DIY Cargo Bike! What's that like?

    

  His name is Christian and he introduced himself to us when he noticed our obsession with his whole composition as he cruised by. He was cycling comfortably, carrying all his tools with a pretty big smile on his face. He knew how cool he looked with his red beanie, orange sunnies, and four wheeler cargo bike. The reason he looked so comfortable in his space is because he built it himself! He made his cargo bicycle to size, to fit his needs. How? Danish brand XYZ Cargo focuses on building customized, functional bicycles that are environmentally friendly and socially conscious. Pretty cool concept, what Christian shared with us this sunny afternoon in Copenhagen. XYZ Cargo is all hand made right here in Christianhavn, Copenhagen, but they also give away a step by step guide to encourage people to build their own cargo bike. Each of the designs they have is based on low-cost, light-weight, highly durable construction. That's not the best part. The best part is the assembling being simple, straight forward and requiring non-specialized tools to produce. It is no wonder this guy was so excited to share his unique cargo bike story with us...

Thank you, Christian.

Happy Cycling!

Friday Christmas Feeling

It is Friday already and Christmas is not so far away anymore. While we are out there spotting Christmas shopping by bicycle, we introduce you with this lady. Earth tones, red gloves and blue bike. Suits so good. Together with Magasin Christmas decorations this picture shows the real spirit of this wonderful time. Peaceful and cozy!

Happy Cycling!

Cycle Chic Christmas Red

 

Red, leather gloves

     

Red, cotton beret 

 

Red beanie on a red jopo

P.S. spot the Danish flag in the back...

     

Red beret #2

 

Red scarf on red cheeks

 

& red beanie #2 

December has begun and bright, merry red is now easy to spot among the people on bicycles in the urban fabric of Copenhagen. Riding a bicycle can be the best way to spread the holiday cheer...

Happy Cycling!

Break Out The Gloves

As we ease into winter through the transition of autumn here in Copenhagen, we're in the midst of another transitional in mainstream bicycle culture. We love to see all the lovely hats and scarves and gloves come out.

Gloves are one thing that always trigger a one or two week period where we start to realise that it may be time to break them out. We all know it well here. You head off one morning and realise it's damn chilly but your gloves are packed away somewhere in your home. You make a mental note to yourself to dig them out. You forget. Next chilly day, another mental note.



Eventually, you find them and put them by the door. Then you forget to take them when you leave. You finally remember to take them with you, and put them on. In the afternoon, however, heading home or onwards into the evening, they're in your bag or your pockets. Then the chill catches you unawares once again. You'll ride along, fishing them out of your pocket or dig them out at a red light, like the photo above, and put them. Unless of course you just think... "I don't have far to go... I'll suck it up."


After this seasonal transitional phase (the exact opposite is true in the spring), your gloves become second nature. They're rarely forgotten and keep your fingers warm until the spring launches its Occupy Winter rallies in March and April.


We felt like showing a little series of red gloves from Copenhagen but whatever the colour or fabric or style, the bike lanes of Copenhagen will soon be coloured with them.

A Headwind and a Shared Space

Headwind.

A shared space.

Glimpses of Red

Red. It should never be overused. I've had a red Ralph Lauren Polo shirt for 15 years that I simply can't throw out, even though I only wear it four times a year. I need to be in a certain mood and I can't for the life of me, figure out when or what that mood it is.

But red stands out. It's a statement. Albeit an elegant one.

Whether gloves or noctural heels.

A Cycle Chic classic, from February 7, 2007.

This Day in Cycle Chic History

It was a lovely day today. Very springlike. Brilliant. So I wondered what photos I took on or about this same date in previous years for this blog. Here are two shots from 2009.


And here's a couple of shots from 2008.




And here's one from 2007.

Aerial Slush and Snow Chic

Red gloves add a graphic touch.

Sitting upright, like his mother taught him, even in the snow and a headwind approaching 10 metres per second.

Bundled.

Dual Acceleration

Red Glove and Hat Acceleration.

Hat and Brilliant Curls Acceleration.

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.