Planes Trains and Automobiles

I’m on a transportation kick it seems, following up the Slammed Car puzzle box with an offering from Karakuri Creation Group artist Osamu Kasho. This little baby goes from zero to twenty in two minutes! Kasho, who enjoys creating whimsical, almost cartoonish objects like the Rocket Ship and The Wolf from Grimm, says that his “Trike” is actually a motorized tricycle. Perhaps it can go even faster, maybe sixty miles per hour if you let the throttle out. But let’s not discount the power of the human peddler. The world speed record for a human powered bike, the Aerovela Eta (which looks just like a speeding bullet) was over 89 miles per hour.

Trike by Osamu Kasho

Kasho’s Trike is his usual blend of adorable creation mixed with clever puzzling. The tricycle is adorned with a few multicolored details crafted from cherry, walnut, dogwood, and karin. There is a handlebar, a headlight, a seat, the requisite three wheels and even a decent storage space – if you can access it! I always enjoy Kasho’s creations, which typically don’t reveal their solutions immediately but require a bit of exploration and experimentation until they gradually surprise you with a satisfying secret. Trike is no different. It’s one of Kasho’s earlier works, and revealed what delightful ideas he has in store. His pieces are always distinctive and always a pleasure.

Shining some light on the situation

At first, this trike appears to be broken, because the front wheel doesn’t turn. Of course that’s part of the puzzle, but I’ve taken the liberty of using it for a toast to the clever cycle. Close your eyes and imagine you are lounging on the sunny streets of Siena, in the Tuscan hills of Italy. In your hand is a cool refreshing aperitif made with Campari, white wine and soda water – essentially a variation on the Campari Spritz. This simple and simply delicious indulgence is often called “La Bicicletta”, ostensibly named after an old man who would wobble his way home on his bicycle after imbibing a few. Like many cocktail names, this story is full of romantic imagery and thin on potential reality.

Broken Bike by Jeff Morgenthaler

Never fear, however, because we are only passing through this Italian town on our way to Portland, Oregon, where acclaimed mixologist Jeffrey Morgenthaler helms the ship at Clyde Common in the Ace Hotel. His version of La Bicicletta swaps the Campari for the artichoke laced herbal digestif Cynar, an amaro that is perfect for cocktails. Traditionally enjoyed by old Italian men over ice, the success and popularity of Cynar in the US was a bit of a surprise. It does not actually taste like artichokes, but is in fact a rather rich and sweet amaro with a lovely flavor. Morgenthaler uses it effortlessly in his pre-bottled soda spritz, creating a refreshing sipper with an intriguingly different flavor that’s always ready to go. These are great to make for a picnic or late afternoon indulgence. They are also low in alcohol content, to keep your bicycle wobbling to a minimum. Cheers!

Cycling through this pair

Broken Bike by Jeff Morgenthaler (single serving adaptation)

11 ounces Cynar (¾ oz)

15 ounces white wine, dry (1 oz)

22 ounces filtered water (1 ½ oz soda water)

2 small lemons, scrubbed and peeled in strips (lemon strip)

Express lemon peel oils into mixed ingredients and let sit overnight. Carbonate and bottle. Or mix up the single serving and enjoy immediately! Garnish with a broken lime wheel. Cheers!

For more from this artist: