Girlfriends con biciclette

Friday evening. Two girlfriends wait to cross.

Smiles and laughter. A good sign that the evening will be a blast.

Friday Night Dreamtime

Friday evening in the big city.

Night Out

A great night is coming to an end, and decisions had to be made: Another bar or grab a Shawarma. Hmm, why don´t we have late night/early morning bars with great food? Anyway I went for the Shawarma.

Copenhagen's Life-Sized Nordic Cool

Here's a piece I wrote for The Guardian a couple of years ago. Appropriate, perhaps, now the the world is descending on our fair city.

Copenhagen is an aesthetic capital that is content with its laid-back, cool attitude and rather unimpressed with the delusions of grandeur suffered by other European cities. The city centre is a charming labyrinth of cosy streets peppered with trendy cafes and boutiques. The surrounding neighbourhoods are relaxed areas where the Copenhagener can be seen in its natural environment.

What the city lacks in Eiffel Towers and Big Bens it makes up for with its curious mix of historic buildings and ultra-modern design. In the summer months, flocks of bewildered tourists from the armada of cruise ships (Copenhagen is the third-busiest cruise destination in the world) can be seen wandering about wondering what it is they should be looking at.

At least they can wander without worry, as much of the city centre is designated as pedestrian areas with "Strøget" being the crown in the work. The street stretches from the Town Hall Square to Nyhavn on the harbour. Wandering about a city has rarely been easier or more desirable.

With the strength of other European currencies the city is hardly as expensive as it once was. Shopping for designer items is a treat and done while taking in striking modern architecture like the new opera house or the Black Diamond building, both on the harbour. Design is often regarded as Denmark's greatest cultural export so they put a bit of elbow grease into it. The best way to get around is on a bike. The city boasts one of the world's most developed network of bike infrastructure and you won’t be alone: 37% of Copenhageners cycle to work or school every day and 55% of all trips in the city are by bicycle.

If "big is better" is your thing, then Copenhagen will disappoint. Upon seeing the Little Mermaid statue on her rock on the harbour generations of puzzled tourists have uttered the same remark: "But she’s so SMALL!" Upon hearing this a Copenhagener will merely shrug and remark, "She’s life-size". All with a crooked smile and a twinkle in the eye,

Which would be an ideal motto for Copenhagen. Life-size. An ego to match any other capital but an ego which is wrapped up in a Nordic coolness that makes any visit to the city a calming, groovy and aesthetically appealing experience.

Historical Cycle Chic

This is a cartoon from 1899 featuring The Cycling Girl that had [still has - just look at this blog] such a massive impact on society. The text reads:

"The Holy Antonius' Last and Greatest Temptation". A cycling girl offering him a ride on a new-fangled tandem bicycle. The man was sold.


Vintage Danish Tuborg beer advert featuring, yet again, the iconic cycling girl.
"A Tuborg tastes lovely on a bicycle ride!"

This latter advert features in a new exhibition at the Copenhagen City Museum called Copenhagen by Bike. All about the history of the bicycle in Copenhagen. I was involved in the exhibition and have a number of photos in it. You can read more about it here on Copenhagenize.com, including how to get there if you're in Copenhagen. It runs until June 2010.

Individual Style

I'm loving the style, the individualism and the whole shebang on this Copenhagener.

Bird's Eye Cycle Chic and Climate Satire

I found this photo deep in my Flickr photostream. I like it. Maybe not ooh-la-la chic, baby, but it's a cool angle on a regular citizen and his bicycle. Where's he going? Where's he coming from? So many untold stories. I like that.

On a completely different note, the UN Climate Conference is about to kick off here in Copenhagen. Optimism for a good deal for the planet is waning and our politicians are unlikely to make any firm commitment. Cynical? Perhaps. Realistic? Perhaps.


If you're on the cynical side, we've prepared a series of tongue-in-cheeky t-shirts that are perfect for those who enjoy the time-tested "I told you so" angle. Climate Conference Reality Check T-shirts and Coffee Mugs. Check them out in our online shop. Choose President or Prime Minister, depending on where you live. Or see some of the designs over at Copenhagenize.com.

Sonja Rykiel, Hennes and Mauritz and Bicycles

The mainstreaming of the bicycle continues. This time at a fashion show in Paris launching Sonja Rykiel's new collection for Swedish behemoth 'cheap and cheerful' chain H&M. Bicycles, bicycle, bicycles.

Thanks to: Erik.

Friendly Tempo

The bicycle is everywhere in Copenhagen. Here's five friends moving slowly along the bike lanes, chatting and enjoying each others' company. One of them doesn't have a bike and everyone adjusts to his speed. Talking is more important than hurrying along.


Here's a similar shot, with a similar mood, from a while back.

The Art of Red Gloves

Reg gloves. There's something about them. They don't send such a loud signal as red heels, but the elegance is more subtle and refined.

I took this shot the other day and then seemed to recall I had some other shots of red gloves. Presto... a theme was born.

This is one of the more iconic Cycle Chic shots from a couple of years back. Such poise and grace only intensified by the red gloves.

Some other shots feature red driving gloves, red wooly mittens and red stripey mittens.

If you look hard enough, you may be able to find a red version of these handwarmers. The black ones cost 50 kroner [$10] around Copenhagen.

Fragment of Clarity

Urban Cycling is transport. It's a quick and enjoyable way to get around your town. It's a transport form that requires a bicycle and the clothes in your closet.

But it can also be a wistful, fleeting glimpse of poetry. A fragment of clarity quicker than your breath catching in your throat. A longing for focus, detail and extending a magical moment. And then... zip... it's gone.