Shinola - Iconic Bicycle Brand from Detroit settled down in the City of Angels

Clotilde, Head of Copenhagenize France, was in Venice (CA, USA) a few weeks ago to discover what Los Angeles and Santa Monica have to offer in terms of public spaces and bicycle infrastructure. Outcome : quite a lot actually!

But first, let's focus on a unique street, which is gradually turning into the Mecca of stylish urban cycling: Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Three years ago, only Linus Bike (Dutch inspired bicycles) has a store on this hip street. Now, Shinola, and cycling accessories brands, like Rapha and Timbuk2 are well established.

Shinola is a stylish brand from Detroit (MI), producing bikes, watches, and leather bags. It's obviously a brand which wants to promote the American industrial know-how and put it back at the forefront.

Clotilde has test-driven the Women's Detroit Arrow, a black & white qualitative single-speed bike, with leather saddle and cork grips. It was also the opportunity to realise a photo shooting with a Cycle Chic touch and palm trees in the background.

Bye the way, the city of Detroit, is the birthplace of American automotive industry. But "Motor City" is living a real shift and politicians have the will to offer to their inhabitants all the modern urban mobility solutions including cycling.

Cycle Chic, Cycle Hip, Cycle Cool on Venice Beach (LA)

In the car-oriented city of Los Angeles, Venice Beach is a small paradise for the cyclists. Not only because of the beach cycle trail along the waterfront but also since many cycle lanes cover the district.
Abbot Kinney boulevard is the street where a mix of chic, hip and cool cyclists appreciate hanging out.


Abbot Kinney boulevard in the daytime.


Denim mini shorts & leather boots remain a classic in California.




Abbot Kinney boulevard by night.


Abbot Kinney - himself - on a bike for the up-coming festival.


Nowadays, on Abbot Kinney boulevard, cruiser bikes are no longer the only choice as you can also find vintage city bicycles. Linus, a local brand, inspired by other brands from Europe, has its showroom there.

More pictures of cyclists from Venice Beach.

Best Decorated Bicycle 1900

Leela McAdam nee McCabe - winner of the best decorated bicycle for the 1900 Fourth of July parade in Lompoc stands outside her home at 137 South J Street.

A lovely decoration job indeed. Vintage Cycle Chic.


For more lovely vintage bicycle photos from Los Angeles, check out this post over at Copenhagenize.com.

Cycle Chic Global Update

Here's some guest photos from the Cycle Chic Universe. Firstly, a birthday greeting from our friends at Hungarian Cycle Chic in Budapest. Thanks so much! CPH loves BP, too!



Another Cycle Chic website has appeared, this one in Bucharest, Romania. Thanks to Sorina, a journalist in Bucharest, for sending us these photos from the new blog that she started with some friends. It's called Portocala Mecanica - which means 'Clockwork Orange' in Romanian.

"Although this is not a very bike friendly city, I must say cycling is a very important part of my every day life, and it certainly makes it better.
I am writing to you because Copenhagencyclechic is one of the reasons I changed by approach on cycling, and, more than that, it is one of the reasons me and two of my friends decided to start our own cycle blog about cyclists in Bucharest and Romania. Although we are just starting up, we are really enthusiatic (obsessed, others say) about it :)"
Wonderful, Sorina! Thanks so much for letting us know. We look forward to more Cycle Chic from Romania!


Cycle Chic Bucharest.



Cycle Chic for Gents in Bucharest.

MORE AND MORE AND MORE
The Cycle Chic empire continues to grow, with others hopping on the Copenhagen bandwagon. Our radar has picked up some other newbies Stateside called Phoenix Cycle Chic and Los Angeles Cycle Chic. Check them out!

Los Angeles Cycle Chic

Photo: Gina Ferrazi / Los Angeles Times
You HAVE to love this article and photo from the Los Angeles Times about a guerilla gardener movement taking root in L.A.

They make seed bombs and toss them onto neglected lots and such, causing plant life to grow. What a groovy idea! And the photo is brilliant - Copenhagen Cycle Chic goes to Los Angeles.

The caption for the photo: "With the seed bombs stowed in her red bag, the stiletto-wearing Caroline takes off on her bike in search of vacant patches of public space. To plant the seed bombs, she digs holes with a trusty tool — the heel of her shoe. “Stilettos work really well,” she says, grinning."

There is a cool photo series about how to make seed bombs, from whence the above photo comes.

Thanks to David for keeping us in the loop by emailing this story. A propos the comments on the previous post about Choosing a Bicycle, he signed his mail: "David (who only owns one bike with a chainguard AND fenders)".
:-)