Guest Photos Early August 2008

Another batch of fantastic guest photos and thanks very much for thinking of us. At the bottom in the middle is Alexandra in Washington, D.C. and she is the focal point of this article in the Washington Post. As they say in that neck of the global woods, "You GO, girl!" Great article.

All in all, looking back over the past year of Copenhagen Cycle Chic, it is quite amazing to see how things have snowballed. It was as lonely as a Finnish winter until other sites started cropping up, followed by Flickr groups and then, late in 2007, we started seeing coverage in newspapers in the UK and the US. It's increased in intensity here over the summer in the US as the media has realised the people are taking back the bike culture. Here's an article from Canada, another from Australia, and this one from Washington, DC.

It's an amazing development to behold. Funny, too, considering the fact that this cycling chic thang is hardly a newfangled thang here in Europe, but it's great to watch it develop. All I did was coin a phrase - Cycle Chic - and start photographing a theme - it's all of you who make it grow and spread the Style Over Speed word - especially with wonderful guest photos like all of them we've published on the blog.

Let's keep it snowballing, shall we? A good, stylish tailwind to you all.

Global Cycle Chic Guest Photos

Time for some guest photos sent to us from around the world or posted in our Flickr group. Copenhagen Cycle Chic goes global. Thanks for thinking of us and keep the guest photos coming!

Constantin sent in this photo of his wife, Verena returning from her 10 km [each way] daily ride to work. She rides a 1998 replica of the first mountain-bike, "THE
KLUNKER" by Gary Fisher. With style, selbstverständlich.

Putting the Oh! back into Ottawa. Thanks to Chris. The lady is riding a fine Skeppshult bicycle from Sweden.

And here's some Global Cycle Chic photos from our Flickr friends:

The 10 Cent Designer in Calgary, Canada. Calgary seems to be doing just fine in the Cycle Chic department. Note: guest photos with cowboy hats will NOT be blogged. :-)

Montrealcykler in, quelle surprise, Montréal. Proprietor of the Montreal Cykler blog.

Michael from NYC and the Drunk and in Charge of a Bicycle blog. It's not Michael in the photo, it's one of his roommates on her new Velorbis Victoria.

La Meow in the States. Vintage Queen of the Internet! :-)

Elinor Zach in NYC.

JanneM in Osaka.

Guest Photos: Japan and Texas

Thanks to Joe, in Austin, Texas, for this great guest photo. We love the contrast between the chic cyclist and the behemoth pick up truck.
"This image was taken last week. I had to fumble for the camera, as the lady in blue sported a much better pose before she began to pedal off to the next concert (they are everywhere during SXSW week). Alas, she shoved off and left us with this. Typical of the hip set in Austin: summer dress, cowgirl boots and leisurely vintage bikes are all the rage."
Thanks, Joe, for showing a bit of Cycle Chic from Texas. If we could hand out honourary keys to the city of Copenhagen, this cyclist would get one.
Harajuku Cycle Chic:

The wild, mad Harajuku neighbourhood of Tokyo.

Only the Japanese have thirty-five ways to double on a bike.

Guest Photo: Kofu, Japan

"Surely there must be one place left to put my bike?", originally uploaded by beeldmark.

And then the same chap, beeldmark, has a mirror shot of the one below, this one taken in Japan. Wonderful shot.

Guest Photo: Toyko, Japan

Beauty on wheels, originally uploaded by Magnumpi.

If there is one city that gives Copenhagen a run for its money with regards to bike culture and cycle chic, it has to be Tokyo. Or any other Japanese city for that matter.

Photo by Magnumpi over at Flickr. Taken in the Ueno district of Tokyo.

I love Tokyo like I love few other cities. I figure I'll make guest photos from Tokyo a regular feature.

If you're reading this, then that means you're probably not taking part in the growing boycott of Danish goods because of certain cartoons of a certain historical, religious figure.

So thanks for that.

Guest Photos: From Everywhere.

This whole guest photo thing is really snowballing. It's wonderful to recieve so many photos from around the world. Thanks to everyone who thinks of us and sends them along.
For those of you out there who use Flickr, I've started a group - Cycle Chic Global Pool - to which you can add your photos. That makes it easier for me to blog them. Don't despair if you don't use Flickr, just mail them along to us. Right then. Here goes. A super slough of global cycle chic:


Like so many others, I turn frequently to your blog to see the latest of your inevitably smile-inducing pictures and commentaries on Copenhagen's chic and sane cycling culture. Thank you for sharing the simple joys of daily life on your city's streets and beautiful blue bike paths.
Tom [in Tuscon, USA]


From Lisbon, passing thru London on her way to happiness. The only thing comparable to cycling is watching a girl on a bicycle. Isn't it? Thanks for the photos you give us all. Best regards, Humberto.


Dear Chic Copenhagen Cyclists: Here is a picture of my freind Gypsie, who works at Aaron's Bicycle Repair, in Seattle. She usually rides a beautifully customized all red XtraCycle, but here she shows how a European bag and bike can add some style to an already enchanting ensemble. February in Seattle is treating us pretty well. Val.


Here come some cycle men from Japan! Picture is taken in April 2007.
With best regards, Alo, Estonia.


I must say the site is absolutely astounding. I was in Copenhagen in November and absolutely fell in love with the city because of the people and the mass bike culture. This is a picture of my wife who cycles with me pretty much everywhere. The picture was taken in October, there is snow everywhere now. Edmonton has a wonderful network of MUPs that follow the river valley that twists through the city itself. It makes it quick to travel from residential areas to the University or Downtown core by bike. It also connects to the velodrome! My commute is significantly quicker by bike than car, even in -25C weather.

Keep the information and great pictures coming, it is starting to be seen in the student population at the University. Fixies are disappearing and lovely girls and boys are seen dressed nicely on useful city bikes.
Cheers! Samuel


Another piece on cycling in India - Read Parimal's first one here.
Dear Sir,
I recently drew an illustration for a competition, showing an Indian woman riding a bicycle with her daughter in front. This is a common sight here on the streets. I didn't win a prize, but I feel you may like the picture.

The standard ladies loop frame is common enough in India even today. This kind of frame is preferred by most ladies as it is sturdier, and provides enough clearance for the flowing 'sarees' we wear. I love straddling a loop frame : it makes me feel so womanly. Someone even once told me that a lady riding a loop frame is a romantic sight!

Despite the growing band of women who have taken to the scooterette, I prefer to stay with those faithful sisters who find their greatest pleasure in jumping onto a saddle and riding away lustily.
Best regards, Parimal.

Guest Photo: Tokyo

Tokyo nights XIII, originally uploaded by manganite.

One of my great inspirations on Flickr is a chap with the handle Manganite. I adore Tokyo and can't wait to return but Manganite's photos always tide me over until I land at Narita.

The title of the above photo is "Tokyo nights XIII". There are many fantastic things about Tokyo and one of them is that it is truly one of the world's great cycling capitals. Japanese cities in general have great urban bike cultures far more advanced that any North American city can muster, so there is a load of inspiration to be found.

What's more, Tokyoites are frightfully fashionable and chic. That, combined with bikes is - no surprise - something that tickles us pink.

Manganite grasps so many of Tokyo's moods in his shots and it's high time we include a photo appropriate to this blog.

Manganite's Flickr photostream.
Manganite's Blog.