Life-sized Copenhagen

The Little Mermaid isn't small. She's life-size. Much like city she calls home, and that is the key word for everything here in Copenhagen. Greatest thing about this city is motion. It is never ending flow of happy people heading from A to B. In the 1960's this city was as car centric as any other city. Visionary decisions were made and now we can see the result of constant fight for life-sized city. City that is made for people, for its citizens. The vast network of safe, segregated bike lanes criss-crossing the city has encouraged people to use their bicycle. Everything starts with infrastructure. Build safe, reliable and connected infrastructure - more cyclists will come.

Image above proves the liveliness of this city, the human scale that Copenhagen stands for. To Cycle Chic in this city is so easy. It just comes naturally.

Happy Cycling!

And don't forget to follow us in Instagram @cycle.chic.republic for more daily updates.

Squad Goals: Cycle Squad.

A group of friends cycling together on a chill afternoon. Tribe mentality, happy traveling.



A family cycling together on that same chill afternoon. Tribe mentality, safe traveling.

We all search for a good company, life is better spent that way. Life is also better spent in a city where you can ride along with your favorite company and spend a good time moving from point A to point B. Mobility and a good company should go hand in hand. Mobility and a good time should also go hand in hand.

Happy cycling!

About the Cool Guys

The colour black persists. It is the essence of the men in Copenhagen. At least that's how it feels when you are trying to capture the ordinary Copenhagener. Why do so many Danes wear black? As simple as it is - it keeps you warm! Especially in winter, when sunlight is sparse and temperatures dip. Black absorbs heat, and so wearing more black is a practical method of thermal isolation. 

You can feel the desire to maintain an understated image within Copenhageners, which essentially appears to be the accepted norm, people living in Copenhagen play it safe (together with the infrastructure that is made out of the best practice paying attention to its user) by donning neutral-colored apparel within the city that gives understated feeling in minimalist architecture and interior, hardly any huge advertisements... However, individuals can still stand out through details when you know where to look, like the trimmings of a coat, the silhouette of sneakers, or a flash of a piercing.

Puffy Jacekts

The weather is changing all the time, so puffy jackets are the best choice. Keeps you warm, easy to move (we mean cycle) and they look good.

This lady... All bronze. Her bike, her jacket, even her skin tone. We like it. It is not by mistake, she is chic and unique.

Or add a stand out colour. We are aware that Copenhageners like to wear black, but it is so nice from time to time refresh yourself with some nice colour. Good job!

The safe way. It is longer - to keep yourself warmer, black - because it always works, opened neck - because it not so cold, yet. With the beige boots and gloves in dark red this is a really nice combination.

Keep yourself warm.
Happy Cycling!

Double Dealing Days, Part II

No matter where you are going to and what you are doing. The streets of Copenhagen with cycling lines wide enough to fit two cyclists cycling together side by side gives you a possibility to share these beautiful everyday moments with your friends.

It is pretty ordinary in Copenhagen to see couples cycling from A-to-B. It is cheaper, faster, better and lets be honest - later you can use the money for a nice, romantic dinner together.

It starts with couples and continues with families...

Take your friend and share the ride !!! 

Happy Cycling!

Cycle Chic Creepin'

One a fall day, Cycle Chic was creeping from above. Through a window in Dybbølsgade, Vesterbro, we captured the urban ease this neighborhood in Copenhagen conserves with wide streets, plenty of bicycle parking and open pedestrian space covered in gold.

 

Street life at peace.

Don't forget the goods!

No hands, no big.

Cycle puff is good enough.

Tuned in and zoned out.

Upright cruise. When your hair matches the season...

Remember to follow us on Instagram! Cycle.Chic.Republic

Happy Cycling!

Night Rider

Capturing the Copenhagen street scene riding black as gold with moon colored locks.


Happy Cycling!

My Livable City

What makes a city livable? Cycling helps. Open green spaces help a lot. Nice people beats everything. Let's make today a great day for everyone!


Happy Cycling!

Clear and Dry

The cycle tracks have the highest priority when clearing snow. They are cleared before the roads even get touched. Even on a Sunday evening, like in the photo above. Getting ready for the rush in the morning, but also providing clear cycling for whoever is out there at the moment, transporting themselves from A to B.

See how Copenhagen prioritises cycle tracks for snow clearance here.

Copenhagen Eye Candy

Copenhagen's cycle culture is probably our biggest attraction. Every Copenhagen street corner will surprise you with amazing eye candy. Grab a bench or steal a seat at a Café and enjoy the rolling Cat Walk.



Yeah. The boys can too!



Happy Cycling!

City Cycling Europe Guides by Rapha

The first thing you notice about the Rapha City Cycling guides is that they look good. Even the little box they come snugly ensconced in is pretty. They are a series of bright pastel colours and feature a different illustrator for each city, so each one has an air of distinctiveness whilst also fitting nicely into the set.

There are eight guides, taking in nine cities in Europe, most of them good for citizen cyclists: Copenhagen, Paris, Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Milan and Antwerp & Ghent sharing one guide. They are initially only available as a full set of eight and feel a little like extended blogs, in that they give you little snapshots of local knowledge – they don’t concentrate on well-known tourist spots, indeed they barely mention them. Instead they give the low down on the latest hip places to hang out.

They contain maps for nice cycling routes, which is handy for anyone trying to get from A to B. But there are also sections on ‘racing and training’ that seem to be aimed at the lycra-wearing market, rather than chic citizen cyclists. Of course in an ideal world, ‘city cycling’ guides wouldn’t be a thing, there would just be city guides.

The recommendations for what to do in Copenhagen are a fairly solid spread of decent bars, restaurants and shops, though of course the nature of cities is that they are always going to miss something out. And the danger is that being enshrined in the permanency of ink they will soon get out of date. One solution to this is of course making sure you get on your bike and get visiting all these cities as soon as possible, and these attractive-looking guides certainly make visiting enticing.

City of Cyclists

Copenhagen - City of Cyclists from Copenhagenize on Vimeo.

I've missed this film. I didn't know until just now. It's been ages since I've seen it. Copenhagenize Consulting was asked to produce a film for The City of Copenhagen promoting our bicycle culture. I filmed this over a month all over the city, with additional footage during the winter. We had the song written especially for it. I never get tired of watching it. The diversity of our mainstream bicycle culture in three or so minutes.

Good Design

There is something relaxing, visually pleasing, satisfying even, about objects that are organised nicely and neatly.  Probably why we are fans of the photo blog, Things Organized Neatly.  So, we set out to find examples of bicycles organised neatly.  Something like this...

Photo shoot for Jopo Bikes.
or this...

Bamboo getting ready to be made into bicycles in Sao Paulo.
Occasionally the City of Copenhagen does a nice job cleaning up and organising the bikes for us.  Not least with their Bicycle Butlers.

One of the closest every day sights we found, was this arrangement at a Copenhagen train station.  Adequate, efficient, and typical Scandinavian minimalism.

More often than not, it's slightly more chaotic, bicycles ending up like a heap of stuffed animals.  Loved, well-used, lost, sometimes forgotten.

Do you have examples of good design? Design that encourages order and aesthetics and would organise all these bicycles neatly.  We'd love to see it.

Cycle Chic Top 10 List of Where to Photograph Copenhagen Cyclists

Dronning Louises Bro - concentrated Cycle Chic

The ultimate guide to shooting cyclists in the World's Cycling Capital. In making the the top ten list I used the following criteria: number of cyclists, chic factor, variation, accessibility and - importantly - the availability of good shooting positions. Remember this is a personal take. Cyclists are everywhere in Copenhagen so you may already have or may find your own favourite spot.

(All the pictures here are geotagged - so if you click on them, you can find the shooting locations on a map at Flickr)
_____________________________________________

1. Dronning Louises Bro (Queen Louise's Bridge)

Probably the best place in the World for photographing cyclists! Heavy traffic every day around the clock. Wonderful mix of people, fashion and cycles. Lots of space and good shooting spots with beautiful backdrops to choose from.

My fav spot: North Side in the afternoon facing East towards the large crossing.

Tip: Friday and Saturday evenings the party people abound.

How to get there: By bike go to Nørre Søgade/Frederiksborggade. By bus 84N, 5A, 81N and 350S. By Metro, S-train and Regional train to Nørreport Station and walk 10 minutes along Frederiksborggade to the bridge.







_____________________________________________


2. Nyhavn / Kongens Nytorv

Great for a variety of close ups and compressed traffic pictures in beautiful surroundings. People biking fast, slow, walking, parking - its all here. A little cramped during rush hour and weekends, but good opportunities to blend in and get close.

My fav spot: Opposite Nyhavn at the crossing Kongens Nytorv/Bredgade in the early afternoon.

Tip: Weekends are packed with slow moving traffic with people shopping, eating and just hanging around.

How to get there: By bike go to Kongens Nytorv and head for the North side of Nyhavn canal. By bus 11A, 15, 20E, 1A, 65E, 83N, City Bus and 350S. By Harbour Bus (as in ship) 991, 992 and 993. Metro to Kongens Nytorv and walk 3 minutes to Nyhavn.







_____________________________________________

3. Knippels Bro / Børsen (Old Stock Exchange)

Another hot spot with lots of action. If it bikes, it will come this way! Remember to check out the sun light before you decide which side of the bridge to walk up. With its long approach you can easily target exactly the Copenhagen chic cyclist you have been hoping to capture.

My fav spot: At the beginning of the bridge at the crossing between Børsgade and Børsbroen where all the cyclists congregate.

Tip: On the bridge people tend to race down, so better to catch them on the way up or close to the top.

How to get there: By bike go to Slotholmsgade and park your bike and walk up to the bridge from there. By bus 2A, 40, 66, 83N and 350S. By Harbour Bus (as in ship) 991 and 992. Metro to Christianshavns Torv and walk 3 minutes along Torvegade to the bridge.







_____________________________________________
4. Rådhuspladsen (Town Hall Square)

Plenty of traffic from all sides, but also a lot of renovation and road repairs right now. Most cyclists passing by are commuters trying to whiz past as fast as they can. But there are lots of red lights to slow them down and also many cyclists shopping that pull their bikes across the large square.

My fav spot: At the bus stop opposite the crossing between H. C. Andersens Boulevard and Jernbanegade.

Tip: Remember to go to both sides of the square for a change in scenery and background depth.

How to get there: By bike go to H. C. Andersens Boulevard and park your bike at the crossing with Vesterbrogade. By bus 10, 12, 14, 26, 33, 82N, 83N, 85N 94N and 97N. By S and Regional train to Hovedbanegården (Central Station) and from the main entrance walk 5 minutes along Vesterbrogade to Rådhuspladsen.







_____________________________________________
5. Jagtvej / Nørrebrogade

Large crossing where you can see how Copenhageners use their bikes for a myriad of purposes to get on with their lives. Centred in a busy residential and shopping area the crossing is flanked by a large park/cemetery. Excellent shooting positions for all kinds of light and weather. Lots of small groups of kids, families and friends pass by.

My fav spot: On the pedestrian island facing East with Nørrebrogade as a deep backdrop.

Tip: One of Mikael Colville-Andersens most famous pictures was taken here with the yellow cemetery wall as a backdrop. See if you can match him!

How to get there: By bike go to Nørrebrogade or Jagtvej and up to where the two streets intersect. Try parking at one of the stores at the crossing. By bus 5, 18, 81N, 84N. The new Metro station will be ready five years from now...







_____________________________________________
6. Trianglen

Another large crossing with several excellent shooting positions and a choice of deep backdrops. Especially good for mixed pictures of cyclists and pedestrians as well as groups of cyclists waiting to cross or moving across. Good balance between commuters and local residents.

My fav spot: On Trianglen itself on the corner facing North towards Østerbrogade.

Tip: During most of the day you can find a street aligned with ambient light as your backdrop - in contrast to Copenhagen's many relatively narrow streets.

How to get there: By bike follow Østerbrogade until you reach Trianglen and park your bike there without blocking the way for others. By bus 1A, 3A, 14, 15, 80N, 85N and 95N.






_____________________________________________
7. Gammel Kongevej / H. C. Ørsteds Vej

Ever wanted to photograph a cyclist donning a 20.000$ fur? Frederiksberg is the place for a touch of Copenhagen's more elegant chic cyclists and this crossing is one of the best places to get lucky. Its also one of the absolute best places to get head-on pictures of cyclists, as two of the cycle paths make a "swing" just in front of a conveniently placed pedestrian island you can use to shot from.

My fav spot: On the pedestrian island facing South towards Alhambravej.

Tip: Great place for close ups and for evening/night shots

How to get there: By bike go to Gammel Kongevej and follow it up to H. C. Ørsteds Vej. Park in front of the super market on H. C. Ørsteds Vej. By bus 3A, 14, 15 and 85N.







_____________________________________________
8. Bridge between Havneholmen / Islands Brygge

Beautiful background scenery. Should be near the top of this list during summer, but due to the difficult light and surprisingly shadowy surroundings less so during the long dark and cold winter spell when traffic also drops. Lots of splendid scenery to explore and exploit. Shooting here during a summer morning or early evening when the chic factor peaks is not to be missed.

My fav spot: On the landing on the West bank facing North towards Copenhagen Centre.

Tip: Its easier to get great cyclist shots at the landings than on the bridge itself.

How to get there: By bike either follow Kalvebod Brygge or Islands Brygge along the water front until you reach bridge. By bus 30, 65E, 97N and 250S. By harbour bus (as in ship) 991 and 992. By By S train to Dybbelsbro Station.






_____________________________________________
9. Ingerslevsgade / Dybbelsbro / Skelbæksgade


With its open space and steady flow maybe the best place to catch the morning and evening commute. Many cyclists passing here come from afar on their bikes. In addition there is a constant flow of people taking their cycles with them on the S train and thus lots of opportunities to include the unique Danish cycle/train combo in your shots as well as many shoppers with bags and boxes from the nearby shopping centre.

My fav spot: At the crossing between Skelbæksgade and Ingerselvsgade facing towards Dybbelsbro and the harbour.

Tip: Go for the morning rush hour. Bring your best camera/lens. Shoot against the low hanging sunlight.

How to get there: By bike go via Hovedbanegården (Central Station) to Ingerslevsgade and up to Dybbelsbro S Station. By bus 1A and 65E. By S train to Dybbelsbro Station.






_____________________________________________
10. Christianshavns Torv

Beautiful people, buildings and waterfront. For sheer variety in personality and individualistic style Christianshavns Torv is a hit. And it can boast of heavy traffic 24/7. So why so low on the list? There are not many good spots to position yourself and the crowed square and incessant car traffic will ruin lots of those one-in-a-lifetime shots you see coming up only to have them blocked by someone or something. It may offer you the very best of the best, but may also leave you frustrated.

My fav spot: the pedestrian island at the bus stop in front of the Metro Station facing West which is great for head-on shots in the afternoon.

Tip: Move around to make sure you have the best light possible. Be persistent until you find a good spot to take your shots. Know you will miss a lot of great shots.

How to get there: By bike go via Christiansborg slot across the bridge at Langebro to Christianshavns Torv. Park at the Metro Station. By bus 2A, 40, 66 81N and 350S. By Metro to Christianhavns Torv.


.




_____________________________________________
Did I mention that I love Copenhagen?


Happy Cycling!