I’m a big fan of the Cycle Chic movement, epitomized by Mikael’s work at Copenhagen Cycle Chic. He links to many other similar sites — a growing number of them in the U.S. I like it because the whole point is to highlight how normal bicycling is or can be. All those chic folks in all those bicycling pictures are really just wearing their everyday clothes — and looking good doing it.
Springfield needs a Cycle Chic movement. Here’s a step in that direction:
That’s my kid. I took the picture the day I bought her that bicycle. I sent the picture to Copenhagen Cycle Chic, and Mikael ran it. That lead to a bunch of hits — more than year ago and I still get hits.
Besides showing bicycling as a normal thing that normal people do in normal clothes, Cycle Chic also portrays bicycling as safe — because it is safe. It’s safer per hour than just living. And it’s waaaay safer per hour than driving a car. You don’t see a lot of helmets in Cycle Chic pictures because a helmet is just such a drag on a fabulous (i.e. entirely normal) look.
We need a Cycle Chic movement in Springfield as part of our progression toward becoming a bicycle-friendly community. It would be easy if I just volunteered to do it (whatever “it” is). But I’m thinking there has to be someone out there itching for a fun role in bicycle advocacy. I’ll help. But who will run with this?
Comments 7
Yea cycle chic!
Posted 09 Nov 2009 at 2:59 pm ¶I was dispirited lately to hear that there’s a backlash against cycle chic by some women who have either stumbled upon soft core bike porn sites (and not the kind with lavish photos of vintage headbadges and cottered cranks) or felt that it was an effort to sell shoes with pretty women on bicycles. To me the vast majority of “cycle chic” sites are just as you describe- pictures of people riding in their normal clothes- often with a fun twist like your barefoot rider above. In terms of promoting a movement, all I can say if that you should “volunteer” yourself to bike to work in normal clothes, normal shoes, with accessories that express your personal style. Hopefully someone will see you and be convinced that they can do it too!
Cycler… I do the “normal” thing everyday. I own no spandex or other apparel specifically designed for riding
Posted 09 Nov 2009 at 5:14 pm ¶I own a little of that spandex but rarely wear it when transportation cycling.
Posted 09 Nov 2009 at 6:16 pm ¶The difference between this movement and what one finds on Copenhagen Chic is that the people on those sites aren’t so much being chosen for their style, as much as they are defining “it”. That would be tough shoes to fill. What are you looking for?
Posted 09 Nov 2009 at 8:11 pm ¶Jamie… I’m wondering if someone here might like to start a site like Charleston Cycle Chic — with web content and programming.
Posted 10 Nov 2009 at 11:42 am ¶So basically you’re looking for the millennialist version of kathleen hanna or jeff nelson… well i hope you find one… lord knows i’d like to have some hope for that generation…
Posted 10 Nov 2009 at 12:45 pm ¶I feel there might already be a moderate cycle chic movement in Springfield (though I haven’t investigated what it fully means to be cycle chic). Many college-aged and recent grads whom still live around the MSU-downtown area bike everywhere – there are even bicycle crews – Riders of Rohan and the Fixed Gear Gang.
Riders of Rohan: http://www.myspace.com/ridersweride
Shiftless Bastards/Final Friday Fixed Gear Jam: http://www.shiftlessbastards.com/
And I’m sure there will be a number of people from Springfield attending Cranksgiving 2009 this Sunday in St. Louis.
Posted 11 Nov 2009 at 1:23 pm ¶