BIKES! BLING! WOOP!

Ah yes, another WOOP! and another year of chic'd bicycles... it's always a pleasure to roll out the Cycle Chic Kids craft extravaganza.  Upcycling really has never been so much fun.

BIG thanks to the WOOP! guys, my gorgeous crafty helpers Kerry, Mel, Bella, Maddie and Lucy.  And of course Mr Chic, GoGet driver, cargo-bike rider, lifter of heavy stuff, flaunter of the ibikeSYD tshirt and person responsible for my sanity.

We'll be at it again at Newtown Festival too on November 11 so if you missed us at WOOP! you know where to find us.....

Er.... did you get guerrilla blinged???

Cycle Chic Kids do WOOP! - AGAIN!

Come for an afternoon of bicycle crafty goodness this Saturday for the 2nd annual WOOP! celebration of bikes.  The official launch of the Sydney Rides Festival.

We'll be in Wimbo Park opposite Bourke Street Bakery from 12-4 going craft crazy.
Come and join us for some bike bling fun - it's not just for kids!!!

cLOVEerlicious.....

Everything's Connected - Caroline

And the fourth in the series of films from the City of Sydney, celebrating the diversity of Sydney's riders.

Great to get a shout out from our friend Mark over at IBikeLondon too.

Everything's Connected - Anthony

More bike goodness... and cute dad commuting....

Everything's Connected - Kitiya

The gorgeous Kit from Three Point Turnz picking outfits to go with her bike? LOVE IT!

Everything's Connected - Les & Judy

We love the City of Sydney's new bike films - lovely little snapshots of citizen cyclists doing their thing.
Have to say it's making me yearn for those long summer months of bike fun...

What the *#@* is Cycle Chic™?

I've been getting a little feisty over at Sarah Wilson's blog today in response to the replies she received on her post What to Wear On A Bike - Part 2.

Surely we have all earned the right to wear whatever we like, on or off our bicycles without judgement?
Why is it that some women find it necessary to dismiss frocked up female riders as frivolous and silly because they sometimes like to wear dresses and heels while riding?
I wear whatever I would wear normally and get about very well thank you and yes if some days I wear f*$@ off heels, so what?

Over in Copenhagen and indeed many places in the world, women of varying ages ride in all manner of clothes as these photographs from Copenhagen Cycle Chic so beautifully illustrate.

It is in emerging bicycle cultures that we are constantly forced to explain and justify our clothing choices.

Which brings me to that question I am asked so often - "what is cycle chic™?"

When Mikael Colville-Andersen first coined the term back in 2007, he was using it as a way to describe his fellow Copenhageners as they went about their daily business on their bicycles.  Devoid of any "cycling gear", just in regular clothes, doing regular things, a concept that was and still is to some degree, thought of as a little extraordinary.

In Sydney, we do cycle chic our way, we're not Copenhagen after all, but the aim is absolutely the same.

To show how the bicycle can be "an integral, respectable and feasible transport form, free of sports clothes and gear, and how it can play a vital role in increasing the life quality in cities.

... to highlight that bike culture is an effortless pursuit. No lycra needed. No fancy gear. Just get out and ride. Style over Speed. Man or Woman."

    

  

The photograph below is not overtly glamorous. The "photograph that launched a million bicycles" as it has become known, is just a nice spontaneous shot of someone probably heading off to work one day.

As is this - the eminently majestic stylist Catherine Baba on the job in Paris. And frankly, if she can ride in those heels more power to her!!!

So when people say "I want to ride but I don't have anything to wear?", I paraphrase Mikael and say "of course you do, wear what you're wearing right now".

I like this cheeky photograph from Copenhagen Cycle Chic.

So at Sydney Cycle Chic when we get together for a ride, we come as we are.

We don't NEED to dress up to prove a point - or do we?

"Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammelled womanhood." - Susan B. Anthony, American Suffragist, 1896.

Freedom - You've Gotta Give For What You Take

Probably preaching to the converted here but I just LOVE this sign.  Thanks to the guys over at Lisbon Cycle Chic for sharing.
Be part of the change baby and get on yer bike!

Something from the Archives

My long suffering, loyal friend Miss Milou joined me for a trip to Melbourne in June for some glamorous protesting.  Now I know she's reading my blog - she's on it!

Milou is also possibly the only person I know who rides in Vivienne Westwood - apart from Vivienne herself obviously.

Cycle Chic Sundays Does Tea and Cake in the Park (and yes we're back to Sundays!)

I thought it would be nice to find an historical Australian female cyclist, someone who once embodied cycle chic and perhaps still has the power to to inspire women to ride.

So when Elaena from Bike Sydney (amongst other fabulous ventures) put me on to Sarah Maddox it was clear that we needed a ride in her honour and coincidentally, October 29 is the 150th anniversary of her birth.

I hope you'll join us for some scones and tea and a lovely ride through the park in her honour.
There will be another gorgeous Basil pannier up for grabs thanks to Gazelle Australia and this one's for all you cycle chic men.  Competition details to be advised (when I have come up with something suitably challenging....)

WHAT: A leisurely ride in Centennial Park followed by a picnic with tea and cakes - perhaps a game of boules.  Please bring something delicious to eat and share
WHO: Anyone who favours style over speed and feels like lounging around in the park on a Summer's day with other similarly relaxed bicyclists
WHERE: Meet at the Paddington Gates at the corner of Lang Road and Oxford Street
WHEN: Sunday October 24 at 1pm

RSVP on our facebook page here and like us too while you're there if you haven't already.
Centennial Park info here.

A little background on Sarah Maddox.  Sarah was Australia's first long distance female cyclist and in 1893, when she had only just learned to ride, she and her husband set off for a 300 mile jaunt to Bega - averaging 60 miles a day on pretty terrible roads.  The following year she cycled from Sydney to Melbourne in nine days and her visit to the city started a cycling craze amongst Melbourne women. 

In 1895 she rode to Brisbane and back and on her way home (a journey of 9 days), she rode through bushfires, tropical downpours and floods - all on dirt roads.

She also started the Sydney Ladies Bicycle Club and was a strong supporter of women cycling at a time when the media were scathing.  A real woman of her time, she advocated that ladies should always look ladylike on their bicycles - a long dark coloured skirt, white cotton blouse, straw hat and light coloured gloves were the suggested uniform.  No surprise then that she was known for her elegance and grace. 

While, thankfully, times have changed and Western women have the freedom to wear and do as we please, it's important to remember those trailblazers who paved the way.  I'm sure there are many more, if you know stories, I'd love to hear them.

Ride To Work Sydney 2010

Wonderful to see so many people take their bikes to the streets today for Ride To Work Day but it's still puzzling to me why they feel the need to wear "cycling gear".  I haven't been faced with so much lycra since my clubbing days in the '80's.

But I went in search of, and found, just a little chic in amongst the fluoro spandex......

    

     

[Jamie & Jacqui from I ♥ Sydney Bike Lanes and Cycle Ways]

[Show Sydney you care - wear Alan in Spring. T-shirts available from Remy & Lees on Bourke St]

[City of Sydney Cycling Ambassador Nell Schofield with Susan modelling a Rocket Fuel cycling cap]

Keep it Wheel Baby!

Loving this and moving hell and high water to make it.......and I'm bringing my ladies with me.

If you haven't signed up yet, do.  At time of writing this they are 19 riders short of their target of 100.  That's a hell of a lot of sexy bicycles taking over the city on Sunday - get amongst it!

Hopefully see you there, somewhere at some point.

Register here.

If you are bike-less, there are bike hire companies offering discounts.  Check out their facebook page for more details.

Bicycle Sculptures Around the World

When you first see the Bike Bike sculpture in Martin Place, it takes your breath away.  It's huge.
Constructed from old bicycles in the shape of a Penny Farthing, this 12 metre high bicycle by Alasdair Nicol is part of the City of Sydney's 2010 Art and About Festival.
Thought provoking and absolutely timely as Sydney continues to "green" the city and encourage us to think about sustainable modes of transport.  Oh and it's a beautiful work of art too.
It's at the Macquarie Street end of Martin Place until October 24.

Another wonderful bicycle sculpture was unveiled in August this year in Gdansk, Poland. during the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Solidarity movement.  Honouring the Gdansk shipyard workers, whose most common mode of transport was the bicycle.

UPDATED!!

This is so utterly fabulous I had to add it... thanks Nevenka for the link and Sydney Daily Photo for posting.

One Day All Road Signs Will Look This Way

[image via NEW BROL ORDER]

Bicycle Advocacy in High Heels....

As an addendum to the last post - I was digging around doing some research on bicycle racks and remembered the ones David Byrne did for NYC.  Wonderful stuff - I'd love to see these heels scattered around Sydney.  His blog and book The Bicycle Diaries, chronicle David's observations and insights as he pedals his way around some of the world's major cities.  He totally gets it.  As Planetizen reviewed his book "Bryne's writings feel like haiku for urbanists".

Bicycle advocacy in high heels?  Adds a whole other dimension to the original Copenhagen Cycle Chic tag-line doesn't it?

Cycle Chic Sundays Does Surry Hills!

Fast becoming my favorite 'hood, Surry Hills is home to a ridiculous amount of cafes, restaurants and bars.  It's also home to two of my favorite bike hangouts - Tokyo Bike and Remy & Lees Cafe.

With the (slowly) emerging cycle way down Bourke Street it's becoming somewhat of a bicycle mecca so Cycle Chic Sundays feels the need to ride.  It's time to show the anti-cycle ways brigade that we not only mean business but we are good for business, dammit!  Please show your support and JOIN US.

We will be starting at Tokyo Bike who will be riding with us and also have their resident mechanic on site to give advice and simple maintenance.  There will be plenty of time to take a test ride or get your tires pumped and if you're new to Tokyo Bike, have a look at their site - they totally rock Japanese cycle chic.
From there we will cruise slowly down to Remy & Lees for a coffee and cake pit stop and then do a nice leisurely loop around to Crown Street finishing up with beers at the Beresford Hotel.

This is not a long ride and we have one simple aim - to be slow, be stylish and be seen.
So frock UP, bring your friends and let the good times roll.

WHAT: A leisurely ride through Surry Hills with eating, drinking and shopping en route.

WHO: Anyone who favours style over speed.  

WHERE: Meet at Tokyo Bike at 1 Mary's Place at 1pm, finishing at the Beresford Hotel

WHEN: Saturday September 11 from 1 to 3pm and on.......

Please RSVP your interest/attendance by leaving a message here or head to our Facebook page.  Cheers

Watch This - Beauty and the Bike Short Film

If I am ever in any doubt as to why I started this blog and why the bicycle movement is so damn important I will watch this and remember.

I grew up in northern England so it's even more poignant for me. These girls are wonderful and to hear them talk and watch their faces light up when they ride is beyond inspiring.  The two girls discussing what they will wear is wonderful.
Love it.

Sydney's Vision

Sydney's Cycleways Campaign has been getting much attention lately not just in Sydney but globally.  (See todays post on Copenhagenize)
The City of Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore has been described as many things and yet while her campaign has been met with strong opposition from some, her vision for a more "user-friendly" city can only be applauded.
Personally I think it's visionary and these are exciting times in what has been until recently, a city fearful of change.  If Sydney is to become a truly respected citizen-friendly city then we need to embrace change not fight it.  Be informed here.

From Protest to Pinot (and everything in between)

5am Saturday morning, stumble out of bed in dark, shower, dress, throw various chargers into bag, rain in Sydney, cold in Melbourne where I am headed for a day of spontaneous Cycleiciousness.  Layer up with as much cycle chic as I can muster for this hour and out into the taxi waiting to take me to the airport.
9.05am arrive in Melbourne, Skybus it to hotel, check in and dump bags and jump in another taxi to first date of the day - the protest ride.

There's nothing I like more than standing up for what I believe in, a little political unrest does us all good and this was right up my alley.  Mike Rubbo from Sit Up Cycle had organised a ride to draw attention to the mandatory cycle helmet laws and why they will probably be detrimental to the success of the new Melbourne Bike Share scheme.  Of course it will hinder rather than help the scheme be a success, it doesn't take a genius to work that one out so the more attention this gets the better.  Will the laws be repealed as they have been in Mexico City ?
Time will tell.
It was a small but spirited turnout and snapping away in the midst of the crowd surrounded by tv crews was Mikael Colville-Andersen, in town for his much anticipated Four Goals for Promoting Urban Cycling talk as part of the State of Design festival.  He's disarmingly charming, passionate, funny, cheeky as hell and obviously loves his role as Denmark's unofficial roving Bicycle Ambassador.  Who wouldn't ?  He strongly believes in what he is doing as do I and it seems the thousands of fans of his various blogs Copenhagenize, Copenhagen Cycle Chic™ and The Slow Bicycle Movement to name but three.

So pictures were taken, the police did what they had promised to do and booked those who decided to ride helmet-less through the streets of Carlton - the horror - and news coverage was obtained from The Age and ABC.  Apparently we also made the ABC tv news in Melbourne but I've yet to get my hands on a copy of the segment.  With all the lively online commentary over the last few days it would seem the ride was a success.  Great to have been a part of it, now let's see the change hmmm ??

(more pics on flickr)

Next stop on the whirlwind bike tour of Melbourne was a quick trip to Gertrude St, spotted lots of nice stationary bikes (quite a theme of this trip) then off to Fed Square for Mikael's talk.
No doubt that it was illuminating and inspiring (and there's that screwball Danish humour again) and he really has hit the nail on the head.  His ideas so clearly point the way forward for bicycle culture - lessons to be learned whichever continent you are in.
It was however, followed by a rather dull panel discussion but I suppose that's to be expected when it consists of public service types talking about commuter cycling corridors..... WTF??!!
It left me, and I think the ragtag group of bloggers and bicycle advocates I was with a bit cold.  More action and less talk is always my view but hey, call me naive.  Is it not just simply about getting on your bike, as you are, going where you need to go in as fuss free a manner as possible ???

So conference over and off for drinks which turned into dinner and more drinks and well more drinks and stumbling back to the hotel at 2.30am quite a little tipsy.  A rather wonderful day followed by a rather seedy Sunday.  I took solace at the alter that is Rothko before heading back to Sydney, badly hungover but energized for some serious bicycle business.

Great to put faces to my fellow bloggers and tweeters too and meet the lovely Festival ladies on their beautiful bikes !
Tak Mikael for the hangover ;-)