Autumnal Tuesday

The cape lives on despite being sooo last year. We don't mind at all when it looks this splendid. The bow in the hair completes the classy outfit.
If you're wondering, the heavily-laden bicycle in the middle, up front, is a postman. Four panniers and a bag on the front rack.

As seen here, too.


The sun is shining and, although the air is cooler, there are some Copenhageners that haven't quite made the jump to autumn just yet. Luckily.

Ode To A Bicycling America

Atlanta, Georgia - by San Smith - check out her blog!

The very, very best thing about this blog - and the other one - is the people we've met. It's a pleasure to cybermeet like-minded individuals who share our love of personal style, fashion and bicycles. In that order.

Santa Monica, California - by Madness Riviera.
We get so many lovely guest photos sent in or added to our Flickr group so why just chuck a little montage up with photos from a few of our American friends.

Fashion-wise there will always be differences in style on both sides of the pond, but we're loving what our friends and acquaintences are doing for Bicycle Chic in America.

Venice Beach, California
I lived in L.A. for a while back in the late-80's and every weekend was spent either surfing or hanging at the beach. Venice Beach was a favourite spot. Even back then Venice Beach was bicycle heaven. Some good things never change.

New York:


You know cycling has arrived [or rather returned] when the citizens of big cities get into the saddle. First Paris and now New York. Sure, it is far from perfect, but it's happening. And when it happens in cities like Paris and New York, it will spread. Wonderful.
Read our series about Paris for more info about the rebirth of their bike culture.

Seattle & Portland:


Sacramento, California:


Thanks for all the photos. There are so many more and we'll keep posting the, but for now this is our Ode to a Bicycling America.

All-Star

A definite candidate for the Copenhagen Cycle Chic All-Star Team. Smashing ensemble with shiny tights, heels, funky pink mini bike and partisan scarf.


I love this bike lane along one of the canals.

Sunday Somethings

She's got her own thing going on and it works for her.

There are certain photos I've taken that are Cycle Chic All-Stars. This is an older photo, but it is one of my personal favourites. I hadn't seen it for a while, had a look, and thought I'd repost it.

Cycle/Football Chic for kids. Felix heading home from a football tournament. Complete with a well-deserved medal around his neck and shinpads on his legs.

A Copenhagen nurse doing her rounds. Visiting the elderly and/or infirm in their homes. By bike, of course.

Good-bye, Mr Newman. And thank you.

Signage and Suchlike

Got a kick out of this sign, based on those strange American 'No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service' signs. I'd love to see these posted to the doors of fashionable shops and cafés. :-) Why not? In some places, baggy trousers that expose underwear are not allowed and you can even go to jail for wearing them. So it must be kosher to require customers/guests to adhere to the Copenhagen Cycle Chic basics. As ever, this design is also available on t-shirts for ladies, gentlemen and as posters/postcards at the Copenhagen Cycle Chic Online Shop.


Meanwhile, back on the bike lanes of Copenhagen...




Over at the Interbike Bike Fair, Richard from Cyclelicio.us took these photos of a cycle chic fashion show. The good word is spreading.

Red Light People

Some Copenhageners at a red light recently. The chap in the middle could use a pair of heels by the looks of it. :-)

Steady as a rock and practicing the Copenhagen Straddle to perfection. As highlighted in the Red Light Posture Series.

Nothing to do with bicycles but this new advert for Diesel in celebration of their 30th birthday, is absolutely hilarious.

Prague Cycle Chic

Photo by Jakub Turek, Horydoly.cz
There was a massive bike ride in Prague the other day, under the critical mass banner, and a friend of mine sent me these lovely photos. I have criticized the critical mass approach earlier as being counterproductive. Things are different, it seems, here in Europe. In Budapest and in Prague, the rides are as they are meant to be - a celebration. There is great cooperation between the organisers and the authorities and hardly any confrontations to speak of. Certainly not like what you see in New York. What a treat it would be to take part.


Photo by Jakub Turek, Horydoly.cz
Perhaps we have more of a tradition of protesting here in Europe. Each summer during "Strike Season", there are protests and strikes across the continent. They are a part of life - citizens passionately demonstrating for or against issues. So perhaps these European versions of the rides are just another demonstration in the eyes of the spectactors.

Whatever the case, it's lovely to see a spot of Cycle Chic in the Czech capital. Go Prague Go!

Copenhagen Irony and Black and Creme

Ahh. Life's ironies. Elegant, casual cyclist on a safe, separate bike lane cycles past a poster reading "Put the pedal to the metal and keep it there... Action Night on Channel 3+..."


While skirtguards - or the more unisex 'coat protectors' as we call them in Danish - are a splendid idea, most modern skirts don't really require them. Ironic. But they remain aesthetic additions to any bicycle.


Black and Creme Perfection Collection from Lars. Smashing ensemble in classic Copenhagen style. Black outfit and then a creme-coloured; bicycle, bow in her hair, handbag in the basket, shoes, edges of the black bag on the back and a cigarette.


Many of our American readers were curious as to what I thought about riding Yahoo's purple Electra Townie. I must say it's a nice ride. The balloon wheels are a treat, but I'm addicted to them already from riding my Velorbis Scrap Deluxe. The Townie is smooth and comfortable. There are a whole bunch of gears that will never see the light of day but it is definately a cooler bike than I feared they would send.

The only thing I don't like is the beach cruiser posture of sitting farther back and pedalling down and away from my body. I like sitting higher up and pushing downwards, but that is personal taste. The purple colour doesn't go with anything I own, but that is something I can live with for the duration of Yahoo's campaign.

Also, the beach cruiser is popular at the moment - but mostly among the female 12-16 year old demographic, so I get lots of stares from young girls. Not a bad thing for the male ego.

Unfortunately, the camera has a software bug and Yahoo are fedexing a new one over to me so more photos will be on the way shortly.

Cicloeleganza

Sometimes you just have to coin a phrase to make sense of things, to give them a description that works. 'Cycle chic' regarding cycling style made sense when we invented it last year. The cycling women of Italy, however, deserve their own phrase.
Cicloeleganza.
Above, in Milano, by Amenove.

Another example from Milano, also by Amenove.


Ravenna.


And in Pisa, by John.


Roma.


Cremona.

Pleasurable

A calm, relaxed and fashionable moment waiting for the red light to change.

Bike rides at the beach are always pleasurable.

She took her time carefully fastening all manner of newly purchased things to her bike. I find this pleasurable when I have to do it myself. The stuff on the ground ended up on the little front rack. I wanted to get a photo of her cycling away but to be honest, I couldn't be bothered waiting.

Slowly, Slowly

Nothing like a flowing scarf on a cyclist.

Two funky Koreans outside of Baisikeli - a bike rental place that sends used Danish bikes to Africa. I love their hats. They rented bikes and were off to tour the city.


The cape is gently fading away from the fashion landscape. It's not really "sooo last year" since it has a classic quality to it, but this fall it seems the poncho is returning in force to the streets of Copenhagen.


We've just posted about the blossoming cycling life on New York's Governors Island over at Copenhagenize.com. If you're in New York or thereabouts, pay the island a visit and bring your bike.

It's a fantastic opportunity to go for a Slow Bicycle Ride in the true spirit of the Slow Bicycle Movement. Join our Facebook group if you haven't already.

Cycling to the Vineyard in Portugal

A lovely guest photo from Portugal today. Milton sent in a photo he titled, "Mum and son at the vineyard", from a trip out the vines to check the ripeness of their grapes.

Milton writes:
"Although biking is mainly an urban phenomenon, it can exist and flourish in small villages, too. The bike is our means of transportation on our local trips, which includes trips to my hobby, the vineyard, near Aveiro, Portugal."

It's harvest time for Milton and his family. Follow his wine journey on his blog. Gets me all sentimental for the autumns I've spent picking grapes in France...

Here's wishing you a fruitful harvest, Milton.


And here's a photo from Budapest, sent it by a reader. It's from a ride on Earth Day 2008. Ahh. What a sight.

Copenhagen Cycle Chic Goes Global Again

A few times a year there are posh Style Lounges held in the States in conjunction with major events. In this case it was the "Kari Feinstein Emmy Style Lounge" that the Beautiful People attended in the run-up to the Emmy Awards. Velorbis had their classic Victoria and Churchill present and were pleased to have been invited. The Dutch Bicycle Company attended, as the American distributor for the Danish brand. Danish Design always seems to travel well and mix with the right crowd.


We are well chuffed about being invited to take part in this year's EuroBike industry fair in Germany, as a part of Velorbis' stand, pictured above. Thanks to Velorbis for letting me design the back wall - on the right. 4 x 2.5 metres of pure Cycle Chic, printed on gorgeous fabric. It should have made the trip over the Atlantic to hang at the above Style Lounge, but logistics were against us.


"People are Handsome, We make their Bicycles." That is the slogan of "Handsome Cycles" in Minneapolis, USA. Splendid slogan. Splendid photo.


And the Dutch, bless their cotton socks, are at it again. Trying desparately to play catch up in the Cycle Chic Sweepstakes. Like other thieves and beggars whom we love madly. I think this might be a inflight magazine, but I'm not sure.

Then there is this article from the Canadian National Post, rounding up the whole Cycle Chic movement. Nice to see that normal people in normal clothes is slowly, surely becoming the norm.