16 December 2008
The Family Tree
Now that christmas tree isn't going to walk home by itself, now is it?
Our little family made our way down to our good friends at Baisikeli - the sustainability organisation who send used Danish bikes to development projects in Africa. They're selling eco-Swedish-christmas trees to the neighbourhood this year.
What better way to get the tree home than in our Velorbis Long John?
There was a bit of brainstorming about how to get the tree... and the kids... home. Niels, from Baisikeli, and Wifealiciousness realise that we should tie the tree up a bit more so the kids don't have to chew on pine needles. In lieu of string, we just taped it. Lulu-Sophia looks on. Then Felix was put into the box to see if he would fit. He's loving it. And he fit.
On the way home we stopped to pick up some ice cream from the best ice cream makers in the nation: Paradis.
What better way to get the tree home but in the cargo box of our Long John.
At last we roll up to one of the bike sheds for one last corny photo before getting the tree up into the flat for prompt decoration.
15 December 2008
Girl Warmer / Beer Cooler
This Copenhagen girl knows that having a warm coat that is enjoyable to wear, makes winter easier to bear. Add to that, the fact that the six-pack in her bicycle basket will be nicely cold when she arrives at her friends on this saturday evening. Cheers!
Oh, I forgot to say hi! I am new here, - or rather, my writing is. You may have seen some of my pics here during this fall, but now Mikael asked me if I wanted to do my own blogging. Basically I just enjoy taking pictures, but bicyclists frequently end up at the other end of my lens.
See you around!
14 December 2008
Copenhagen Winter Cycle Chic
This is Copenhagen. Lovely fur coat, heels, massive handbag dangling from the handlebars, basket. Waiting casually for the light to change.
Ironically, this shot wasn't even meant to happen. I was wearing gloves and trying to adjust the ISO when the camera clicked. I was aiming to take a photo of the cross traffic flowing past in front of me. Instead, I got a brilliant spot of winter cycle chic that really says it all about cycling in Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, on another street corner..
Australia Cycle Chic
Cycle Chic exists all over the place, not least in Australia. Here's a combination of guest photos we've had seen in and other Australia Cycle chic photos. From Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane.
I've lived in Australia on two occasions and now, deep in a Copenhagnen December, I often remember the Australian summer. Playing cricket on the beach on Christmas Day, strapping my surfboard to the roof of my trashed Ford Falcon station car and bumping down rutted dirt roads to hidden beaches with splendid breaks and, not least, riding my bike to work from St. Kilda into downtown Melbourne. Long before Cycle Chic was born as a concept.
The two photos on the right side above are from Lucy, who sells wonderful vintage bikes on Australian eBay under the screen name SydneyVintageBikes. Get bidding!
There is a photo from PS Bikes in Melbourne, who sell Christiania cargo bikes and Velorbis and a couple of photos from a website called The Vine, who have a series of what they call Velo Chic. Then there's a photo from the lovely cycle nymph, Bicycle Pirate.
By all accounts, Cycle Chic is alive and well down under and that pleases us here, up yonder, in Copenhagen.
Sydney Cycle Chic.
13 December 2008
Copenhagen / Asia
It's always interesting to see how other cultures interpret Copenhagen. This Asian magazine - U Magazine - had a large feature on Copenhagen in a recent issue. The bicycle featured prominently and the journalist, Sa, took Cycle Chic to heart and had a bicycle in every stylish photo of herself. If I could hand out honorary Copenhagen Cycle Chic Citizenships, she would be the first proud recipient.
My shocking lack of Chinese language skills make it difficult to figure out where the magazine comes from. Malaysia? Taiwan? Anybody out there know? Do tell. Do tell.
Update: Thanks to our ever vigilant readers who have tracked the magazine to Hong Kong.
Dutch Treat
Val - The Cargo Bike King - found this cracking website from Holland. Will o' the Wisp is written by four Dutch mothers who are quite found of their country and lifestyle, as well they should be.
It's an all-round website and includes an Introduction to Dutch Bicycle Culture.
"Bicycle weight conscious we Dutch are not, in fact it is a matter of considerable amusement to us to see how the English-speaking world goes to great lengths to strip bikes by leaving off chain and mud guards. If you really want to make a difference to the weight of your bicycle, don't eat another hamburger or crispy cream donut!"
They are equally sharp when it comes to helmets:
"Three types of people wear helmets on bikes in Holland. The English, The Americans, The Mentally Inflicted.
The English and Americans wear helmets because in their worlds common sense no longer rules and people must be safe from their own actions at all times. Also, it is a well known fact that when Americans fall off their bikes they fall on their heads. Why this should be we do not know..."
Will o' the Wisp has a blog, too. Listed under the categories Motherhood, Religion, Politics there is the post entitled Why Beer is Better Than Religion:
1. No one will kill you for not drinking beer.
2. Beer doesn’t tell you how to have sex.
3. Beer has never caused a major war.
4. They don’t force beer on minors who can’t think for themselves.
5. When you have beer, you don’t knock on people’s doors trying to give it away.
6. Nobody’s ever been burned at the stake, hanged, or tortured to death over his brand of beer.
7. You don’t have to wait 2,000 years for a second beer.
8. There are laws saying that beer labels can’t lie to you.
9. You can prove you have a beer.
10. If you have devoted your life to beer, there are groups to help you stop.
There are more pearls of wisdom to be had on the site and the blog. The Living Well category is cool, as is Women's Health.
12 December 2008
Weltverbesserungswahn
Only the Germans can give us words like weltverbesserungswahn. We're better off for it.
It can be translated as 'the conviction that the world could be better'. Which is a fine description of why this blog exists.
Better for everyone, especially rugrats like this.
We just have to stick to the path, despite the challenges.
And looking good while doing it certainly a plus.
Portland Cycle Chic
Photo: Vanessa Cass
What a fantastic email I recieved this morning from Tricia in Portland.
Hi Copenhagen Cycle Chic,
Your blog has inspired me to get beyond my Sidi's and experience cycling in my growing collection of fabulous shoes. I love biking in heels- its so free spirited and sexy!
I hope you enjoy the attached photos. They are from our wedding which was on October 17th in Portland, OR. A friend popped in to the celebration with her bike, so I decided to take a spin. After all, what's a wedding without a bit of biking? Two of the pictures are of me on the bike (in my wedding dress) and one is of my husband and me.
Thank you again for the inspiration.
Photo: Vanessa Cass
I had to google Sidi's to find out that it is, apart from being a city in Northern Algeria, a brand of cycling shoes. :-) Thanks so much for sending us a brilliant flash of Cycle Chic from Portland, Tricia! Wonderful photos. People have been riding in heels long before cycling shoes were invented so we're pleased you love it!
Congratulations on your marriage - such a lovely couple!
11 December 2008
Decemberishness.
Saturday nightaliciousness. Two friend head out for a night on the town. The town is already painted red for them.
Oh yes, oh yes. It's December. Shopshopshop. And take it all home on your bike.
Mr Cycle Chic with his Cycle Chic calendar. I ordered one for myself, of course. Even though I've seen these photos a million times before, it was such a thrill to see them printed on the calendar in such good quality. I think I might have giggled but I'll deny that in no uncertain times if asked. Get your 2009 Cycle Chic Calendar here.
Labels:
bicycling at night,
bicycling in winter,
bobike,
calendar,
shopping
10 December 2008
Le Vélo, Bling & Sunset
At a recent trip to Marseille to see my boyfriend, I captured this example of how to double a public bike ('Le Vélo') in Marseille - as well as a bit of cycle chic pour homme:
One of the men's fashion shops in Copenhagen Airport had a bling-blingy bike as a part of their decoration. I found that funny, but the steward to the right didn't seem to notice...:
Back in Copenhagen, all was back to normal:
Cheers from Velomama (...trying to blog regularly... trying!)
One of the men's fashion shops in Copenhagen Airport had a bling-blingy bike as a part of their decoration. I found that funny, but the steward to the right didn't seem to notice...:
Back in Copenhagen, all was back to normal:
Cheers from Velomama (...trying to blog regularly... trying!)
A Streak of Green a Flash of Red
A thoroughly well thought out ensemble on this Copenhagener.
The temperature hovered around freezing, but that's no reason not to cycle around in a short skirt and stockings. Ah, the hardy Viking blood flows strong and true.
I get sent heaps of photos and thanks for that. I thought I'd attempt a spot of self-irony and humour. Nobody is saying I was successful.
9 December 2008
A Bit More Snow
More brilliance from my mate Lars.
During the winter, there are fewer cyclists. But the fall is not that drastic. 80% of Copenhagen's cyclists continue to ride through the Copenhagen winter. Most of them continuing to be frightfully stylish. We'll leave the whining about the weather up to others.
Labels:
bicycling in winter,
lars d terkelsen,
snow
Four Unrelated People on Bicycles or -Next to One
A stylish duo. Escecially the first.
Saturday night.
Grainy Saturday night moods. Bicycle leaning against railing. Copenhagener in red heels waits for a friend.
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