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]

Cycle Chic Sundays Sydney Does Surry Hills in Style!

Wow.  I'm still coming down from Saturday's ride and it's now Monday!
The image of everyone smiling, ringing their bike bells cycling down Bourke Street in the spring sunshine is still very much with me and this really does feel like the start of something very exciting in Sydney.  How wonderful to meet so many other like-minded riders who most definitely "get" what the cycle chic movement is all about.  Bravo to everyone for getting into the spirit and joining us, it wouldn't have been a success without you!

Special thanks, of course, to City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for showing her support and joining us at the start of the ride.  Thanks to her vision, we are slowly getting the infrastructure we need to explore this "city of villages" - and explore we will, just try to stop us.

There's only one way forward from here - and that's straight ahead, on two wheels, slowly, stylishly and smiling.....

Here is a snapshot of the day from Tokyo Bike to the Beresford Hotel via the Bourke Street cycle way to  Remy & Lees Cafe with lunch in a park and shopping at I Ran The Wrong Way.  Rather a lot of socialising and less riding than perhaps we envisaged but so nice to just let the day unfold organically.  This is after all, what Cycle Chic Sundays is all about - catching up with friends and meeting new ones while riding bikes and looking chic.  Indeed.

  

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

Special thanks go to Mike Rubbo of Sit-up Cycle Blog for documenting the ride in his inimicable way.  He's posted his colourful take on the day here.
And the completely delightful and inspirational Sue Abbott who also posted about the ride on her Freedom Cyclist blog here.
And the lovely Feather Brigade who posted here.
There are also a zillion more photographs in the Cycle Chic Sundays Sydney flickr group.  Feel free to join and add your own pics of the ride to this group - we'd love to have you.
[apologies for not naming everyone here, I will attempt to do so in flickr]

PS: plans for the next ride are underway and will be posted here soon so please follow us or like our facebook page to keep upto date with everything!

Cycle Style, Bake Sales and Bicycles

Plans for this Saturday's Cycle Chic Sundays ride have taken over my life lately so before I get on with the final preparations, here is the latest from Sydney.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending time with Joyce from Cycle Style Australia.  She was in town for a few days doing some research for her stint as guest blogger on the Design Files - very exciting to be featured in her Sydney roundup today. She has also written about some great Sydney cycle destinations so check it out!
Of course we spent our time looking for cycle chic on the streets of Surry Hills, (what really, I hear you say)..... and we weren't disappointed!

       

[l. Lisa & that Bullitt / r. Anna and her retro pink Repco Traveller]

[Taylor Square chic - Matt & Anna]

[Anna & Ronan doing a lap around Taylor Square before heading off down Bourke St]

           
[l. Remy outside his Bourke St cafe Remy & Lees /
r. Molly & Kit from Three Point Turnz blog and their yummy bake sale to raise funds for
Joy Ride - 10 bike babes riding from Melbourne to Brisbane]

       

[l. Chris and his red racer / r. Matt from the Bicycle Film Festival]

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