Stephen Crawford's Japanese Cycle Chic

Another fantastic series from our correspondent in Japan, Stephen Crawford. Brilliant Japanese Cycle Chic.

In my humble opinion, only Japan comes close to Copenhagen for the sheer saturation of bicycles and fashion.

I can't get enough of Stephen's photos. I miss Japan madly and ache to touchdown in Narita again.

Red Bicycle Springtime

Springtime in Copenhagen. On the cusp of flowery dresses and a sea of bare legs.

What is it about red bicycles? Wouldn't ride one myself, but my goodness they are fine.

Two more sure signs of spring in Copenhagen. A fresh flower in a bicycle basket and a six pack of beer in the hand of a man heading down to his mates on the canal.

Round the World Cycle Chic

Thanks to Raquel from Gratis Total - the Spanish fashion blog, our intrepid correspondent, for her latest installment of Iberian Cycle Chic. This time from San Sebastian.

Thanks to Rhys, in Manly, Australia, for these photos of bicycle culture in his town. Featuring his Danish girlfriend on the left.

The very latest shots, hot off the bike lanes, from our friends Witold and HuBar at Lodz Cycle Chic in Poland.


Thanks to our reader, Will, for these cracking shots from Mardi Gras in New Orleans.


And thanks to Kristoffer for these great shots of our neighbours in Stockholm.

Red Scarfs At The Flower Market

Passing by the flower stands in Frederiksborggade I sensed that there was some imagerery here to be captured. About a minut later I knew I had something good to share with you.
Later I noticed that it is indeed a good ol´ all american Schwinn she is riding past the flowers. I think Schwinns photographers could have spent a lot of time getting that logo right in the little opening of the wall of parked bicycles, haha.


This stylish young gentleman caught me unprepared, but I just panic-clicked in his direction and got lucky.

On and Off

As any dedicated reader of this blog knows, I love this magical moment when a cyclist launches into motion.

Although dismounting is an art form that is much underrated.

In other cycle chic news, here's an article from the New York Times about bicycle fashion.

And a warm Cycle Chic welcome to the newest bud on the Cycle Chic Tree - Romanian Cycle Chic. It warms our hearts to see Cycle Chic spreading out around the globe, inspiring people to take to their bicycles in their normal clothes and make a difference. Taking back the bike culture.

Bare Leg Law Enforcement

Sorry Mikael, but I could not resist this one as a comment to your previous post.
Actually until I shot this yesterday, I had no idea that we also have police on bicycles.
But yes, it does seem that spring is here!

Addendum: for more police on bicycles, see Copenhagenize.com.

The Most Important Post of the Past Six Months

This is an important photograph.

I moved to Copenhagen 15 years ago. It was February. At the beginning of April I was to meet a good friend at a café. He was late. When he arrived he was dizzy, with a goofy smile all over his face. He immediately told me that he saw his first pair of bare legs that year. On the City Hall Square. It was a 20 minute walk from the Square to the café and I suspect he grinned the whole way, and the rest of the day.

This proved to be an important way for me to decide when spring has finally arrived in this Nordic capital, after six months of hibernation. When the cafés along Nyhavn, the postcard picturesque canal in the city centre put out their tables and chairs in front of their businesses, you can bet that spring is right around the corner. It actually gets covered on the national news as the first sign of spring.

Then there is the light. The days get longer and when we put our clocks forward at the end of March, everybody comments on the extra light each day. Giddy. Happy. Even it it's overcast.

But every year since 1994 I've dutifully recorded my own personal sure sign of spring and many of my friends, not to mention Wifealiciousness, now all relay their personal sightings to each other. Last year, Wifealiciousness spotted her first pair before I did. I beat her to it this year.

There are rules to this game:
1. The bare legs must be spotted in daylight. Nighttime doesn't count since so many women go out on the weekends with legs bared in the winter, even if it's sub-zero.
2. The bare legs must be bare. No stockings.
3. The bare legs have to appeal to your own sense of aesthetics. You can reject a pair if you don't fancy them.

Yesterday, this Copenhagener rolled past in the afternoon light and in one sweeping, elegant moment in which time stood still, Spring 2009 had arrived for me.

Fast Forward Cycle Chic

I had some errands to run yesterday, and a meeting. I rode around town as per usual. Perusing the photographs taken along the way last night, I figured I'd just slap them all together in one fast forward flow to see what a day in the life of a Copenhagen Cycle Chic camera looks like. Unedited and uncut.

Bicycle Kiss

Springtime is kissing your girl time.

Cycle Chic from Hoss Intropia

The Spanish clothing company Hoss Intropia has is all goin' on in their new catalogue.

Exquisite Cycle Chic.

Bring on the summer. Bring on the bicycle.

Mucho gracias to Raquel from Gratis Total for the heads up.

Global Cycle Chic Guest Photos

Finally... here's a pile of lovely guest photos that I haven't had time to post. Wonderful stuff. Thanks for sending them in.
New Orleans: Jillian from Button McSweet. San Sebastian: Raquel from Gratis Total. Belgium: From Cycle Chic.be. Sevilla: From Martin. Stockholm: Fra Cykelsmart.se. Great Britain: Shit, sorry! Can't remember! London: From Cyclodelic.
Copenhagen: From Hugo-Andres. USA: From LastNightsParty.com. Norway: From Per. Budapest: From Cycle Chic.hu.
And this one gets a space all its own:

Dottie from Let's Go Ride a Bike.
My fanciest cycling duds yet. :) I wouldn't have attempted this, if I hadn't seen all the women on your site.

Thanks!

Red & Green

Red and Green.

Redhead and Green. With some purple and blue.


And there's some new designs in the online boutique. For Ladies and Lads.

Spring is Springing

Getting all springtime dizzy.

Sunshine reflections. [Actually my flash going off inside a glass elevator, but don't tell anyone...]

Sure sign of spring... eating ice cream and not noticing much else.