Calmly, Stripey and Gorgeously Advertised

No jockeying for position, not muscling their way ahead of other cyclists, no trackstand on the edge of the zebra crossing. Just two cyclists waiting calmly for a red light to change to green.

A spot of stripes in the autumn sun.


Over at Copenhagenize.com we've been discussing http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/10/what-if-we-marketed-cycling-like-we.html.

Above is a recent advert for the French tyre company Hutchinson which is quite brilliant. Just two cyclists - one messengery type and one Cycle Chic Hero riding through New York City. Cool cool cool. This is the way to go to start branding cycling as effortless, enjoyable and liberating, not to mention a feasible and acceptable form of transport.

There is one flaw in the film, though. Hundreds of thousands of chic female cyclists in Europe know that when cycling in high heels you don't use the heel to pedal, for gods sake. You use the sole of the foot like with any other shoe. Sheesh.

But... because we're cheeky... we made a quick and dirty Copenhagen Cycle Chic Remix of the above advert wherein we feature just the Cycle Chic and sans sub-culture.

Hutchinson Tires Urban Video - Copenhagen Cycle Chic Remix from Colville Andersen on Vimeo.

Tandem Glamour in New York City

Joanna Goddard from Glamour.com sent me this blarticle of hers about this lovely couple and their tandem in New York. Thanks, Joanna! Be sure to read about them, where they got the bike and what it's like to ride it at the website.

Copenhagen Cycle Chic International Roundup

Photo: Ruby Washington
The New York Times has a little slide show they call A Field Guide to the New York City Bicyclist wherein they feature five cyclists from the city. One wears lycra, but behold the others! Thanks to the readers who fired off the link to us.

Photo: Ruby Washington


A little splash of Copenhagen Cycle Chic as seen in lovely Karlskrona, Sweden. Thanks, Joel!


A bit of Berlintasticness from Der Spiegel.


Thanks to Andy for this fine example of Springfield Cycle Chic!


I've had this photo on my harddisk for ages and ages. I think it's a publicity stunt for The Bicycle Film Festival.


GQ's Taiwan magazine have a cool print edition with loads of my photos this month and here's a little online teaser for their Scandinavian design feature.

Ode To A Bicycling America

Atlanta, Georgia - by San Smith - check out her blog!

The very, very best thing about this blog - and the other one - is the people we've met. It's a pleasure to cybermeet like-minded individuals who share our love of personal style, fashion and bicycles. In that order.

Santa Monica, California - by Madness Riviera.
We get so many lovely guest photos sent in or added to our Flickr group so why just chuck a little montage up with photos from a few of our American friends.

Fashion-wise there will always be differences in style on both sides of the pond, but we're loving what our friends and acquaintences are doing for Bicycle Chic in America.

Venice Beach, California
I lived in L.A. for a while back in the late-80's and every weekend was spent either surfing or hanging at the beach. Venice Beach was a favourite spot. Even back then Venice Beach was bicycle heaven. Some good things never change.

New York:


You know cycling has arrived [or rather returned] when the citizens of big cities get into the saddle. First Paris and now New York. Sure, it is far from perfect, but it's happening. And when it happens in cities like Paris and New York, it will spread. Wonderful.
Read our series about Paris for more info about the rebirth of their bike culture.

Seattle & Portland:


Sacramento, California:


Thanks for all the photos. There are so many more and we'll keep posting the, but for now this is our Ode to a Bicycling America.

Slowly, Slowly

Nothing like a flowing scarf on a cyclist.

Two funky Koreans outside of Baisikeli - a bike rental place that sends used Danish bikes to Africa. I love their hats. They rented bikes and were off to tour the city.


The cape is gently fading away from the fashion landscape. It's not really "sooo last year" since it has a classic quality to it, but this fall it seems the poncho is returning in force to the streets of Copenhagen.


We've just posted about the blossoming cycling life on New York's Governors Island over at Copenhagenize.com. If you're in New York or thereabouts, pay the island a visit and bring your bike.

It's a fantastic opportunity to go for a Slow Bicycle Ride in the true spirit of the Slow Bicycle Movement. Join our Facebook group if you haven't already.

Stand and Deliver and Religious Uproar in NYC

Nothing like a bit of happy acceleration.


Don't look now, here comes a female on a bike...

This just in from a reader in New York City, as only the NY Post can formulate it:

"It's the Hasids vs. the hotties in a Brooklyn bike war.

Leaders of South Williamsburg's Hasidic community said yesterday that bike lanes that bring scantily clad cyclists - especially sexy women - peddling through their neighborhood are definitely not kosher.

The red-faced religious sect is calling on city officials to eliminate the car-free lanes on Wythe and Bedford avenues, and to delay construction of a new one planned for Kent Avenue."

Here's the whole Post story.

The members of this sect should NEVER visit Copenhagen.


Freedom to ride in Copenhagen.

Cycle Chic Roundup

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 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...

A New Yorker shows us the way forward in one of Bill Cunningham's photos.

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.

Copenhagen Cycle Chic Goes Global

Copenhagen Cycle Chic is spreading. Thanks for all the guest photos!

Another stellar shot from Lucy in Australia. Lucy sells restored vintage bikes on Ebay and this is one of her happy customers in Gold Coast. I love this shot, not least because I lived there for six months back in the day and have surfed that very break in the background. Ah, memories.


Cool shot from João in Portugal. Check out his cool blog about Portugal's bike capital, Ílhavo here.


Cool Cycle Chic in Poland from the streetstyle blog Kajakowo
A splash of Munich cycle chic from my mate G-fried.

This landed in the inbox from a reader. Classic bike, as seen by the thousands in Copenhagen.

A splash of New York Cycle Suit Chic from Bicyclesonly on Flickr.

Guest Photo: New York City

NYC Bicycle Commuter, Park Ave. @ 58th St., originally uploaded by bicyclesonly.

A wonderful shot from New York City by BicyclesOnly over at Flickr.

The title tells all:
NYC Bicycle Commuter, Park Ave. @ 58th St.

Looking chic. stylish and just plain cool.

Red Ride and Funky New Yorkers

Red Ride, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Morning commuter commuting in sunshine and style.
And a wind chill of -15 C.
Shiny red on the lovely blue bike lanes of Copenhagen.

Thanks to a couple of our regular readers for sending us a link to a slideshow at the New York Times with cool photos of chic and funky New Yorkers on bikes, taken by Bill Cunningham.
Here's a little teaser. To see the rest, click on to the Times' website.