CPH Cycle Chic in A-dam

This is Marc from Amsterdamize who was so sweet to show Copenhagen Cycle Chic around Amsterdam this summer. We can't wait to drink him under the table if he ever dares to show up here in CPH...

A series of Amsterdam beauties:














To say whether Amsterdam or Copenhagen is the most cycle chic city is like having to choose between salty licorice and chocolate... (very difficult for a Dane, actually!)

But then, if you can combine the two (CPH & A-dam cycle chic), why bother?

Here's a video Marc shot while biking Velomama (aka Marie) around town. We're discussing the differences between Amsterdam and Copenhagen's bike culture - for instance the use of panniers and boxes vs. baskets, the use of bike locks and the extend of traffic regulation in the two cities...

Red Lights, Lego, Amsterdam, Media Blitz

How to Wait at a Red Light. No hurry.

As ever, we checked in with Marc at Amsterdamize.com to see what the Danes with the different language are doing. Love this shot.


The original Legoland amusement park is celebrating 40 years this year. A perfect opportunity to repost this shot. Cycle Chic is everywhere in the Danish nation. Even at Legoland. The cycling girl is such an iconic figure in Danish history that she is present in town and city settings all over the park.


I'm quite taken with this photograph in the Danish Politiken newspaper of yours truly. Great stuff. The photographer Tobias is quite brilliant. It's been a hectic fortnight for Copenhagen Cycle Chic and copenhagenize.com.

For some strange reason that now escapes me, I ended up on a page on the Cannondale website - a bike brand, apparently. No wonder we don't see many around here. It's a FAQ about choosing the right bike, including such pearls of useless text as:

"Because we are obsessed as you are about your bike's weight, we implore you to go visit your local Cannondale Dealer to help you determine the specific weight of any bike you may be considering. We know you'll be impressed."

"Individual fitting of a bicycle is a step-wise process and a series of compromises. Professional guidance DOES simplify the process and we encourage you to be fit properly by a trained bicycle professional."

"Your body type is the only factor that does not change. Your inseam to height ratio, the length of your arms, the size of hands, the size of your torso etc. all factor into determining the correct fit of a bike."

"As a result, Cannondale highly suggests that you not rely on fit charts, but instead seek professional guidance and recommendations from an experienced bicycle shop."

"Buying a Cannondale is an investment in your recreational pleasure. Fitting a Cannondale should be like fitting a wedding gown, or an expensive suit. It should fit the individual as well as either of these other fine items."

If I'm going to use a bike for competitive racing, this might make sense. But otherwise it's merely an excerise in Terminology Folly as we posted about previously. If you think about it, there are either hundreds of millions of really stupid people who dare to buy their bikes without 'fittings' involving 'measuring hands' or there is a handful of really silly bike websites. My money is on the latter. [Ironically the word 'latter' means laughter in Danish.]

Guest Photos Amsterdam, Vietnam and... Hackney!?

This great little website is often linked to. A tourist took 82 photos in 73 minutes on a square in Amsterdam. He was amazed at all the bikes.

Our reader, Matt, sent us this photo of Cycle Chic from Vietnam:
"I snapped this on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Vietnam, in the spring of 2005. It's a reminder that many people are CycleChic because other options are few. True flower power here! Thanks for all your great photos. Matt."
And thanks to you, Matt, for your wonderfully colourful photo.

There are two phrases that, until now, have never been uttered in the same breath in the history of man. "Hackney Council" and "Cycle Chic". The East London Borough put on a "Heels & Wheels" fashion show in the historic flower market, touting the bicycle as a fashion accessory.

Councillor Alan Laing, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said:
“It’s fantastic to see so many people turn out to support the Councils’ efforts to promote cycling as a sustainable form of transportation. We hope the Wheels and Heels event demonstrated our commitment to achieving a greater uptake of cycling, particularly amongst young women, by showing how practical and fashionable it can be as well a being a great way to stay fit and get around.”

The Cycle Chic message is spreading like a flowing summer's dress caught in a gust of wind. Yes, I actually just wrote that... :-)
Here's Hackney Council's cycling website. A fine initiative, we say.

Guest Photos: Miami, Mexico, Amsterdam

Miami, USA.
Untitled - by miami fever.


Mexico
Untitled - by anahita


Amsterdam
by Alio

Guest Photos: Amsterdam

We thought it best if we cleaned up our inbox before we head off for Christmas.
Thanks, firstly, to Danny Jansen, who sent us the above photo he snapped in Amsterdam. A cycling chic couple indeed.

And since we like a good theme, here's another chic couple in Amsterdam, this one taken by Tricia Royal from Bits and Bobbins.


"Love the blog. i'm a big advocate of bike riding, as is my husband and friends here in San Francisco, thankfully one of the more bike-friendly cities in the US. Cheers, Tricia"

Thanks to you both for thinking of us and sending your photos along. And Tricia, if you have any chic photos from San Fran, let's see them!

Guest Photos: Amsterdam

We thought we'd chuck a few wonderful guest photos onto the blog from our second-favourite cycle city - Amsterdam. A lovely photo above from Smudo, of an Amsterdamer riding either to or from field hockey practice.

And this classy lady deserves a place on Cycle Chic for keeping it cool, sassy and stylish on the Dam Square from the Flickr photographer Barbara.

Here's a classic doubling shot - could be Copenhagen or Amsterdam - a wonderful mood captured by Stosh26.