Karlee Slater – Design and Concept
Garth Slater – Assistant
Little Mule Company – Build

Karlee moved to Melbourne a year ago and was struck instantly by the strong cycling culture here. It's a beautiful flat city and so well set up for riding, so it wasn't long before she started looking for a bike of her own. As a tailor who wears vintage clothes every day, Karlee wanted something that appealed to her aesthetics but didn't weigh a ton, was practical and unique.

The "vintage" reissue styles seemed too overboard but Karlee didn't want the hassle of maintaining gears on an older bike, so she found a cheap Malvern Star at a local market, stripped it down to the frame and headed to Bunnings.

A can of paint stripper, wet sand paper, primer and a gloss black rattle can later and the frame was good as new.
New chrome mudguards and a parcel rack were bought on eBay, Brooks b17 saddle and grips in honey leather were added then Little Mule in Somerset Pl, Melbourne put in a 3-speed internal hub rear wheel. According to Karlee it’s the best bike shop in Melbourne, hands down. They understood the look she wanted and worked within budget to create a bike she is so proud to ride. She made the crate herself out of craft wood (to keep it light as possible) then stained and sealed it to withstand the rain.

Karlee loves her bike. It gives her freedom, appeals to her vintage tastes while at the same time being easy to maintain and ride. Big thanks to the staff at Little Mule!