Bicycles and Flowers in Riga

On a recent visit to Riga, Latvia, I was invited on two bike rides. One of them was probably the loveliest bike ride I could imagine. All around the world there are bike rides taking place. Celebrating the bicycle, riding in support of this or that cause. All nice.

In Riga, however, a local bike shop arranged a Bicycle Flower Festival. Encouraging people to decorate their bicycles with flowers and go for a ride.

For no other reason than bicycles and flowers are a match made in heaven and compliment each other brilliantly.

So simple, so lovely. We wish we had thought of it ourselves.















Getting a police escort for a Bicycle Flower ride is a fantastic irony.





The ride ended at the Dutch Bike shop for a barbeque and DJs. But there had to be a winner for most splendidly-decorated bicycle and here she is. What a brilliant decoration. She transformed her bicycle, using flowers, into a peacóck.

Riga Cycle Chic - Part 2

A little bit more Cycle Chic from Riga. As it was explained to me by a local, mountain bikes are popular in the Latvian capital. Well, not popular, but toleratd since it's hard to get a normal bike in the bike shops. Now there's an export opportunity for Danish and Dutch brands. They have the style, now they need the bikes to match it.

Dapper.

Riga Couple.

Riga Cycle Chic pour hommes.

Riga Cycle Chic

It's safe to say that Cycle Chic is alive and well in the Latvian capital, Riga. I was invited over by the Royal Danish Embassy and the Danish Cultural Institute to speak at their conference with a lecture entitled, "Marketing the Bicycle to the Sub-Conscious Environmentalists" and it was a wonderful experience and the embassy people were brilliant. I met loads of local people who choose to ride bicycles in the beautiful city.

I saw many cyclists and they were all true "style over speed" candidates. No rush, just taking it easy. Important especially outside the old city where the traffic is thick. No agression, just a good, relaxed pace and attentiveness when negotiating their way through the cars and trucks. Textbook Cycle Chic. Not to mention the Slow Bicycle Movement.

I was given a bike by a local chap, Karlis, and I spent the day riding around the city. I met these two guys, Ivan and Andrew, and spoke with them about cycling in Riga. I'll be posting a little film in a couple of days about it. As well as some more photos of Riga Cycle Chic.