Watching the World Go By

Copenhagen has just hosted the World OutGames - the largest sport and art festival for gay and lesbians - the LGBT community as it's called. It lasted a week and there were around 5000 guests in Copenhagen. What a party. There were serious sports events and crazy ones, too, as well as a host of cultural events. Non-stop. 24-7.



It all peaked at a parade through the city on the penultimate day and I went down with the kids to have a look and to walk along with the masses towards the City Hall Square.

People lined the streets along the whole festive route and, not surprisingly, bicycles were involved.


The whole affair puts a new meaning on this classic tourism poster from the 1940's, back when gay meant something quite different.


A few days later, after things had quietened down, there was still ample opportunity to watch the world go by on the City Hall Square. From the foreground: An elderly chap on his standard-issue electric scooter, the Fruit Bike selling fresh fruit cups, the Paradis ice cream bike and, in the background, a long row of cycle taxis.

Left to Right Motion

Just another summer's day in Copenhagen.

Orange cruisers are cool cruisers.

The Nippon Nordic Alliance

Denmark and Japan, despite their cultural and geographic differences, have so much in common. Both cultures appreciate fine style, design and minimalism combined with practical usage. Here's a fine marriage of Denmark and Japan. A Velorbis Scrap Deluxe in action in Tokyo.

Ditto. This time in Shibuya Crossing.

And a Christiania Bike navigating the Shibuya Crossing.

Yellow Stripes

Yellow.

Stripes.

Red Light Posture Series - Addendum

Damn. I thought I had them all covered. In my Red Light Posture Series from last year I thought I had seen all the variations Copenhageners use while waiting for red lights. Here's a new one. Lovely.

We'll call this one The Copenhagen Casual Lean.

The Golden Dane Bridge

One of our readers, Scott, sent this lovely guest photo of a Danish friend - Maria - cycling in San Francisco in best Copenhagen style. Brilliant.

Aging Gracefully

We thought we'd be fair. We do what we can to document the cycling life of Copenhagen's fashionistas and fashionistos but they should not have a monopoly on beauty and poetry. Here are some of our fellow citizens who are aging oh so gracefully in the World's Cycling Capital.

Running to catch an elevator at a train station.

Gracefully crossing Hans Christian Andersen Boulevard.

Launching into motion.

Poetry on Wheels

Poetry on Wheels in the Copenhagen Summer.

The Urban Dressing Room

When the bicycle is such an integral part of your life as it is in Copenhagen, you find yourself doing everyday things on or near your two-wheeled transport tool. Stopping at a red light is the perfect time to take your cardigan out of your basket and slip it on if the weather takes a chilly turn.

Or while you're waiting for a friend outside the train station, adjust your fashionable layers by removing your sweater and putting your jacket back on.

The chap on the right is using his red light moment to slip on a jacket as a slight rain starts to fall.

Or you can just hop off your bike at the red light, remove your jacket and secure it with your bag on the back rack.

Nobody says you have to been stationary. Danes can do pretty much anything on bikes as this lady shows us. Taking off her jacket while riding through the countryside.

And nobody says that you have to put the jacket on the back rack or in the basket. If the heat of the summer gets to you, just hang it on your head.

Bicycles and Shopping Trolleys

Now we've had a lot of themes over the years here at Cycle Chic, but we've missed this one until now. Bicycles and Shopping Trolleys. Together at last.

The classic Copenhagen shopping trolley transport form.

The bike lanes are wide so that we can share with people in the process of that all important activity - getting beer home.

Or tables.