Portraits of cyclists - Sidsel: « Cycling is still the most effective way to get to work »

«I bike everyday. I almost never cycle for fun. I always use it to go somewhere. » 

« Do you like biking in winter? »

« Even though there is lot of snow, I think cycling is still the most effective way to get to work. It is the means of transportation that take the less time. »

« Do you know our blog ? »

« Yes, I do know your blog since a friend of mine is the woman on the cover of the book Cyclists & Cycling Around the World! »

More pictures of Copenhagen every day on Byliv In CPH.

My Favourite Snowstorm Photos

It's always hard to make a favourites list when you have seven years of archive photos. It's snowing out there in Copenhagen this morning (-18 C with the windchill, by the way), so here's a (long) selection of my favourite snowstorm photos.

80% of Copenhageners cycle all winter. In a snowstorm, that will drop further, but there are still a wonderful amount of bicycle users going about their business on bikes in the city.

Over at Copenhagenize.com you can read about how a modern city prioritizes snow clearance for bicycle traffic in the Ultimate Snow Clearance Blogpost. Here, you can see how Copenhageners just get on with it. As my mother would say, it's "put a sweater on" weather today.

Walk or ride. It's your choice.

Cycling is sociable, even in the snow.

Sometimes the snow catches up with the snow clearance but it is a temporary situation. The plows are coming soon.



Morning traffic in a headwind.

Nighttime winter cycling.

Sometimes you have a tailwind. Sometimes not.

Morning rush hour on the world's busiest bicycle street, Nørrebrogade.

Multitasking on a bicycle in the snow.

Your closet is filled with cycling clothes.

Little changes in the snow. Still stuff to transport. Places to go, people to see.

Viking Biking.

Morning rush hour on Hans Christian Andersen Boulevard at left and Nordre Fasanvej, at right.

Cycling is just walking with wheels.

Heading home in the evening.

Dapper on a Friday night.

A pillar of calm in a world of chaos.

Rise out of the saddle, or don't. It's up to you.

Always time for a conversation on a bicycle.

One naughty designer Copenhagen parking

Well, hello there (O; This cool girl-with-an-attitude wears sunglasses – on a shady winter Copenhagen day – bicycling by Stork Fountain.

Hey, Mikael @_Cycle_Chic - that’s what I call a I-park-where-I-want-to. Just in front of designer store Lanvin at Strøget…

Determined sweet green beanie guy.

Peace & Love,
a-g & www.cphblonde.com

Portraits of cyclists - Oda: "I miss skiing. I used to ski everyday."

"I'm from Norway, but I live in Copenhagen to do my studies. I bought a bike when I arrived."

"Why?"
"Mostly because it's really practical, fast and also cheap."

"What equipment are you carrying in your bike?"
"Er...I miss skiing. A lot. I used to ski everyday."

"Do you cycle in Norway?"
"Sometimes. Usually just in summer, since there is lot of snow and... hills."

"Do you think you will bike more when you will go back to Norway?"
"Yeap. At least if I don't live in the mountains, but in the city center of Oslo. I'll probably take my bike to work. I can consider using the new bike-sharing system. But you know it's kinda difficult to get around on bike in Oslo."

Urban cross-country skiing

More pictures of Copenhagen every day on Byliv in CPH.

City Cycling Europe Guides by Rapha

The first thing you notice about the Rapha City Cycling guides is that they look good. Even the little box they come snugly ensconced in is pretty. They are a series of bright pastel colours and feature a different illustrator for each city, so each one has an air of distinctiveness whilst also fitting nicely into the set.

There are eight guides, taking in nine cities in Europe, most of them good for citizen cyclists: Copenhagen, Paris, Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Milan and Antwerp & Ghent sharing one guide. They are initially only available as a full set of eight and feel a little like extended blogs, in that they give you little snapshots of local knowledge – they don’t concentrate on well-known tourist spots, indeed they barely mention them. Instead they give the low down on the latest hip places to hang out.

They contain maps for nice cycling routes, which is handy for anyone trying to get from A to B. But there are also sections on ‘racing and training’ that seem to be aimed at the lycra-wearing market, rather than chic citizen cyclists. Of course in an ideal world, ‘city cycling’ guides wouldn’t be a thing, there would just be city guides.

The recommendations for what to do in Copenhagen are a fairly solid spread of decent bars, restaurants and shops, though of course the nature of cities is that they are always going to miss something out. And the danger is that being enshrined in the permanency of ink they will soon get out of date. One solution to this is of course making sure you get on your bike and get visiting all these cities as soon as possible, and these attractive-looking guides certainly make visiting enticing.

Tracks in the Snow

Follow your Desire Line(s).

Afternoon Traffic in the Snow

Heading home in the afternoon.

Viking Biking in Black and White

Cargo bike headwind.

Overtaking.