(old
black bicycle on the left) “I bought my bike two years ago but I know it's a
very old one. It's a former police bike from the 50's. But for me
it's most of all a nice classic bike.”
More pictures of Copenhagen every day on Byliv in CPH.
Showing posts with label cycle chic classics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cycle chic classics. Show all posts
8 January 2014
Portraits of cyclists: “It's a former police bike”
More pictures of Copenhagen every day on Byliv in CPH.
27 December 2011
17 August 2010
Yellow Morning
I have a series of photographs taken on Nørrebrogade - the busiest bicycle street in the Western world - taken last week. All along the section running past Assistens Cemetary, burial place of Hans Christian Andersen, the Father of Existensialism Søren Kirkegaard and various American jazz musicians who here in the 60's when Copenhagen was the jazz capital of the planet. The light here is wonderful on summer mornings and the yellow wall a fine background.
For now, let's start with this photo. Quintessential Copenhagen. Doesn't get more CPH than this. For me, it sums up everything I love about this city and the people who inhabit it.
12 August 2010
Hula Hoop Fat Boy
That hula hoop isn't going to get home by itself, now is it?
This shot last week reminded me of another shot of mine at the same intersection, taken three years ago:
A Copenhagener transporting his new Fat Boy bean bag home. By bicycle, of course.
7 July 2010
Red: Then and Now
A long forgotten photograph from the Cycle Chic archives, rediscovered by accident today. Lovely morning light.
And a red theme from last week to match. In the late evening light.
3 May 2010
Retro Sensations
I've lost track of how many photos are in the Cycle Chic archive. Once in awhile I have to peruse the archive to find this or that and often I stumble upon a photo I haven't seen for a long while. I remember every single photo and each of them takes me back to the moment they were taken and the mood I possessed in that fragment of time.
On occasion I see a photo that - for reasons I can't explain and don't bother trying to explain - makes me feel good.
This is one of them. From July 17, 2007. Heading into the sunset in a blaze of red.
29 April 2010
Back to Copenhagen
For a man who laments the fact that he didn't live in Paris in the early 1960's, an outfit like this a brilliant time machine. Cycle Chic Retro Diva.
Fantastic. Instant Classic.
2 December 2009
The Art of Red Gloves
Reg gloves. There's something about them. They don't send such a loud signal as red heels, but the elegance is more subtle and refined.
I took this shot the other day and then seemed to recall I had some other shots of red gloves. Presto... a theme was born.
This is one of the more iconic Cycle Chic shots from a couple of years back. Such poise and grace only intensified by the red gloves.
Some other shots feature red driving gloves, red wooly mittens and red stripey mittens.
If you look hard enough, you may be able to find a red version of these handwarmers. The black ones cost 50 kroner [$10] around Copenhagen.
20 July 2009
Summer Holiday One Shots - Cycle Chic Classics
A Cycle Chic Classic.
This shot is one of a series of 52 photos from a Copenhagen bench in 19 minutes. I only shot a fraction of the bikes that went past but the whole series hammers home how important the bike is to Copenhagen life.
Shot between 14:01 - 14:20 on April 24, 2008.
See the slideshow for full effect
19 July 2009
18 July 2009
17 July 2009
16 July 2009
15 July 2009
14 July 2009
12 July 2009
28 April 2009
Gentlemen Prefer Bicycles - Guide to Bicycle Style pour hommes
After seeing an article about bicycles in a Danish fashion magazine for men called Euroman, I thought it necessary to pen this post. The Euroman article was about 'cool' bikes and the bikes were, by and large, frightfully expensive racers. Considering the fact that this magazine attempts to represent 'cool' Danish men, it was odd that their article reeked a bit too much of 'toys' and 'gear'. The bikes, with the exception of the Bullitt by Larry vs. Harry, were not bicycles ridden around Copenhagen by bespoke sartorial-minded gentlemen.
This dismal cyclo faux pas by Euroman begged the question: what bicycles should discerning, elegant and modern gentlemen prefer to ride in buzzing urban centres on their way to a café for an afternoon beer after a demanding meeting at the ad agency/law firm/photo studio/et al? Here's Copenhagen Cycle Chic's opinionated view.
THE SCRAP DELUXE BY VELORBIS [DENMARK]
As any dedicated reader to this website knows, I prefer my Scrap Deluxe from Velorbis, as pictured above. It's cheeky, flirtacious and yet urban to a tee. The sophisticated form and the balloon tyres beg for style over speed and I rarely let it down. Although the Churchill from Velorbis is a fantastic option as well.
They say it best themselves: "We put our heart and soul into all of our bicycles - every component or design feature has been well considered for its functionality, compatibility and overall aesthetic."
VELORBIS was born from the hunt for a desirable bicycle on which to cycle around London as an alternative to public transport after the London bombings in 2005. The bicycles are made in Northern Germany, shunning the exodus to China and Taiwan that many bike brands have made.
Danish design and Copenhagen style. Period.
THE CLASSIC BY ARROW [JAPAN]
Arrow bicycles are exquisite machines. Stylish, functional and simple, like much Danish and Japanese design.
Jimbei Yamada started selling his cult bikes in Tokyo back in 1972. His slogan, visible above the door to his shop, says it all: "Simple is Best".
He sells basic designs available in 18 colours. Customers can buy them assembled or they can buy them as kits. Many customers chooose to assemble them themselves in the shop, under Yamada's supervision and under another sign that reads: "Your bike made by yourself".
As Yamada says, "I realised that if I could do it, anyone could."
In Yamada's eyes a city bike should be strong, narrow and light. Two of his most popular makes are the Yamajin and the Classic [pictured above].
Arrow only produces about 1000 bikes a year. Yamada doesn't fancy the idea of expanding. Too much stress. He currently has his main shop and four franchises around Japan. He purchases the best parts and that is what makes his bikes so good in a world of cheap bikes.
What endears us most to Yamada and Arrow is his disdain for branding. There is no Arrow logo on any of his bikes.
"You've already paid for the product; I don't see why you should advertise it too", he says.
THE CITY CLASSIC MAN BY CICLO ADRIATICA [ITALY]
The Cicli Adriatica bicycles, above, were recently discovered in a foreign fashion magazine by Wifealiciousness, so I dutifully sought them out on the internet. Merely because they're beautiful, normal bikes for everyday use in all urban landscapes. Mostly because they're beautiful.
How I yearn to ride one through the winding streets of some Italian city, nodding knowingly at other well-dressed cyclists who pass by.
THE IMPERIALE UOMO BY UMBERTO DEI [ITALY]
The name of this bicycle alone makes us sigh. The Imperiale Uomo by Umberto Dei. This bicycle evaded our bespoke bike radar for a long while until an Italian friend put us onto it. We're glad he did.
The brand has a history it seems, which adds to the allure:
"It happened in the year 1896. The Lumiere brothers had just invented cinematography and Guglielmo Marconi had created the wireless telephone when a little artisan, fond of cycling and extremely meticulous, made his first series of bicycles. His name was Umberto Dei.
"That was the beginning of a marvellous adventure that led him to create a collection of bicycles which were considered among the best in the world. Their level of quality and perfection was so high that the brand Dei became world-known: everybody longed to have a Dei bycicle and win by riding it."
All fine and dandy with a bit of history from the glory days of racing. But we're well pleased that the company produces bicycles for gentlemen like the Imperiale Uomo. I want one, desperately. At €1300, I'll have to wait six months or so. Global financial crisis and all that.
THE LIGHT ROADSTER BY A.N.T. BIKE [USA]
The A.N.T. Bike [ANT meaning 'Alternative Needs Transportation'] is a labour of love produced in a town called Holliston, Massachusetts, USA.
Hand crafted bikes with each their own personality. Organic metallic wonders that are designed for style and function. As Danes, with a long history of design, those two words are music to our ears and the bikes we've seen on the website are operas for our eyes.
They target the needs of the city cyclist and create bikes that suit the individual.
"We not only hope to meet the needs of people's commuter bikes, but to influence the consumers to think about bicycle commuting in a more positive way. We love all types of cycling but feel that there is a real need to bring to the table bikes that have the right combination of style and function that is so lacking in the market."
While we lament the fact that we have never ridden an ANTBIKE let alone stroked our fingers over the cool, smooth frame of one, we are quite convinced that they exude bespoke coolness. From what we gather there is quite a waiting list for one of these beauties, so get your deposit paid and settle back to enjoy the anticipation.
One little detail that tickles us pink is the hand-crafted logo. It's just leapt to the top of our unofficial list of coolest bike logos. Ever ever ever. It's an ant. It's an A and a N and a T. And it is just as rusty as most bikes in Copenhagen. We want a large one for our wall.
THE PEDERSEN [DENMARK]
As far as sitting up straight in style, as your mother taught you, the Pedersen is hard to compete with. As far as stories go, the Pedersen bicycle story beats them all.
Mikael Pedersen, a Dane, moved to England and with the help of a financier started a bike company featuring his unique frame. It was called the Dursely Pedersen back then, after the town of Dursley where he settled. All went well for a while but he ended up losing control of his patents and designs and ended up dying a pauper in Denmark.
The designs were found and revived by Jesper Sølling in 1978 and the bicycles are now much sought after. The town of Dursley had his remains sent over in 1995 and erected a memorial in his honour. The story in full is here.
The bike is a timeless classic and definately looks best when ridden in an expensive suit.
Do let us know if you know any other bicycles that may apply to this bespoke category.
17 December 2008
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