Portraits of Cyclists – A fantastic year spent taking pictures of cyclists in Copenhagen and also getting to know more about them

One year ago, I started taking pictures of cyclists but also decided that I would talk to them in order to make their portrait and add a personal touch to the photo. During this year, I published 45 portraits of inhabitants from Copenhagen and 2 from Aarhus.

Almost all the people I stopped while they were cycling to the office or back home accepted to answer my questions and to pose in front of my camera. I want to sincerely thank all of them for their time and their smile.

Here are some of the common points I came across during the interviews.


99% of the people I talked to are cycling every single day in the streets of Copenhagen. They enjoy it and find that cycling is the best way to get around in the city. Just as all the surveys already demonstrated it, they think cycling is convenient, fast and cheap. Often they added that it's healthy and a very good way to get fresh air. For some of them, cycling helps them to wake up in the morning.


A lot of bicycle users told me that they appreciate when they run into a friend along the cycle tracks. 
They just wave or stop to have a chat during their commute. Moreover, they feel that they are really in contact with their city since they cycle through it.

A significant amount of cyclists remember quite easily their first bike or the first day they cycled alone. I always felt that it was an important moment for them when they spoke about it.

Surprisingly, I heard often that the Copenhageners don't really use a bike when they visit a city abroad, feeling that the city is less adapted to the cyclists than their home town.

Here are some cyclists you have seen this year and some details that make the difference when you want to Cycle Chic. They are a vital contribution to Copenhagen urban landscape.

More pictures of Copenhagen on Byliv in CPH. 

Portraits of cyclists - Helena and her mother: “I was on business trip when my daughter cycled alone for the first time. It was like missing her first step”

“I live in Copenhagen. I cycle every day with my daughter. Normally, she bikes her own bike just in front of me. She started biking with me when she was 5.

“Do you have a special memory related it?”

“I taught her cycling when she was 3. But I was on business trip when she cycled alone for the first time. When I came back home I was so sad. It was like missing her first step.”

More pictures of Copenhagen on Byliv in CPH.

Portraits of cyclists - Natalia: “I used to bike in Romania too”

“I'm from Romania. I'm studying in Copenhagen and I cycle every day. I used to bike in Romania too and I'm involved in the blog SkirtBike. It's a reason why I wanted to come to Copenhagen.”

“Do you have a favorite route in Copenhagen?”

“Sometimes I take a ride for pleasure or simply to clear my mind. In this situation I cycle in the center of the city. I love cycling on the bridges over the water.

“May you share an anecdote with us?”

“Once, while cycling, a cyclist talk to me, but I could not understand since I don't speak Danish. She pointed at my pedals and I was a little bit frightened but it was just to ask me where I bought my shoes.”

More pictures of Copenhagen on Byliv in CPH.

No more suits. In Copenhagen, this summer, it's just about swimsuits

Marcus:

“I'm from Sweden. I'm visiting a friend in Copenhagen for the weekend. In Jönköping, I cycle to work all the time. It's very convenient.

Here is in Copenhagen, I'm heading to the beach. It's so sunny and hot.” 

How to juggle Joe and The Juice. In the rain. The Chic Way

Well, hello there ;) Finishing my Cycle Chic guest blogger darling Friday duty - for now - with a photo of a Copenhagen cyclist who just doesn't seem to notice the pouring rain. Love it!

• She goes bicycling anyway. Of course
• She insists on carrying her latte with an attitude like the sun is shining

Thank you, guys, for looking into Cycle Chic, especially on (my) Fridays - take care out there!

Peace & Love,
a-g and www.cphblonde.com

Portraits of cyclists: “I fell good. I take my time and I actually enjoy it.”

“I cycle every day in Copenhagen. I start in Norrebro and I cross the Dronning Louises Bridge. Then, I go down Gothersgade with the Rosenborg Palace Garden on my left. Finally, I cross Knippelsbro to reach Christianshavn.”

“So, you cycle every day on the two busiest bridges of Copenhagen (about 36.000 cyclists on Dronning Louises Bridge and 40.700 on Knippelsbro in 2012). How do you fell when you cross them?”

“I fell good. I take my time and I actually enjoy it.”

I have been living here in Copenhagen for nearly 10 years and don't know any bus routes because I cycle everywhere I go and, I like it. I like the freedom it gives. You have nothing to plan, you just take your bike. When I'm thinking about it, it's insane how much Copenhageners use their bike, day and night.”

“Do you have a specific memory related to cycling in Copenhagen?”

“On my first year at the Architecture school, I was cycling with the people of my study group going from a party to a bar. We were cycling to close to each other so I fell down. I still have a scar. I considered it as my baptism as a cyclist in Copenhagen.”

More pictures of Copenhagen on Byliv in Copenhague.

Hot in the City

I noticed the red bicycle chain right away; it's all in the details

Well, hello there ;) The Copenhagen summer temperatures have climbed up to 28 steaming degrees Celcius. And when you don't have a boat to chill you down at sea, what's better than letting your bike do the job...

Get some wind in your hair - go wherever you want - enjoy your bicycle freedom!

Follow that shadow

Peace & Love,
a-g and www.cphblonde.com

Portraits of cyclists - “Cycling to work every day, you get use to it very fast and you get to love it too”

“I live in Copenhagen. I cycle every day 10km to go to work and 10km to come back.”

“Why?”

“Because it's faster and easier than taking the car or the public transports. It's a good way to be active.”

“With these shoes?”

“Yes.”

“What is your favorite route in the city?”

“I change my route sometimes. If I do a detour, I like going through the city, to see all the people and for the specific atmosphere of this part of the city.”

“What would be your advice for the women who wouldn't dare to cycle 20km to work?”

“It's a matter of habits. You get use to it very fast and you get to love it too.”

More picture of Copenhagen every day on the Facebook page of Byliv In Copenhagen.

Happy 4th of Cycle Chic July: Hello Sunshine!

Happy wheels

Well, hello there ;) This Friday we go yellow and celebrate the Copenhagen glimpses of sunshine.

Smoky eyes on a sunny afternoon 

Peace & Love,
a-g & www.cphblonde.com

Ps. Hey, it's bicycle  fashion: The other day I received this visualized story in my inbox, from yellow jersey.co.uk - the story of the Yellow Jersey which I find quite interesting, so I love to share it with you. Happy 4th of July, and happy Tour de France or upright bicycling, whatever makes you happy xx

Portraits of cyclists - Niels, Director of Traffic Department, cycles chic

The coolest and most elegant Director of Traffic Department works here in Copenhagen and cycles every day.

“Do you remember the first day you cycled by yourself?”

“Oh yes, I have a clear memory of that day. I was 4 or 5 years old. I was riding my sister's bike, which was too tall for me. Where I lived the streets had long slopes. I went from the top of a street down the slop and suddenly I lost control and as I was not ready to brake I finally went directly into the garbage cans. That's what happened on my first day biking.”

“Do you have a memory of something unusual that happened one day when you were cycling?”

“Some years ago, I was cycling on my way to work. I was on a very busy road and suddenly in front of me in the amount of cyclists I saw someone from behind that make my think: “I know this guy!”. I was thinking that it was not one of my colleagues or one of my friends or relatives but then I realized that it was a very very old friend of mine. At some point we took different directions in our life but we were best friends when we were children and just with his body language on his bicycle I could recognized him. It's difficult to explain how this happened but it just did.”

More picture of Copenhagen on Byliv in CPH.

CPH Classico – Bicyles & Vintage clothes in the streets of Copenhagen

Last Sunday, CPH Made and Recycles (a bike shop which restores iconic old bike frames) organized for the first time the Copenhagen Classico - a bike race... or let's say a fast pace bike parade. Indeed, the point of the Copenhagen Classico was to pay a tribute to the stylish cyclists from the good old days.



The dress code: Retro looks for these ladies...





... vintage race outfit for this man....

``

.... and stylish urban outfits for them.



For the occasion, policemen took out their outfits and motorcycles of yesteryear. Each detail counted for this event taking place for the first time in the Danish capital.

50 Shades of Green

Green is the new black

… and a dash of pink. Enjoying to walk the streets of Copenhagen and watch the blooming bike life! 

You have a fab weekend.

 Peace & Love
a-g & CPH BLONDE

Green goes handy and spacious

Pink animal bike enhancing the green

Photographer's delight: Playing with colors and textures :)

Portraits of cyclists - Karen: “I'm wearing my “safe outfit”

“I'm from Copenhagen. I cycle every day on my old bicycle. It's how I get around in the city. I like biking around in Christianshavn.

Today, I'm wearing my “safe outfit”. It's my all black outfit. I know that I can go where I want and do what I want wearing these clothes.

“Do you remember the first day you cycled alone?”

“Yes, of course. I lived in Østerbro, my mum was running next to me holding the stick tied at the back on the bike and when I turned my head I realized that she was not here anymore. I was cycling by myself.”  

Classical Marc Jacobs handbag fitting the Karen's "black outfit".

More pictures of Copenhagen every day on Byliv in CPH.

Bicycling is like Walking With High Heels. For Real!

I remember Mikael Cycle Chic Himself once say bicycling is like walking with high heels. And LOL – I don’t think I ever did understand the meaning.

Until yesterday… when I photographed this bike chick. And came to think of how upright bicycling gives her a great posture. Yep, Cycle Chic, just like high heels do!

Peace & Love,
a-g & www.cphblonde.com

Ps. Upright bicycling + high heels, then = good posture x 2? ;)

Portraits of cyclists - Conrad: "I really don't care about my average speed"

“I'm from Copenhagen. I cycle every day but not during the winter.

I ride a second hand bike, I don't fell like spending money on a bike.

I learned riding a bike when I was 3 years old. For me, it's just normal to bike in the city. I cycle since it's faster than taking the bus. When I've got to go further, I cycle to the station and I put my bike in the train.”

“Do you know how many kilometers you cycle every day? Do you know your average speed or things like that?”

“I don't know. Maybe 10 kilometers. I really don't care about my average speed.

The good thing when you ride a bike is that you can see the city and wave to your friend we you meet them.”

Sticker of Pele Che Coco – Conrad brother's Sustainable Recycled Fashion shop   

More pictures of Copenhagen on Byliv in CPH.