Copenhagenesque

The Copenhagen version of "Putting the Kettle On".


The Copenhagen version of tailgating.


The Copenhagen version of "pick you up at five, we'll go for a drink".

Amsterdam, Copenhagen

A few minutes in Amsterdam was all it took to remind us how much we love the Dutch style of riding double.

The Copenhagen style works pretty well, too.

Texas, Copenhagen

A little splash of YeeHaw in Copenhagen.

Posture

We rather like proper posture.

Our mothers would be proud. And the upright bicycle is rather safe, too.

Bondi Beach Cruisers

This is brilliant. A cool film feat. Australian Cycle Chic for Bondi Beach Cruisers made by +61 Collective. Cycle Chic is lovin' this on this, the last day of summer in Copenhagen. So says the weather gurus, anyway.

Pause for Thought

Urban cycling is motion and momentum but it is also the pauses between the movement. The similarities between pedestrianism and urban cycling are many, not least in the simple act of waiting for a light to change.

Such moments of pause are often elegant and aesthetic.

The Bikes of Copenhagen #5 - Update

Many moons ago here on Cycle Chic we highlighted some of the bicycles that populate the bicycle lanes of the city. Looking back at our Bikes of Copenhagen post and the subsequent Danish Delight post we can see that things remain the same. Well, almost. The style - timeless, practical upright bicycles - continues unabated as it has for 125 years but there are some new brands that are making inroads on the market. So here is a quick and lazy Saturday morning update. Most of these bicycles are not available outside of Denmark or Scandinavia, but all the more reason to make a trip to Copenhagen. :-)

Having a healthy market featuring many different styles of bicycles for Citizen Cyclists is a key to promoting urban cycling to a mainstream audience.

Above is a bicycle from Danish brand Ebsen, whose bicycles are easily spotted on the streets because of their bold colours.
Ebsen - website is in Danish, but scroll down for more models.


Here is one of the models from Von Backhaus. Originally specialising in mountain bikes, we have noticed more and more upright models around town.
Von Backhaus - check out their online catalogue.


It was tough finding info about the Dresco bicycle. You see quite a few out there, but they are hard to google for some reason.We love the colours.
Dresco - here's a link to a bike shop in Copenhagen that sells them. They come in various colours.


Now Raleigh is not a Danish brand, of course, but here's an interesting story: When Raleigh stopped producing their classic designs from the 1920's, a Danish distributor wasn't at all pleased. These bikes were still popular in Denmark. As we understand it, he was allowed to licence the retro design and produce the classic Raleigh models solely for the Danish market and has done so ever since.

It's still a hoot to compare Raleigh's Danish website with Raleigh's US website or even Raleigh's UK Website. A textbook example of how bicycles are mainstream in Denmark and (still) relegated to being sport or recreation in other countries.


Raleigh in Denmark also sell their Tourist Deluxe model for gentleman.


A bike shop in Copenhagen imports various models of the Italian Bici Victoria brand. Above is the Inglese model.
Bici Victoria - Link to a Lucas Cykler, a local bike shop who drive down to Italy to pick up these bicycles from the factory.


You don't see many bicycles from the Dutch brand Gazelle in Denmark - new or vintage - but rest assured they are available on the market here.
Gazelle - Link to their Dutch website.


Another Dutch brand - Van de Falk - is popular among students.
Van de Falk - Danish site that sells them.

All Hail the Heel

It amazes us that "cycling in heels" is still something that is discussed on the internet. Women have been doing it for 125 years. You'd think that fact had sunk in by now. Go figure. Or go to the tag here on Cycle Chic called Cycling in High Heels

Here are some recent shots. We realise that heels feature more prominently in European cities than elsewhere - indeed, two-thirds of Danish women say they wear high heels on a regular basis - but the impression you get from some internet discussions is that simple act of cycling in heels is like climbing Everest. Something that Danish women find amusing.

Amsterdam Rush Hour Cycle Chic

We like the afternoon rush hour in Amsterdam.