simple is beautiful
Copenhagen Cycle Chic - Streetstyle and Bike Advoc: August 2008
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Saturday, August 30, 2008

Ponchotastic

Poncho
Autumn approaches and the poncho trend from last spring is revived as the days grow cooler. Here's a colourful version flowing past on St. Hans Square in Copenhagen.

Wifealiciousness Poncho
Wifealiciousness knits her own ponchos out of pure Icelandic wool and she sells them on her website Modler.dk [Danish language] if anyone in Greater Copenhagen fancies one.

Poise
As Vince on the British show The Mighty Boosh says, "It is impossible to be unhappy in a poncho."

Old School Funkaliciousness
The Clint made them a style icon in his spaghetti westerns - around about the time this funky Copenhagener was a youngster.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Copenhagen Goodness

Friday Evening Couple
Last Friday I was heading out to a friend's place for a bit of red wine and FIFA on the Xbox when I happened upon this charming, lovely couple in the twilight near the bridge over the harbour. I stopped them and asked if I could film them for a promotional cycling video I've been asked to make. They obliged. They are everything that is cool about cycling in Copenhagen. Relaxed, smiling, sweet and just plain cool.
Friday Evening

Two Cyclists Surveying The Boulevard
Surveying Her Kingdom
Contemplating the Boulevard
The first photo is of one of our famous Weather Girls - Vejrpigerne - who stand atop the Richshuset Building on the City Hall Square. I was up there filming for the promotional cycling video and the Cycling Girl is just gorgeous even after over 75 years. We have an earlier post about her here. The other photo is a modern version of the Cycling Girl surveying the same Boulevard from street level. Cool, casual, Copenhagenesque.

Promoting Cycling Positively
Copenhagen Rush Hour
This photo of morning rush hour reminds up of a quote from the novel Gudrun, by Johannes V. Jensen in 1936:
"And like a large home Copenhagen begins the day's work. Already down on the streets is one at home, with loose hair, long sitting rooms through which one travels socialbly on a bike. In offices, in workshops, in boutiques you are at home, in your own home, one large family that has divided the city among itself and runs it in an orderly fashion, like a large house. So that everyone has a role and everyone gets what they need. Copenhagen is like a large, simple house."
Over at Copenhagenize.com we've been having a series of posts about how or how not to promote cycling positively and showing different examples. We here at Copenhagen Cycle Chic are proud to live in a city with such fantastic safety statistics. The majority of Copenhageners, when polled, say that they feel secure and safe in the traffic. We know we certainly do. We are also proud to lead the way in showing how cycling in Copenhagen is safe, effortless and healthy. Promoting cycling as it should be promoted.

We have a good mention in today's Irish Times, which is readable online here. Doing our bit for the cause.

Our Cycling Legends
Copenhagen Cycle Chic Flyer
Copenhagen Cycle Chic will be present at the world's largest bike industry fair in Germany - Eurobike - in partnership with Velorbis. We'll have a massive wall-size banner at the Velorbis stand and we whipped up these flyers for the sports geek crowd. "Our cycling legends dress differently than your cycling legends". A tribute to the everyday dress code of Copenhagen cyclists and a nod to the iconic and historical figure of the Danish cycling girl. There is nothing quite so opposite to spandex than heels.

Felix Cycle Chic

Going To Football
The Boy Wonder and I heading to weekly football practice. Often we both ride our bikes, but now A. He just started a new, exhausting life in school and is more cream-crackered [knackered] than usual and B. Daddy's got a new Long John from Velorbis with a box the Boy Wonder helped build.

So he relaxes with a book [The Billy Goats' Gruff]as we zip along to Frederiksberg Boldklub where Daddy morphs into a merciless Coach for 11 bundles of boy energy. Football shirts are hardly chic anywhere on the planet except for at a football stadium, but when it's your own six year old, he's adorable.

Transport
The other day Boy Wonder and I went to buy some wood to make a new desk for his bedroom. Long John came along.
Long John Left Long John Right
The Long John with the new cargo box with the kids' names on the sides.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Scarves and Helping Hands

Scarf Trend
Scarves are still hot this season.

Four Bicycles
I've heard this is called 'ghost riding' in other countries. Here we call it 'helping out a friend by either fetching their bike for them, or loaning your bike to a friend so they can fetch their bike'. Not quite the same ring to it, but the idea is nice as nice.
Helping Hand

Friends
Of course it's always nicer if the other bike has a friend on it.

Zakkatography

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Cycle Chic Roundup

Facehunter in Copenhagen
It's not surprising that when Facehunter ended up in Copenhagen, a photo of a bicycle was involved. And of course it was taken with The Lakes in the background. Quintessential CPH.

Even the dreadfully dull Times has tried their hand at men/fashion/bicycle. Yet another journalist reluctantly forced by his editor to cover this strange phenomenon called "bicycling". At least he tried his best.

Acne and Bianchi
ACNE of Sweden have teamed up with Bianchi for a new collection, according to Swedish ELLE. I suspect a healthy dose of dark, vodka-induced Swedish irony is in play here. Combined with a biting bitterness at the Swedes' worst Olympic performance in over 2000 years.

Meanwhile, back in Gotham City...
New York cyclist by Bill Cunningham
A New Yorker shows us the way forward in one of Bill Cunningham's photos.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Rainy Day Rubber Boots Chic
We're going to reveal a shocking fashion secret. Right here on this blog. For all the world to see. In the closets of most Copenhageners - even the chicest of the chic - there is a rain jacket. Maybe even a pair of matching rain trousers. We don't talk about it much and it's rather uncomfortable mentioning it here but it is true nonetheless. It's our Inconvenient Truth.

It's traditionally a rainy climate in the winter. Drizzly, drab and pooey. Only when the forecast is for day-long rain does the rubber come out. Actually, the Danish Meteological Institute did a study a while back about the odds of cyclists getting rained on during their commute - which is really encouraging. Many Copenhageners aren't THAT fussed about getting bit wet. If it pours down all of a sudden, cyclists huddle together under awnings or trees. If it looks like it'll continue, they end up just getting back on the bike and riding away.

But just like in most regions, we are experiencing our own weather quirks thanks to climate change. At this time of year we are getting downpours. So much that the sewers in some areas can't handle the water.
Rainy Day Rubber Boots Chic
The other day it rained. All day. Pouring. Old man snoring and all that. And out came the dreaded rubber. However, some cyclists, as the two above, seem to make it work. Wellingtons and rain jackets are suddenly quite fashionable.
Friends
In light rain, there are options available for friends who are heading out together.
Brolley
Just keep your brolley close at hand.
Copenhagen Rain
It's an art form in Copenhagen, riding with an umbrella.

This Dutch invention would be great here in Copenhagen. An umbrella holder for your bike from Drybike.nl.

More rainy day cycling moods - with music.
Bicycle Air Bag
Not to forget the rain poncho airbag combo.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Julio's Copenhagen

Copenhagen København
A photographer friend of ours, Julio, was in town recently from Portugal. Here's his take on Copenhagen Cycle Chic. Always wonderful to see someone elses angle on our fair city.
A determined stride is a trademark of a Copenhagener, when not on the bike.
Copenhagen København
A casual glance at the mobile. Either checking for text messages or checking the time.
Copenhagen København
Bring a friend for a ride/walk.
Copenhagen København
Gentleman Cycle Chic.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Guest Photos, Lingerie and The Wings of Hermes


It's been far too long since we've heard from our friend Derek Pearson from BikeRubbish.com in Washington State. Luckily, he sent this photo along the other day. In his words: "Hot date - heading to the outdoor movie with my sweet sweet wife :)" Style over speed, indeed. Thanks, as ever, Derek, for sending the photos along.

Here's another one from Derek, in San Francisco.

A Triumph for Cycling in Copenhagen

If you have a new underwear collection and want to show it off in Copenhagen, you use a bike. Oh, and underwear. Triumph paraded models down the pedestrian street in the heart of the city, led by a rickshaw from Flying Tigers Rickshaws - thanks to my mate Alkis who owns the company for this film.

The Wings of Hermes on your legs
Trouser clips from MOMA
Now while all bikes have chainguards in Copenhagen - and basically everywhere else with bike culture these - funky trouser clips might be of interest to those who need to protect their trouser legs. Ride with the Wings of Hermes. Available from MOMA.

Danish Basket Cases
Here's a link to a national newspaper's list of baskets for your bike. New, classic and everything in between. It's in Danish, but the links are clickable no matter what language you speak.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Montage

City Centre
The heart of the city we love so much.

Danish Dutch
A happy marriage of Dutch and Danish. Bike from the Netherlands. Citizens of Denmark.

Business As Usual
Business suit on the way to work. Complete with a coffee holder on the handlebars for her latte.

Evening Couple
Evening Couple
Evening couples using the bicycle as a means of transport and togetherness.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

A Carry of Cargo Bikes

Cinema Trip
Been a while since we've had some cargo bike shots.
Four Kids in a Box
People I know.
Cargo Biketastic
City Hall Square.
Postal Service
A postal carrier - or rather rider - in the heart of the city.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Things To Do At Traffic Lights in Copenhagen

Basket Check
Rummage in basket.
Pause for Thought
Pause for thought.
Things To Do at a Red Light
Adjust pony tail.
Scarf
Adjust scarf.
Copenhagen Rain
Stay dry.

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