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.

Almost Spring...

Almost spring, says the Optimist. The snow has melted but it's still bitter cold. Bring on the sunshine.

Outside the Cinema

Outside a cinema during the winter holidays a mother rolls up with her kids in a classic Copenhagen cargo bike.

Not far from there this dapper chap is distributing the free postcards you see at many cafés, using another cargo bike.

Biomega Copenhagen

I've now finished shooting and editing the commercial/short film for Danish bike brand Biomega. Here's a still from the shoot.

Looking forward to blogging it here very shortly. It's wicked cool and totally Cycle Chic meets Biomega meets Copenhagen.

First Day of Spring My Ass

The First of March. Traditionally the first day of Spring.

Yeah, right. Snowstorm, icy winds, temperatures hovering reluctantly above freezing.

Bring on the beach. Sooner rather than later. Pleeeeease!

Emma Jorn - Urban Rainwear

Meet Emma. She's a Danish designer and friend who's developed a whole new angle on urban rainwear, among many other things of course. The girl's got talent.


Rainwear is, of course, a necessary evil for many people on the urban landscape, whether pedestrian or cyclist. (It's actually something that people quite often need). Emma was inspired by the classic sou' wester raingear material and many of the unique rainwear ensembles in Japan when she whipped together this elegant raindress.

Considering the fact that cycling in skirts or dresses is as easy as ringing a bicycle bell, this outfit could be the perfect solution to spring/summer/autumn downpours. The front is designed longer than the back, just in case you hop up onto a bicycle, so that your thighs stay dry. Sweet little detail.


There are various ways to tackle precipitation whilst moving about the urban landscape. Some cooler than others. Emma's creation takes urban rainwear to the next level.


Another creation from Emma's hand is the basket and hand cover, inspired by the bicycle culture of Japan and given a Nordic workover.

Complete with a simple, elegant top to ward off summer showers.


Last but certainly not least is this brilliant buddy raingear set with room for three good friends. Perhaps a bit tricky on bicycles but perfect for the summer music festival season. The famous Roskilde festival, or even Glastonbury in England, should be selling these during their notoriously rainy festivals.

Visit Emma Jorn's website here.

Winter Weather Girlfriends

What a lovely sight.

Pick Your Speed

You know what? Nobody says you HAVE to ride your bicycle in the snow. Take your time, pick your speed.

Actually, the average speed in Copenhagen for bicycles is 16.1 km/h. That's the speed that 500,000 daily cyclists settle upon in their collective sub-conscious. Nice and easy. No hurry. Citizen Cyclists moving about their city.

Scarfspeed

Scarfspeed in Copenhagen.

I'm looking forward to seeing winter's ass as it leaves the room and makes way for summer, but I always miss the autumn/winter scarves of Copenhagen.

Copenhagen Gentlemen

Copenhagen gent waiting at a red light. Read all about the specially-designed railing he is holding onto. It's how we spoil cyclists in Copenhagen.

A gentleman on a late model Raleigh bicycle. See the lovely models available in Denmark here.

The world needs more dapper hats.

Pretty Girl on a Bicycle and Profiteering

Back in Bicycle Culture 1.0, at the turn of the last century, the sudden and massive societal shift that followed the invention of the bicycle was most profound because of the urban mobility that women enjoyed.

"Pretty girl on a bicycle" has been a cultural icon ever since, not least in Danish history and on this blog. Back then the visual delight that was overwhelming the streets of cities all over the world was used and exploited in many ways. Like the advert, above. It's for a barber and he's sucking in the reader with a headline that he knew would appeal. A fine example of the powerful symbol that is the Cycling Girl.


The bicycle craze of Bicycle Culture 1.0 caused many people to realise that they could make some money off of it. They tried to convince people that they needed special clothes for the simple act of riding a bicycle.

Above, it's 'bicycle wear' they're selling. You know what? It's just a corset. Virtually identical to all the corsets women already had in their closets. Like with all the modern 'cycling clothes' people are trying to sell you these days, in the midst of Bicycle Culture 2.0, the clothes in your closet are sufficent.

Anything you can walk in, you can ride a bicycle in, as we here at Cycle Chic show each and every day. Overcomplicating the issue with modern versions of this corset doesn't help mainstream cycling.

All you need is a bicycle. All you've ever needed is a bicycle.

Now that we're returning the bicycle to its rightful place on the urban landscape and redemocratizing it for Citizen Cyclists, let's keep our eye on the ball and do it properly. Free of fear mongering and false products.


Just so we're clear on this... 'Cycle Chic' [as we coined the phrase] certainly means welcoming additions, developments and improvements on stuff people actually need. Gorgeous bike bells, for example. Things that make your bicycle lovely. Things that serve a practical design function for urban living in general. Thumbs up for all that.

Budapest Winter Cycle Chic

It warms our hearts to see this little film from our lovely friends at Cycle Chic Hungary showing people cycling in the winter. Budapest rules.

To see how brilliant the Hungarians are at marketing urban cycling for Citizen Cyclists, have a look at these wicked cool films over at Copenhagenize.com