down storage at home.”
“I have more control of carrying my bike from using the handle instead of the two handed approach of carrying it by the seat or top tube and the handles.”
“It for me worked the best at my office. There are about 6 stairs to go up, but they are not deep steps so its a steep staircase. The handle allowed me to get the wheels up higher so I could clear the stairs easier.”
“I love the look and that it doesn't stand out too much apart from the bike. It's subtle and classy.”
“Super easy [to install], I could do it in my sleep.”
“I was a bit worried it might scratch the paint with the rivet but realized when installing it I can tuck the rivet into the leather part of the handle and it won't touch the paint.”
“Great job! This is probably the most useful product I've seen out of Walnut yet.”
"Really handy! Altho it took me awhile to quit grabbing the top tube first – the old dog, new tricks rule in action. I’ve been commuting in Portland several days each week and doing weekend rides on salted roads at home, so it’s getting the full weatherizing treatment and holding up really well."
