Artsy Fartsy Saturday

Been busy today. Guests have just gone home. Figured it was time for some artsy-fartsty cycleliciousness from the Copenhagen Cycle Chic/Copenhagenize archives.

The Textural Effect

In the middle distance a cyclist puts on her Danefæ rain jacket. On the right, a chap struggles to get his jacket on before the rain increases and/or the lights change. On the left, a Copenhagener quite unaffected by it all. Looking casual and lovely and ready to pedal away on green.

As you may have noticed I happen to take photos of my fellow Copenhageners on or next to their bicycles. Quite a few, actually. A few of them end up on this blog.

Naturally, I like each photo that makes it to this blog or to my Flickr photostream. I'm a photographer, after all. Occasionally, however, I will present photos that are most interesting in a journalistic persepective - showing people what a bicycling life is like in Copenhagen. Photos that won't make the cut in an exhibition on the subject but which are valid for telling this ongoing visual story.

Occasionally I am lucky enough to take a photo that thrills me personally. There is rarely a specific reason for it. It just speaks to me, the viewer, in a specific, personal tone. The photo above, taken last week, is one of these rare photos for me.

Another photo that I can't seem to forget.
In my Danish daily newspaper of choice, Politiken, the Photo Editor Per Folkver has a weekly column about photography. I translated a bit of his musings from yesterday:

"What is the textural effect in a flat photograph? Is it that you sense the elasticity of the skin as though the person was standing in front of you? That you feel the water's cool blueness as though you were submerged in it? Or isn't it really that the person in the photograph radiates closeness and prescence to such a degree that the photograph becomes more than merely a photograph of a person?

Is the textural effect in a photograph when the photograph's own form erases itself as form and applies its own message and story? In other words, becoming invisible as a photograph but present as an assertion.

A photograph can't, of course, become invisible - then it isn't a photograph. But when you see a photo that you like, you shouldn't think "Wow! That's a lovely photograph!" - you should think "Wow! Is there ever a lot of energy in those people!" - or whatever the subject matter happens to be."

Another favourite.
Sometimes you dear readers will comment on a photo and say that it is your favourite so far, or something like that. I am more often than not surprised by these choices, but as long as something tickles you in a photograph, I'm thrilled to death.

Feel free to comment on which photographs, so far, you remember above all others. I'd love to hear about it.

Art Borne From Art

This time is was Aaron's turn to have one of his fine photographs immortalised for all all by the talented and prolific hand of Janet Karam.
Check out her website Funky Town Art. And be sure to check the latest on Aaron's cool blog about his life in Copenhagen - Something Rotten.

Fantastic, as always.

Copentastic

No matter how you twist it or turn it, Copenhageners ride bikes.

Two cylists waiting to turn left. They rode from the left of the shot, continued over the intersection and are waiting on that path of bike lane. They can either continue on if there is no traffic - just like cars - or they can wait until the light changes. The latter suits the Style Over Speed mentality.

Funkaliciousness. The best thing is that her shoes match her skirtguard.

The Grainy Evening Life of Copenhagen Bikes

Copenhagen Dreaming

Here's today's humble offerings from the bike culture of Copenhagen.

Balancing act on the median in classic Copenhagen cycling wear.


Reducing urban cycling to dreamlike forms and moods on the City Hall Square.


We're trying to jinx winter by posting this shot from a couple of months back. Springtime is here and let's move on. No more snow. Please. It's time for bare legs and skirts.


Wifealiciousness and I were trying out the new Mobiky Genius in the backyard. A cool folding bike that rides like a dream. It also is an interesting addition to our interior design concept:


Here's wishing everyone a lovely weekend.

Poetry in Motion

There are few places on the planet where the simple act of parking a bicycle is elevated to a symphony of grace, poetry and elegance.


The Subtle Art of Waiting at a Traffic Light. No fuss. No rush.


Everything i love about Copenhagen. Right here.


Springtime cool.

Sunday Guest Photos - Geneva, Roma, Vancouver, Barcelona

Cool shot from Geneva by Zara.


Cycloromantica from Roma by Fotorita.


Waxy from Vancouver captured a little street corner slice of life.


Rodolfoto from Barcelona with a great shot of happy cyclists.

Have a Lovely Weekend

Two girlfriends met up on the City Hall Square just as a pedestrian strode elegantly to the bus stop.


When graceful coolness comes gliding to a stop at a red light, it sounds like a sigh.


Can't see how it can be that comfortable to ride, but then again, this is Copenhagen. It's how you look on what you ride, not how what you ride looks.


From A to B with time for texting at the red light.


Cool cat on a new Raleigh on the City Hall Square.

Guest Photos: Italy and Portland

Nouvelle Vague Bike, originally uploaded by Federico Erra.

A stunning find on Flickr, taken by the excellent photographer Federico Erra.

Brilliant mood and cycle chic to boot.

Below is another fine shot by Patrick Finntastic in Portland. He's titled it The Fastest Girl in the World:

Terminology Folly

Waltzing around the cycle blogosphere it seems odd that so much terminology has spawned regarding what is, in fact, a simple pursuit.

Is it a result of the decades old tendency in North America and other non-bike culture countries to nerdify cycling because it has primarily been viewed as a sport or a hobby for closed groups of "enthusiasts" - and not a reasonable and basic form of transport? Perhaps.

Let's straighten things out, shall we? What you see in the photo above, taken in Copenhagen, is something we call a "cyclist".

Not a "bicycle commuter", nor a "utility cyclist". Certainly not a "lightweight, open air, self-powered traffic vehicle user". It's a cyclist.

The Copenhagener above is not "commuting" - or at least she doesn't call it that. She's not going for a "bike ride" or "making a bold statement about her personal convictions regarding reduction of Co2 levels and sustainable transport methods in urban centers".

She's just going to work. On her bike.

And that's what she's riding. A bike. A "cykel" in Danish.

She doesn't call it "my city bikes" or "my Alternative Transport Vehicle" or "my Dutch bike" [whatever THAT is... not even the Dutch call them Dutch bikes, not to mention tens of millions of Chinese] - it's just her bike.

When she bought her bike at her local bike shop she didn't have a "fitting" at the "full service workshop and showroom". She probably walked into the shop and said, "I need a bike". The chap working there probably shrugged, glanced her up and down and said, "you'll be needing a 52cm".
"I like the black one, over there..."
"That's a 52cm"
"Great. How much?"

And off she went with her new bike. He didn't offer her any fancy, expensive "bike gear" or "accessories" and he didn't try to dazzle and confuse her with inaccessible, nerdy technerd babble in order to make more money. He doesn't even have "cycle clothes" in his shop. He assumes she has clothes in her closet at home. A wooly hat for winter. A summer dress for... well... summer. She needed a bike. He owned a bike shop. It was over in 20 minutes. Although he probably adjusted her seat for her.

The bike she chose was a black one. Probably a good, reliable Danish brand like Kildemoes or Taarnby. It certainly wasn't a "TerraTurbo Urban Warrior X9000". It was just a bike. What it is called isn't important to her. Just the fact that it works.

She doesn't know how much it weighs. Nobody she knows or has ever met could tell you how much their bike weighs. Likewise, she doesn't know how far she rides each day. It isn't interesting. She rides at a good pace, not too fast to cause a sweat, and the ride is nice enough. She likes the fresh air and she often sees friends on the bike lanes. She loves crossing The Lakes and seeing the transformation from season to season. That will suffice.

She doesn't wake up and make a decision to "commute by bike to work today". It's just a part of her day. She just walks out of her flat and gets on her bike. If it has a puncture, she'll walk it down to the local bike shop to get it repaired and then take the bus or train to work. Picking it up in the afternoon.

She isn't an activist, doesn't belong to a cycling organisation with a long acronym and she doesn't even think about the fact that she lives in something called a "bike culture".

She's just a cyclist. Riding her bike to work.
She'll be doing the same tomorrow.

If other cities had more of these kinds of cyclists, they'd find that a "bike culture" would be achieved a lot more quickly.

The Winter That Never Was

We're probably speaking too quickly, but this winter hasn't seen any great amount of snow. It's warmer than ever, it hardly rains - how dreadfully uneventful. There's nothing like a dump of 50cm of snow to put our cyclists to the test. It may still fall, but until then we'll glance back at some wintry photos from last year.

Brunette in the process of overtaking blonde on the upwards climb to the middle of the bridge over the harbour. On a stormy, sleety day. Fortunately the slush spit up by the cars didn't make over onto the bike lane.

One of the many ways to wait at a light. The Copenhagen Straddle. Feet firmly on the ground. Looking solid, grounded and at one with one's self.

The light is green but when 50-60 bikes are in front of you, waiting to continue on, you don't get to move right away. And remember... you don't need fancy gear in the winter... just be your old stylish self.

Life's a blur

P1080867, originally uploaded by Aaron78.

I was out for a walk Saturday morning and saw her out of the corner of my eye. I was a bit hungover (and a bit slow as a result) but luckily she wasn't in any hurry. She just glided across the street and then continued on her way at a gentle pace.

Another Great Moment in Cycling

Girl Executing Right Turn, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

After our previous post featuring a great moment in cycling we figured we'd feature another great one.

Like most great moments in Copenhagen it involves simplicity. This time a cyclist causually raises her right hand, glances non-chalantly to the right and begins a right turn towards the pavement, when she hopped off her bike with an effortless and graceful movement.

Retro Feel

Retro Feel, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Style over speed.
End of discussion.

Uomo con bike

Uomo con bike, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Winter moods near the city hall square in Copenhagen.

Styliciousness avec velo

Styliciousness avec velo, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

On the City Hall Square, she was heading home in the afternoon. Looking fabulous, but with a change of clothes, ready for the long weekend.