Muuse Meets Cycle Chic

Everybody's making films with bicycles in them these days it seems - it's certainly a very powerful way to spread the bike love.  This gorgeous filmette is a collaboration between Copenhagen Cycle Chic and Muuse.com, a brilliantly ethical, sustainable clothing label.  Featuring beautiful Velorbis bikes - who could ask for more.

More on the making of here.

Cycle Chic Bloggers "Beach" Conference Barcelona

And here's how the Cycle Chic bloggers did beaches in Barcelona... conference you say?
Yep we were working, honest....

Cycle Chic Sundays Did Art!

What a glorious Sydney winter sunday we had yesterday.  We rounded up the chicsters for lunch at the new Deus Cycleworks cafe/store before heading down to Mike Rubbo's exihibition at Tap Gallery.

Great bike art, selling fast, go take a look before it ends on July 17th.  Mike is passionate about positive imagery of people on classic bikes as are we so of course we approve.  Mikael Colville-Andersen has been imortalised as in fact have I and who knows, maybe you have too!!!

   

Some hot bikes with their cycle chicster riders.

The owner of these lovely cycle chic approved red boots is Dutch and rides a Velorbis like mine - say no more.

Paul Martin from Brisbane came down to Sydney for the exhibition - this is how I always remember him - the king of looking cool while standing and riding a Gazelle.

Impromptu bicycle parking outside Darlinghurst's Tap Gallery - we kind of took over the street.

I have a thing about riding shoes..... fascinating.

   

Alacoque is our first beautifully pregnant Sydney Cycle Chicster - looking forward to seeing her in full bloom on her Electra!

Michael and Kathi from the fabulous Feather Brigade heading home as the sun started setting.

Ah the end of a great day - sunshine, friends, food, wine, art and bikes - win!

More pics on flickr as always....

Tanja - Converted!

Since I started this blog almost a year ago, I've seen changes, great changes with an increase in numbers of people, especially women, riding bicycles.  Sydney's landscape has changed and with the development of the cycle ways continues to edge closer to the liveable city we all crave.  Change and growth is a good thing.

We still have a long way to go before we are close to some of our European counterparts but we're moving forward and as Copenhagen can attest to, major changes to infrastructure and attitude don't happen overnight.  But they do happen.

So I thought I'd start a little regular post and share with you some of the many people I come across who have recently rediscovered the bicycle.  The new riders who are not weighed down by the ways of the past but instead, inspired by the potential of the new and by their sheer visibility and enthusiasm for the humble bicycle, are helping to transform this city.

Welcome to the new happy face of bicycle Sydney!

No1 is my good friend, work colleague and fellow blogger Tanja.

What/who inspired you to get back on a bike again?
I was inspired to get back on the bike again by two things - a work colleague (YOU) and the increasing number of people riding around my neighbourhood in Surry Hills. At first, I thought I would just try and score a cheap, second-hand pair of wheels, just to check that I still COULD ride (!), but then I happened upon a BEAUTIFUL Danish bike on ebay (a Velorbis) - it was a great deal + I just couldn't resist. 

Can you remember how it felt, that first time?

I think having a really delightful, upright, euro-style bike really helped make the transition back to riding a very fun one ! I fell absolutely head over heels for the bike + just couldn't get out and about ENOUGH ! What really surprised me was that all that FUN that you have as a kid on bike is still there to be had - cruising along, wind in hair, utter independence - there is nothing quite like it ! 

What do you say to anyone thinking about getting a bike?
Before I bought the bike, I had been fearful of riding on the roads, but this, too, just takes getting used to. I don't ride on 'big' roads with my lady bike, but I really get around ! I love riding down to Kings Cross, Taylor Sq or across to Eveleigh Mkts on a Sat morning, I love riding to work when I'm down at the Opera House but it is also just fun to cruise down to the bakery to pick up a baguette for the basket and to ride back home again !

How did you decide what bike to buy?
My two pieces of advice for ppl thinking of getting a bike would be: GET A BASKET ! There is so much more freedom in being able to plonk anything in the basket - makes shopping v easy + you don't have to worry about trying to balance carrying a bag. Secondly, buy a bike that you will LOVE. This extra bit of investment will definitely be worth it - I think it would spell the difference between being someone who just rides occasionally and someone seeks out new routes to anywhere and everywhere ! I just can't get enough.


Check out her cool blogs too I [Heart] My Food and I [Heart] My Hood or follow her on Twitter @iheartmyfood @iheartmyhood

PS: If you happen to be watching Masterchef tonight - you might just spot this familiar face!

The Joy of Dinking

There is nothing quite like the feeling of little arms holding tight around your waist while they shake with laughter and squeal with joy - remember when this was reversed and it was you on the back of your parent's bicycle??

Nothing changes.

Sydney Cycle Chic Does Art Month Sydney!

Now in it's second year, Art Month Sydney is a brilliant festival celebrating the city's thriving contemporary visual arts scene.
Each week during March the focus will be on a different one of Sydney's diverse arts precincts.  From Waterloo to Woollahra, Marrickville to Potts Point, some 80 or more galleries and venues will fling open their doors with exhibitions, artist talks and studio tours.

In a first this year, the festival is also introducing weekly curated bicycle tours of each precinct.  Brilliant idea.  Can't think of a better way to explore the city's galleries than by bike.  So we are very excited to be taking part as we join with Art Cycle for the Surry Hills ride on March 19.

In true Cycle Chic style, you can expect a slow ride through the back streets of Surry Hills as we wind our way from Charles Hewitt Gallery, via Flinders Street Gallery and First Draft up to Chalk Horse for a series of gallery talks.  With any luck we'll have time to explore some street art and stop for a quick coffee en route...

Rides are free but you do need to register - details here - and make sure you check out the rest of the festival too - a whole month of art events?  We call it artalicious!

We've had some fun doing some pre-festival filming - yep, we always ride our bikes in art galleries, we're crazy like that!

SHEBAM! POW! BLOP! WIZZ! - Cycle Chic Does Gainsbourg

Summer in Sydney's just not Summer without a trip (or two) to an outdoor cinema.  After being rained off once we braved temperamental January with a repeat visit to Moonlight Cinema to see French film Gainsbourg.
Interesting film, flimsy characterisations but gorgeous to spend an evening under the stars with a gaggle of cycle chicsters.
We did a little photoshoot to amuse ourselves (and the candy bar guys!) before the film started and awarded Miss Phoebe with the Cycle Chic Calendar for exhibiting some pretty sexy Parisian inspired cycle chic.  Yep she even came with a bottle of Chanel No.5 as a prop!

   

   

Lawlessness in the Pursuit of Edible Delights

I often see good friend and Sydney food blogger Tanja cruising carefree through Surry Hills on her Velorbis on the hunt for some seasonal deliciousness or other.  

Even better when she brings something in to the office for tasting!

Cockatoo Island Chic

Well the ride on Cockatoo Island a few weeks ago turned into a (retrospectively amusing) exercise in logistics!
Around 20 or more of us met up at Circular Quay and took the ferry over to the heritage listed Cockatoo Island, collecting film-maker Mike Rubbo and friends at Woolwich with their own bikes PLUS an extra 6 bikes PLUS the "Sociable".... all in all about 30+ bicycles....

Sydney Ferries were fantastically helpful after they got over their shock and the poor ferry guys helped us find space for all the bikes as we headed over to the Island for our ride.
The sun shone, we rode, we picnic'ed, we filmed, I fell off my bike like a 12 year old and still have the bruised, scraped knees to prove it and a good day was had by all.

Thanks to everyone who joined the madness - couldn't have done it without you!
And BIG thanks to Dr Charlton for the vintage bikes that he kindly donated to Sydney Cycle Chic after the ride.  The "Charlton Collection" will be available for use on our future rides.....

Mike's film featuring the sociable is wonderful - not every day that one gets to ride a piece of bicycle history.  More on the ride and the "Sociable" over at Mike's blog.

How lucky we are, sunshine, boys, bikes AND Sydney Harbour.

Arriving on the island, checking we had all the bikes.

The Sociable in action - all about the balance!  And Meredith, who hadn't ridden a bike for many years but thought it might be fun to start again on this?

     

It was a bit gusty at times as Paul discovered.

Filming in the huge Turbine Hall.

     

Bondi Beach Cycle Chic - Part 3

Some more beach chic from Bondi to thaw the frozen wheels of our snowbound European followers.

And yes dear readers, I do have a face, the final one is me....

The Blingtastic Launch of Cycle Chic Kids!

What a wonderful way to roll off the first Cycle Chic Kids event.

Despite the overcast day which may have kept some families away, we managed to sidestep the rain and spent a very happy few hours in Centennial Park creating magic.

It's funny when you organise a kids event, you can never quite tell if it will work - they're funny creatures (never work with kids or animals right?) but when it works ?  Boy it works.

Within five minutes of unpacking the tubs of craft supplies, all 20 or so kids (plus their eager parents...) were into it, up to their little arms in fabric, flowers, ribbons, foil, paper, bells....you name it we had it.

   

It was hard to keep a smile off my face as I snapped away and watched them festoon their bicycles and scooters and tricycles with their finds.  Talk about creative ?  We had a doll in a basket wrapped in paper complete with a foil cupcake in case incase she got hungry.  We had flowers and leaves stuck like peacock feathers from saddles.  Silver starts threaded through spokes.  Space helmets and rocket boosters attached to training wheels....I could go on.

    

The wonderful Paul became No 1 King of Bling and was sweet-talked by all the kids into driving them around (and around) the park in the Gazelle Cabby.  Who doesn't love a ride in a cargo bike, it's the modern equivalent of the bouncy castle I reckon.

And the fun didn't stop with the kids.  Quite a few parents tried out the Cabby and my Velorbis.  Nice to see adults having so much fun with bikes too - it really is infectious.

  

So fun was had by one and all  and plans are already underway for the next one.  BIG plans.  Please make sure you like the facebook page to be kept upto date with details or drop me an email and I'll add you to our new Cycle Chic Kids email group. 

It was impossible to judge a winner out of the kids as they all made such an effort so we decided to award a Basil basket to Hannah who made the longest journey to join us with her Dad.  We loved meeting you both and Mark you have been voted the coolest Dad on two wheels (or three in your case....) - hope you survived the long trip home?

It's been impossible to edit the 300 odd photographs from the day (see the rest on flickr) but the kids speak for themselves, so here the are - some of the first Cycle Chic Kids from Sydney.

    

I am endebted to so many people for helping to make this a success and offering their support.  What a wonderful bicycle community we are a part of.  Without wanting to turn this into an Oscar acceptance speech, permit me to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to (in no particular order):

The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore MP who was due to launch the event but her recent foot injury prevented her from attending.  She has been a great supporter of Sydney Cycle Chic as we are of hers!  Her speech is here.

The entire Cycle Team at City of Sydney who tirelessly give me their help and advice.  Elaena Gardner from BIKESydney for her wisdom and loaning us their Cabby (sorry about all the stickers....). Kathi from Feather Brigade for her crazy craftiness.  The supreme Queen of Craft, Liane Rossler for just being the most creative and generous person I know.  Liz Nield and Lyn Heal from Opera Australia for getting behind me and digging out those pink leaves.  Neroli for being so wonderfully generous.  Miss Sonja for being my fellow cycle chica from the start.  Milou for being calm and keeping me in Gin. Jim for being there and giving me free reign of the UTS faculty guillotine.  The kids and parents at Montessori East for getting into the spirit.

And of course, last but not least, Mikael, the Godfather of Cycle Chic for the cute logo and the Felix's (Sydney and Copenhagen) for inspiring this in the first place.