Michael Salvatore, CEO of Bowery Lane Bicycles, is all smiles at the 2011 Tour de Fashion launch this morning in Manhattan.

Bowery Lane Bicycles provided the canvas for designers to play with as they added their embellishments. The bikes will be used in a free bike share during New York’s Fashion Week, providing an alternative to cabs and car services for quick trips around the Lincoln Center.

A couple of hundred people came to view the bikes and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, in spite of the drizzle, along with TV journalists and bloggers. Mike was obviously pleased with the turnout and the enthusiasm of everybody who showed up. Kathy Akey, who took the photographs I’m posting here, says the entire event had a chipper feel to it in spite of the rain.

Michael Salvatore, incidentally, has recently moved from New York to Chicago. He’s already started fabricating frames in the Windy City and has signed a lease to open Heritage Bicycles General Store in Lakeview at Lincoln and Wellington.

For more Tour de Fashion 2011 Bikes and photos:

• LIM College Tour de Fashion project.
• Lela Rose Yarn Bomb Bike.
• Kaelen Farncombe Fashion Bike.
• Public School NYC Bicycle.
• Bike With Built In Map.

Watch this space for much more! Still to come are bikes by designers Alice Ritter, Amrita Singh, Betsey Johnson, Bibhu Mohapatra, Carlos Falchi, Christian Cota, DVF, Elie Tahari, Gretchen Jones, Juicy, Nanette Lepore, Nicole Miller, Number Lab, Patricia Underwood, Prabal Gurung, Rebecca Minkoff, Restore Clothing, Sang A, Stephen Burrow, Thom Browne, and Yeoh Lee.