Guest Photo: Seattle, USA

Another wonderful photo from the hand of Derek Pearson in Olympia, Washington State. The title is 'Sisters'.
Thanks again for thinking of us, Derek. Groovy winter bike wear worthy of Copenhagen bike lanes.

Check out Derek's bicycle site Bike Rubbish here. And be sure to check out his professional photographer site here.

Styliciousness avec velo

Styliciousness avec velo, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

On the City Hall Square, she was heading home in the afternoon. Looking fabulous, but with a change of clothes, ready for the long weekend.

The Cycle Girl Statue

The Weather Girls - Vejrpigerne - have been somewhat of a landmark in Copenhagen since the 1930's. They sit atop the Richshuset building on the City Hall Square. Stretching below them is a long, neon thermometer - also from the 1930's - which still works today.

The Cycle Girl, however, is no longer active. There are two versions of the girl; one [as seen above] of a girl in a skirt and one with a girl in a jacket and holding an umbrella with her dog next to her [the brolley is just visible on the right].

The girls are on a rotating disc and provided a weather forecast for Copenhageners. If fair weather was expected, the girl on the bike would rotate out to the edge. Rain? The other girl would rotate out.

Hardly scientific and really rather vague, but an excellent example of how women on bikes are an integral part of the Danish culture and mentality. And in a respectable, integrated way.



Indeed, in a thesis entitled "The Modest Democracy of Daily Life - An analysis of the bicycle as a symbol of Danishness" by Marie Kåstrup (who now works for the City of Copenhagen's Bicycle Office), the cycling girl is described as:

"A unique front figure for the democratic bike culture. She is, all at once, a modest, charming and everyday representation of Danishness."

Thanks to jesign24 on Flickr for the lovely photos.

Vélocouture - Fashion, on a bicycle

We've long been a big fan - and contributor - to the very excellent Flickr group called Vélocouture.

The group guidelines make it clear what separates this group from so many other bike groups on Flickr.

"Vélocouture is not bicycle fashion. Vélocouture is fashion, on a bicycle. Smart, stylish, functional outfits worn by transportational bicyclists.

Celebrate the creative re-purposing of "normal" clothes for use as a transportational cyclist. Help popularize the innovative, functional and fashionable garments that are (finally!) being created by pedal-powered fashion-forward folks around the world.

This isn't about wearing costumes or bizarre outfits while on a bike. Plenty of places for that. This is about stylishly carrying oneself through the everyday -- on a bicycle.

Also, please note that this group is about fashionable cyclists, not fashionable bicycles. No bike-only shots. Again, plenty of groups exist for photos of your bike."


The group features photos of both women and men and, in our opinion, it's one of the beacons of hope for normalising urban cycling and removing the bane of lycra from the streets of cool cities around the world.

Vive la vélocouture!

Red Light Tension

She is in the process of turning left. Cyclists are allowed to turn left, but only if they proceed to the far side and wait. If there is no traffic in either direction, they can cross. It is one of the few situations where bikes aren't completely equal with cars. One of the very few. Bikes otherwise enjoy equal status in the traffic.

The Copenhagener above is eyeing the red light, waiting for that moment when it turns to yellow, shortly followed by green. Any moment now. Wait for it. And then she's off.

night bike

night bike, originally uploaded by Aaron78.

late night, early morning... just me and her on the bike lane, amidst the neon soup.

Guest Photo: Brooklyn, USA

wed12sept07, originally uploaded by a-pic-a-day....

We spotted this excellent photo in the Bike2Life photo pool over at Flickr.

Brilliant composition and sense of the freedom of the ride. It is the work of a Dutch woman living in Brooklyn, USA - Marielle .

She takes one photo a day of her daily life and this is her photo from Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Great to see some cool cycle chic riding shots from the States.

Anybody who makes urban cycling look easy and, most importantly, stylish is a super cycling hero[ine] in our eyes.

Guest Photo: Portland, USA

We were well chuffed when Tanya's email showed up on the cyber radar. Yet another Portland view of their blossoming bike culture, this time through Tanya's eyes.

I love your blog. I used to live in Copenhagen and I really miss it there as I
miss a lot of the practical and humane ways of living in Northern Europe as a whole. Still, someone has to help spread the dream here in the USA. I am now the CEO for a corporate wellness company - RecessWellness.com. I just think that going to gym to "workout" or donning a bunch of crazy cycle gear is just silliness. I even own a Christiania trike that I use for hauling gear.

I have been trying to get regular people in Portland offices to just get on their bikes and stop making such a big deal of everything. People just about have a coronary when they find out I bike around in a suit and heels in the rain!

Happy biking (in heels)!

Tanya

What a wonderful and inspiring email to recieve. Thanks for thinking of us, Tanya! We wish you an eternal tailwind and best of luck with your quest. What a cool, blue bike you have, too.
Go Portland!

Guest Photos: Cycle Chictastic

A splendid splash of red on this fashionable photo from our good friends over at Velorution in London. And that cape is just wonderful. It's a swinging cycling cape christened "Yellow Raver" because of its reflective qualities - fine wool worsted with light reflective yarn patented as LumaTwill. It's the creation of Guy Hills of Dashing Tweeds.

You can see the cape at Velorution's shop in Great Titchfield Street in London. It retails at £485 and, Velorution's blog tells us, Guy Hills can design a bespoke cape for men, too. Smashing idea.


On the other side of the planet, our mate Radzi of the groovy Australian blog Fahrradsozialismus has some wicked cool cyclofashion photos on his Flickr photostream.

Do be sure to check out the photos on Flickr by clicking on them and reading his informative texts about the images.

Bikescaltor - longing for summer

Bikescaltor, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Another post in which we remember summers past and summers future.

Sometimes, especially after a long day at the beach, you just can't be bothered taking the lift in the Copenhagen metro station and the escaltor is the quickest way up to the street.

Bike basket filled with towels and beach gear. Quiet conversation about what plans they have for the summer night.

Classic

Blue bike, originally uploaded by Aaron78.

Classic bike in a lovely blue, and a classic Copenhagen winter look . . . ankle boots, warm tights, stylish mac, layered with a warm hoodie and scarf. Her belongings stored safely in her front basket.

Guest Photo: London

N-H, originally uploaded by KULBE / Anders Tangerud, the distinguish <3 Love.

Our main man Kulbe excels once again at bringing us glimpses of cycle chic from other cities. Usually it's France or Italy, but here's a chic cyclist in Notting Hill, in London.

Thanks, mate, for letting us blog it!

Ode to a Distant Summer

We're not shy to admit it.
We miss summer.
While we love the stylish winter wear on the bike lanes, we long for the heady days of the Copenhagen summer.

Here's a little flashback/flashforward.

Brolley Bike

Brolley Bike, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Light Showers.
Light Brolley.

Found this buried deep in my Flickr photostream. Thought it appropriate to post it here.

Guest Photo: More Portland by Patrick Finn

Ladies and Gentleman... another fine photo from Portland by Patrick Finn.
Thanks for sending it along to us, Patrick... and we look forward to the next installment!

One Finger Riding

One Finger Riding, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

One of the many ways of riding on the relaxing bike lanes of Copenhagen.

Berlin Cycle Chic

ccc_Berlin Cycle Chic, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Copenhagen cycle chic went off to Berlin.
Chic is not age-related.

Berlin Cycle Chic

ccc_Berlin Cycle Chic, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Copenhagen Cycle Chic went off to Berlin.
It's mostly seems as though the eastern part of the city is more bicycle friendly, but there were many bikes on the Ku'Dam.

Wellingtons

Wellingtons, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Rainwear for cyclists in Copenhagen.