Mexico Bike Gang

If I had to be chased by a girl bike gang for whatever strange reason, I'd like them to look like this. Thank you.


Hotel Condesa df. Mexico City's Design Hotel Pearl
I have written an article about the hotel I stayed in whilst in Mexico City. Read about the very cool Condesa df design hotel over at the Jorg&Olif Slow Life Blog.

Meanwhile Back In CPH

This morning on my way to work, I thought I should go catch a bit of that wonderful spring vibe I was picking up. And yes, sunglasses were aired, scarves were loose or absent and gone were the oversized fur hats.
And I think some were celebrating the coming of spring with abundantly red lips.
Goodbye snow. (You wore out your welcome, didn´t you?)



EDIT:
I thought the was something familar about the first shot, and yes, check out the second shot of this post.
If there was a CopenhagenCycleChic award, I would say we clearly have a nominee.

Bicycle Painting

I met these cool guys after my lecture at the architecture faculty at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. They are readers of Cycle Chic - I'm always humbled and amazed to meet readers around the world.

I noticed the cool paint job on the bikes and the chap on the right told me he paints them by hand. It takes four days per bike but THAT is personalising your bike in extreme style. Wicked cool. Cool bikes made cooler with TLC and paint.

Here's a friend of theirs riding one of the hand-painted bikes on Reforma boulevard on Sunday.

And a close up. Kind of. Of the paint job(s).

Paulina

Paulina studies architecture at UNAM in Mexico City. When I developed 'Cycle Chic', this is pretty much what I was thinking. Yep.

Cycle Chic Meets The Royals

Bear with me while I'm still in México mode here on Cycle Chic. There was a slough of brilliant events and here's the tale of one of them. The exhibition Dreams on Wheels - Danish Cycling Culture for Urban Sustainability was opening in Mexico City, which was one of the reasons I was there. The exhibition is brilliantly curated by Thomas Ermacora for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Danish Embassy arranged for Prince Joachim and his French wife, Princess Marie to do the ribbon cutting.

The event started with a little VIP 'bike ride' with the Royal Couple, the Danish ambassador, the Mayor of México City Marcelo Ebrard, the Environment minister for the city, Martha Delgado and... um... me. Strange but true. There were another group of dignitaries behind us and about 20 secret service boys 'protecting' us. All of us on bicycles.

From the Mayor's office on Zocalo we rode down to the City Museum. The streets were closed off for the high security affair. I rode alongside Princess Marie and, about halfway along the route she asked me how far we were riding. I pointed up ahead at the waiting mob of press and smiled, saying, "not that far".

We pedalled for abou 400 metres in total. On completely deserted streets completely and utterly sanitized for 'danger' and traffic by metal railings. Which makes the fact that the five others wore helmets a serious case of overkill. Indeed, the Prince, upon arriving at his designated bicycle, saw the helmet and muttered in resignation, "I suppose we have to..." Five helmets surrounded by dignitaries and security men without, on empty streets.

Anyway, 400 metres was hardly time enough to shoot more than a few photos and a bit of film. The above photo is Princess Marie on her Biomega bicycle, looking splendid only ten months after the birth of little Prince Henrik. The Princess is French and her origins can be revealed in her 'heel on pedal' cycling style. As any Danish girl will attest, when cycling in heels you use the sole of your foot on the pedal and don't hook your heel onto the pedal. But we'll let that go. It was only 400 metres and we coasted halfway. :-)


Anyways, here are some photos taken by our photographer for the different events in the city, Kenny Viese. Me looking like a secret service-y kind of guy behind Princess Marie; the three of us rolling up to the Dreams on Wheels exhibition at the City Museum; and, in the two bottom photos, me giving the VIPs a guided tour of the exhibition.

Upon arrival, there were speeches to commemorate the opening of the exhibition. I started the ball rolling, followed by Prince Joachim, Enivironment Minister Delgado and Mayor Ebrard. Then the ribbon cutting and the VIP tour of the exhibition.

All in all it was fun. You get stressed by the pomp and circumstance and the prescence of a small army of security people, but at the end of the day it was a laugh.

Here's the group of us stopped at one of three red lights on the bike ride [the streets were closed and we stopped at red lights...] and here's a photo of the charming Lord Chamberlain on the left and security guys on the right. Note the armada of cars, including an ambulance, following us.

All in all it was an interesting, fun and good day for Mexican and Danish cycling culture and for Cycle Chic/Copenhagenize.

Here's a little bitsy film about the whole shebang:



Here's my brief speech to launch the opening of the exhibition:
Your Royal Highnesses, Mr. Ebrard, Mrs Delgado, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Welcome to Dreams on Wheels – Danish Cycling Culture for Urban Sustainability. The exhibition has been shown in 18 cities in 14 countries, with many more scheduled this year. We are pleased that it has arrived in Mexico City.

About 130 years ago a machine was invented. It has been called the most efficient machine in history. Poems, songs and books have been written about it. It transformed the face of human society within years of its invention. Liberating the working classes. Liberating women.

The humble bicycle.

Personally, I was pleased when I heard that the Danish Foreign Ministry had chosen the bicycle for this exhibition and for a symbol of Denmark. The bicycle is human. It is right there on the streets carrying Citizen Cyclists from A to B. It is the lead instrument in a human-powered symphony of movement. The soundtrack of a truly liveable city.

The bicycle is a symbol of Denmark and Copenhagen and it's become a symbol of sustainability everywhere. It is people who inhabit our cities and towns. People that form the fabric of life. The bicycle is a fantastic tool for making our cities simply nicer places to live. We're proud to show you what we have achieved in Denmark. It is our hope to inspire.

Thank you to all of our sponsors who have made this exhibition possible. Thank you to the City of Mexico City for inviting us and providing this amazing venue. Enjoy the exhibition.

For more info about Dreams on Wheels.
And the Dreams on Wheels Mexico website.

I'll shut up now.

México Cycle Chic - Couples on Reforma

Another installment from the Sunday ride on the Reforma boulevard in México City. This one featuring various couples.

More México Cycle Chic on Reforma

Here's some more photos from my Sunday ride down Reforma boulevard in Mexico City last week.

Classic Cycle Chic Mexicana style.

A potpourri of bicycle action.

A cool conversation in town, heading towards Reforma.

Four girlfriends on rental bikes enjoying the day on two wheels.

México Cycle Chic - Reforma Sunday / 01

Every Sunday the impossibly wide Reforma boulevard in the centre of México City is closed off to cars for a few hours. The result? Thousands of Méxicanos get to reclaim the streets, for a while at least, and it's one big, happy bicycle ride up and down the long boulevard. A fantastic array of bicycles under the bums of friends, families, you name it.

Here's four friends looking smashingly cool and enjoying the ride.

Il Ciclista Dolce: Michael Musto

A cool little interview with Village Voice entertainment columnist Michael Musto, from our friends at Streetfilms.org

A fine example of a Citizen Cyclist using the bicycle to get around the urban landscape.

Cycle Chic Goes to México 01

It was a wild, thrilling and rewarding trip to México City. I was invited by the Danish embassy to take part in a conference at UNAM university with my Copenhagenize hat on but there was ample Cycle Chic activities on the programme as well. The Cycle Chic brand/trademark is growing in leaps and bounds and it's thrilling to see how it appeals to so many people, not least in México.

My head hurts trying to figure out how to blog the wealth of photos from the trip effectively but I suddenly felt like starting at the ending.

Last day. Just ate with some friends and we're heading back to their place before I shoot off to the airport. 25 degrees, sunshine. Tired, hungover, happy but regretting the imminent departure. Walking through a park when Arlette says, "Look!" and Peter added an urgent "Take a picture!"

What a way to go. What a sight to send me on my way. A just married couple pedalling and laughing on two mini penny farthings bicycles, complete with tin cans rattling behind.

I couldn't possibly have invented a better send off gift for myself.

México Cycle Chic Contest - Win a Biomega 'Boston' Bicycle.
Whilst in México City we launched México Cycle Chic at a cracking party last Saturday. Mexicans - in México - can submit their best Cycle Chic shot to the group on Flickr and win a Biomega Boston bike.

Check the group on Flickr here. There's a bike for the best Gentleman shot and another for the best Lady shot.

Birds

Not only do I have a mountain of stills from México City, I have a large hill of stills from the Biomega commercial I shot. Oh bother, I'm busy. :-)

Mexico Cycle Chic - The Return

Just got home from a brilliant trip to México City, so sorry for the sporadic posting the last few days. I have a billion photos to sort and upload, plus film and suchlike pandemonium. Here's a teaser.

Stayed tuned. Mexico City is a mad, brilliant, fantastic place and the bicycle is back.

Copenhagen Life Cycle by Biomega

At long last here's the commercial I made for the Danish bike brand Biomega.

Biomega's classic Danish design bicycles, iconic Cycling Girls and the city that Biomega calls home: Copenhagen. Work with this holy urban trinity and your work is half-done before you start.

There are two different bicycles in the film. The 'Amsterdam' from Biomega's classic line and the Puma Pico, from their upcoming series for Puma. They're launching in Europe and the rest of the world shortly.

We're selling bicycles, of course, but we're also selling urban cycling as lifestyle, as practical transport and as a social tool for city life.

Cycling has been effortless and gorgeous for over 120 years and will be for centuries to come.

Copenhagen. Life. Cycle. by Biomega
Director: Mikael Colville-Andersen
Photographer: Theis Mortensen
Composer: Cycle Chic's own Lars D. Terkelsen
for Copenhagenize Consulting.

Muda Nashi

Wifealiciousness and I were heading for the Zoo with the kids the other day when we spotted Nanna on the other side of the street. Waving ensued and Nanna crossed over to say hi.

Nanna has one of the coolest luxury second-hand shops in the city. Muda Nashi, which means Nothing Wasted in Japanese. It's located at Godthåbsvej 11A, in Frederiksberg.

City Hall Square and Begging for Your Vote

As a lot Copenhagen outside the city centre is boulevards and urban sprawl, we sometimes neglect the city's squares on this blog. There is something uniquely aesthetic about a Copenhagener speeding across the City Hall Square - or any other square - in frightfully lovely style.

Vote Begging
The artist Moby has a contest where people can produce a music video for a song he's made available. If you have the time and inclination, I'd love a vote for the music video I whipped together last week. No bicycles involved, just emotions.

The video is viewable here, on Genero.tv.

You'll have to register to vote... such is internet life.

I used some old footage from a feature film I directed years ago. Exclusively grainy, close up, Super 8 material shot by the brilliant cinematographer Manuel Claro, who I went to film school with. The video features Danish actress Laura Drasbæk.

Every vote is recieved with thanks and gratitude.