Tasting Our Own Medicine

Last week, I was out shooting for this blog when I suddenly noticed a cool guy rushing past on a splendid bike. I hurried to get a pic of him and then it struck me - I recognized him! You might too... Now normally he's the one spotting others and blogging about it, but I got away with taking a pic of Mr Meta Dapper himself without being noticed.




As for me, this is how I look on my bike, camera in hand.

Oriental Cycle Chic

After two months in Malaysia working for the Danish version of 'Expedition Robinson' ('Survivor' in the US), I (Marie) am glad to be back 'n' blogging!

Like many other Asian countries, Malaysia is full of cars everywhere, and urban infrastructure is a nightmare. But on the little island of Besar where the production crew was located, bikes were crucial to get around. All kinds of small errands were done by bike, and if you met someone you knew on the way, you just hopped off and joined them by foot.
Maybe it wasn't a coincidence that this year's crews were from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland and Belgium - countries with a considerable tradition of cycle chic?

To illustrate, here are two prop girls carrying a sewing machine and an ironing board while chatting gently in the sun.


The carpenters were eager cyclists, always heading somewhere with cases of skulls or coconut leaves on their back racks.


I only spotted a few Malaysians on bikes. However, these muslim chicks in the small harbour town of Mersing seemed to enjoy themselves..


When standing in front of the world's highest twin towers, Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers, there's no reason not to spread the message!

For more global cycle chic sticker statements see our previous post on the matter.

Handy Dandy

One of the more subtle details of the casualness of Copenhagen bike culture is one that I never noticed until recently.

The sight of a cyclist riding with one hand is truly a sign that urban cycling is relaxing and refreshing. You're at ease on the bike lanes, separated from the traffic. Your only concern is maintaining a comfortable momentum on your way to wherever it is you are going.

One finger riding is even better.

No rush.

No hurry.