Forza Cicloeleganza!

When I coined the Italian phrase for 'cycle chic' - Cicloeleganza, this is really what I meant without even knowing it. Brilliant photos by the Italian photographer Silvia Baglioni.

The photos were taken for the monthly fanzine for the Italian football club Arezzo AC.

Nuages. Cycliste.

I just happen to like this photo and I don't care who knows it.

Paris Trois

Regular readers know I love that launch moment when the bicycle is pushed into motion. Here's two and half moments in Paris, feat. Vélib.


Here's the same girls at the next light, discussing where to go. Ahh, urban cycling is sociable, lovely and fine.

Copenautumn

Back to Copenhagen in our chilly autumn where the wind shoves the temperature rudely under freezing each day.

But bear with me, I'm not quite finished with Paris just yet.

Paris By Night

Nighttime in Paris also involves bicycles these days. They're everywhere.

Taking time out to text. No rush.

An armada of Vélib bicycles.

Cobblestones

A cobblestone series from the everchic streets of Paris last week. Stand and Deliver in style.

Trés parisien.

Dappercool.

French Bicycle Advocate Cycle Chic

Last week, as mentioned, I was in La Rochelle, France attending a national bicycle conference as a speaker.

On one of the days we all went for a bike ride around the city, ending up at city hall. These photos are a good indication of what passionate French bicycle advocates look like.

Skirts and heels.

Dapper in the evening.

Poise and casual elegance.

If it's role models we're looking for in order to promote urban cycling as a normal, accepted and respected transport form, this bunch are leading the way.

La Rochelle Cycle Chic - encore une fois

Here are a few afternoon shots from a cycling life in the French city of La Rochelle. Regular people using bicycles to get around their city. Just the way it should be.

Tres chic.

All age and wage brackets are doing it.

Shoulder checking, too. Although I suspect she is looking for someone since she is cycling in a gloriously wide bike lane.

No, No Not Yet!

This is where we're heading but please... please not yet. Let's enjoy the crisp autumn days. Please.

Paris Indian Summer

Autumn has yet to grip the streets of Paris. When I was there last week it was balmy and fine. I narrowly avoided a heavy thunderstorm late at night on Saturday but otherwise it was frightfully pleasant to cycle around the city. Above: Indian Summer Paris Cycle Chic.

Autumn Fibers

The chill is upon us. Chilly, but sunny autumn days. Around 6 or 7 degrees with a wind chill down to freezing. Perfect big sweater/chunky scarf weather.


And perfect hot coffee weather, too. Just glide on up and order.

La Rochelle Cycle Chic et al

I attended a national cycle conference in La Rochelle last week.
I made a little film about this splendidly cycle-friendly city.
Here it is.
It was already my favourite city in France after having spent many a summer holiday there. It's the home of the world's first bike-share programme dating from 1975, too. They have really worked hard over the past couple of years on making the city even more bicycle-friendly.

Washington DC Cycle Chic

Cycle Chic is alive and well in DC.

Yep.

L'orange

A streak of orange on the Rue du Rivoli, in Paris bien sur.

Cycle Chic Belgium

Our friends at Cycle Chic Belgium have had a successful campaign worth mentioning. Through their Met Belgerinkel naar de Winkel- campaign, or Ring your Bicycle Bell to the Shop they were encouraging people in Flanders to ride their bikes to the shops, instead of taking their cars.

The Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck had designed a pannier bag and the campaign, which ran from May 16 to June 20, 2009 managed to get 175,000 people to choose the bicycle to go to the shops. And part of the campaign was a discounted price on the pannier bags. A whopping 16,500 people ordered one.

A cracking result. Well done, Cycle Chic Belgium! Promoting cycling positively and a role model for bicycle advocates everywhere.