Splashes of Red, Splashes and Anarchy Chic

I haven't forgotten the Cycle Chic Hat challenge laid down by some readers. Until I collect the appropriate shots for the series, here's a couple hatastic Copenhageners.

Old school charm and grace.

While visiting the new Royal Theatre Skuespilhuset on the harbour, I saw this person just riding around in slow, happy circles on the old quay. Riding through puddles. That's it. Nothing more to it than that. How lovely.


Here's a spot of Anarchy Cycle Chic. If you're going to protest the World Bank summit in 2000, what better way to get around than on a normal bicycle. That chainguard is handy for stopping water cannons from getting your chain wet. That back rack is convenient for carrying molotov cocktails or a friend or a friend carrying molotov cocktails. And the dynamo light will help you through the tear gas/smoke from burned cars. And lord knows you'd look stupid if you were wearing lycra in this situation. Normal clothes are fine. From an advert for Lee Jeans' Make History photo contest.

Bad Day At Cycle Chic + Rainy Moods

Once in a while there's a bad day here at Cycle Chic. I wasn't even trying to take a photo of this Copenhagener. I was focused on something up ahead. My finger hit the button and I first saw the result at home.

Which goes to show that you can virtually close your eyes and point your camera in Copenhagen and you'll probably end up with a shot of a chic Copenhagener.


I love this rainy day shot. I love all the shots when a cyclist is just launching into motion but this one is great. Both chaps have just reached speed and their right feet are gliding towards the pedals. It's stationary and yet filled with movement, motion, momentum.


Another little umbrella shot.

Sunday Launch Party

A Copenhagener launches her bicycle into motion. She has a little Danish flag - Dannebrog, the world's oldest national flag - in her hair. I'm guessing she's heading to a birthday or other celebration.


Two Copenhageners launch off the lights in the rain. That magical moment when human powered transport begins.

Raintastic

Autumnal rain on the bike lanes. A stylish Copenhagen Supermum and her boy in the rainy afternoon rush hour.


Another supermum, 'sans enfant' crossed my path.


'Chic' is, and always will be, a relative term. Nevertheless, a splash of colour on a rainy isn't a bad thing.


Red rain poncho, heavy load on the Short John.

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...

Rain, Rain Go Away

We're going to reveal a shocking fashion secret. Right here on this blog. For all the world to see. In the closets of most Copenhageners - even the chicest of the chic - there is a rain jacket. Maybe even a pair of matching rain trousers. We don't talk about it much and it's rather uncomfortable mentioning it here but it is true nonetheless. It's our Inconvenient Truth.

It's traditionally a rainy climate in the winter. Drizzly, drab and pooey. Only when the forecast is for day-long rain does the rubber come out. Actually, the Danish Meteological Institute did a study a while back about the odds of cyclists getting rained on during their commute - which is really encouraging. Many Copenhageners aren't THAT fussed about getting bit wet. If it pours down all of a sudden, cyclists huddle together under awnings or trees. If it looks like it'll continue, they end up just getting back on the bike and riding away.

But just like in most regions, we are experiencing our own weather quirks thanks to climate change. At this time of year we are getting downpours. So much that the sewers in some areas can't handle the water.

The other day it rained. All day. Pouring. Old man snoring and all that. And out came the dreaded rubber. However, some cyclists, as the two above, seem to make it work. Wellingtons and rain jackets are suddenly quite fashionable.

In light rain, there are options available for friends who are heading out together.

Just keep your brolley close at hand.

It's an art form in Copenhagen, riding with an umbrella.

This Dutch invention would be great here in Copenhagen. An umbrella holder for your bike from Drybike.nl.

More rainy day cycling moods - with music.

Not to forget the rain poncho airbag combo.

Monday Morning

Storm clouds over classy [and rather unconcerned] Copenhagener.

The bike lane near city hall, on Hans Christian Andersen's Boulevard, takes a little left/right turn. Enormous fun in a tailwind.

It's a tiny little victory on our "take back the bike culture" quest, but a victory nonetheless. As you know, we have a little online boutique, wherein we have a sticker department.

They have a few standard sticker templates for my designs but I had been itching to make bike frame stickers. So I used the car bumper sticker [ha!] template and made three stickers for your bike frame. You have to cut them out yourself, but they look smashing on a bike frame. Get them while they're hot and while they're still my own original idea! :-)

Both Sides of The Sound

The Sound is the name of the sea between Copenhagen and Sweden and, on the other side is Malmö, Sweden's third largest city. They ride bikes, too. Upwards of 25% of all trips are made by bike. It's a lovely place to visit, only 30 minutes on the train from Copenhagen.

You get to see so many cool Swedish bikes - Crescent and Hermes/new and old. Normal bikes, of course. With normal people on normal clothes riding them.

What a beauty. For more smashing Malmöliciousness on bikes...

Meanwhile, back in Copenhagen

Don't fancy unsightly raingear? Forget your brolley at home in your rush to get to the café? Not to worry. Just wrap your scarf around your head and you're a female Lawrence of Copenhagnia in the light summer rain.

It's a criss-cross bike world. I love the couple holding hands on the right.

Self-Irony

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.

Rain and Not

A spot of light rain. Which only seems to bother the chap on the left.

Peeking out of the Nihola in a rain shower.

Your paths are always crossing in Copenhagen.

Checking text messages is almost as important as riding your bike in Copenhagen. Almost.