Bristol Cycling Chic

Ladies Pursuits - with style

2011-08-27T09:56:00.001+01:00

Nice video of some pursuit cyclists with the girls riding round London.
Style by Ana Nichoola. Film by Liam Murphy films.

Ladies Pursuits from liammurphyfilms.com on Vimeo.

It's the Cycling Chic ride next weekend (4 September) organised by Bristol Cycling Campaign - why not check it out?

A lot can can change in a few months

2011-08-11T09:42:00.001+01:00

No updates for a while, but a few months on and a new season brings many changes so here we are in Bristol's Cultural Quarter to enjoy the cycling culture.
There's a Cycling Chic ride coming up on 4 September organised by Bristol Cycling Campaign - why not check it out?
Meanwhile I'll let the pictures do the talking. First, we'll set the scene:

Now this person could do with turning her cycle into a useful cycle

with the addtion of a basket

Handy for carrying locks, and all sorts of paraphernalia

A useful bike:

Nice boots! And a work bike!

Or simply use a bag:

or no bag for this milk maid

OK - so what about the lycra? What should we wear to cycle - something nice and practical I'd say - well that's just about anything:

Leather and lycra works well, and a crossbar is no deterrent for wearing a skirt

Something on your head maybe?

or just a neat cap

Co-ordinating your colours is important

But it's the little details that count, like a colourfule pair of shoes

Cycling is a sociacl thing and red lights give opportunities to chat:

Nice point! But it's the relaxed and carefree style that does it for me:

as you cruise past the traffic or take your own line

whatever position you like

The children can tag-along too

While some are just on their way home from work

others are already on their way out for the night - with a basket coming in hand again

Look out for more information on the Chic Ride!

Victoria Pendleton Grazia Fashion Shoot

2011-05-27T17:42:00.000+01:00

Snowed under but had to share this link with you!
victoria-pendleton-grazia-fashion-shoot

Bristol's First Vinitage Velo (Tweed Ride)

2011-04-16T19:39:00.000+01:00

Bristol's first tweed ride - the Vintage Velo - will be leaving from Clifton Suspension Bridge tomorrow (Sunday 17th April 2011) at about 11am. Rider's needed to pre-register and all 100 place have been taken - but do come along to see them off and get some ideas for next year when we hope it will be open to more riders.
Find out more here http://vintage-velo.blogspot.com/.

Hoping to get the blog going again soon. Plenty of chic riders around these days!

I know you're out there!

2011-01-21T17:40:00.001Z

Apologies to all you Chic cyclists braving the Bristol winter. I'm sitting by the fireside keeping warm, but hope to be out there publicising the chic and uber-cool Bristol cyclists in the Spring.

Are Bristol's cyclists chic? We certainly are!

2010-05-30T17:24:00.002+01:00

A sunny evening after work in Bristol City Centre - and a variety of chic cyclists abound:

Styles of dress vary tremendously in this still changeable weather. Whilst the women have shed their winter coats - boots are not eschewed (attempted pun!). While the men retain their overcoats:

(seemingly in hot pursuit!).

We could be in Paris now.

But a smart suit and that jaunty boater re-assure us that Bristol is the place to be.

Picking up on the red pannier in the first pic but taking it all the way - this is real red style.

Spring "Break"

2010-05-05T16:24:00.019+01:00

Although we're definitely in Spring, and we did have a quick burst of warm weather, we've been having April showers in May and Spring seems to be taking a break whilst a chill wind continues to blow - so our chic cyclists are keeping well wrapped up with hoods ...

and puffa jackets (note the green laces though!) (and a nice basket)

Oh wow! .. and close to a full-on parka! with interesting leggings and boots.

Meanwhile, some people seem to be more impervious to the cold and look as though they wear just what they happen to have had on already

and for the hardy types that's just shorts and T-shirts (maybe they're just optimists!)

Elsewhere in town, there's more fur and boots in evidence.

Whilst city gents just jump on their bikes in their work suits (he looks so relaxed - there's no way he's going to break into a sweat - even though he's just come up from The Triangle - and maybe even up Park Street!) Oh, did I mention it was Spring!

I said it was cycling chick - not cycling check! I wonder where she's off to?

Nice satchel (messenger bag?) and a bright red top (to go with the red bike of course!).

And this guy just looks happy to be on his bike (he stopped and posed for me at the lights later on!)

Whilst not the weather for shorts, with some warm leggings she can still get some wear out of them - and with her calfs exposed she might be able to add a chainwheel tatoo!

There are other ways to be chic - I so wish I could balance like this - I don't think it works from a sitting position on an upright though.

Our chic check chick, back from the shops with some flowers - that's nice.

My dilemma now is whether to wait for better weather or press on regardless! Think I will leave it to Bristol's chic cyclists to decide for me.

"Tra-La-La" .... Spring is here!

2010-03-18T16:00:00.013Z

No - that wasn't me!
- nor the birds!
- but this young woman just enjoying her ride
- until I surprised her by leaping off my bike and taking a photo.

Spring seems to be here at last - though there's still a bit of a chill in the air - so still a need for a coat and some nice bright gloves.
People are getting out and about and enjoying themselves more - cruising through the park at a leisurely pace whilst chatting to a friend

(and of course you know why they're standing up! Just look where the seats are on these bikes!)

And they're not the only fun bikes around - the fixies are doing a few tricks in the park

And doing some messengering in the City. Starting to look a bit more Spring attired - revealing a bit of calf

and the postie can always be relied upon - for a short sleeved look here

whilst the football team go for shorts.

Meanwhile, another type of bike is appearing more and more

These probably represent to some extent the growing number of cycle-train commuters - rather than leave a cycle at home and work localities (and as there is so little room on our trains for taking full sized bikes) - folding bikes are proving very popular - and quite stylish! (Plus they can be taken on buses!)

Across town - the utility bike is growing in popularity - here with the simple addition of a front basket

and a nice bit of style

And talking of style, we still have colour themes going on - bag, trainers and bike - can't just be a coincidence!

and penultimately the picture I was looking for - Chic Spring in the Park (shades included!)

But how long 'till we see the girl in the coat dressed as she is and riding a pedal cycle?

Hopefully it will soon warm up a few degrees and we can dispense with the coats, and the lighter evenings may help us to do without the high viz and just ride about in ordinary clothes.

Next Cycle Chic event

2010-01-30T17:47:00.003Z

JD's going stir crazy at home - according to the recent comment on my blog

Friday, 17 April 2009

Chic bikes

Hi,
Going stir crazy at home. Any plans yet for the next Cycle Chic Saturday ride.?

JD

I suggest you just get out there and do your own thing JD. I have some hefty committments at the moment so this is having to take a bit of a rear-rack. Hopefully starting up again in the Spring.

Meanwhile, if you email info@bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk with what kind of events you're interested in I may be able to pass on some info - or have a look at the bristolcyclingcampaign(.org.uk) website or betterbybike.info

Meanwhile, here's an inspirational pair:

Can you be chic when cycling in traffic?

2009-11-03T23:44:00.016Z

Well, from a single sample survey, I'd have to say "No" or at best "With difficulty".

They all look very .... what? .... "Earnest?" ..... "Serious?" ........don't you think?

Still, the Messenger Bag is still with us and thick tights are very practical given the chill in the air and the boots (no heels!) are looking pretty good.
Also, we have a bit of a "green" theme going on : ....

(Green man - green top!

(well wrapped up - green bag .... and green gloves!!!)

(so what does he have more of - jackets or bikes? ....... and a green shop!)

So, this is meant to be a positive and up-beat blog, but I have to sympathise with these guys:

When cars block the bus lane - the cyclists are squeezed between them and the traffic ... and the bus is held up - and a pleasant ride home turns into a bit of a struggle.

A narrow cycle lane gives a bit of a feeling of security, but even the bus driver can see that he needs to take care.

So on this busy road where space is under contention it seems that cyclists have to be prepared for a bit of a struggle and dress appropriately :-

Meanwhile, an apology to all those chic cyclists cycling around the rest of Bristol ... Your time will come! (And, as I've been mentioning heels - compliments to the original posters elsewhere on the world-wide web:

A taste of things to come? Maybe not just yet - winter is on its way after all!

The Rational Dress Society & Tweed Rides

2009-10-15T18:09:00.004+01:00

An article from one of our followers:

There is a close relationship between style and action. This relationship can become complex when new modes of action emerge amidst an earlier range of styles.

Thus it was when cycling first achieved popularity in what was very much, a horse-drawn society. Men could quite easily mount the bicycle saddle in everyday clothes, or clothes similar to those worn for horse riding. For women the situation was very different, side-saddle on a bicycle is not an option and so, in response to the desire to go cycling, a social revolution was born.

The new activity required a new style of dress and as a result, in the late nineteenth century, a campaign against restrictive clothing was founded: The Rational Dress Society; this campaign for the release of flesh from restrictive garments provided for developments in a wide range of activities including dance and athletics.

Today restriction afflicts us in another form: the commodification of experience implemented through the straightjacket of consumerism, where commercial interests promote not only a particular set of clothes for an activity but a range (if not lifestyle!) of items for small variations within all activities: different clothes and bicycles for different circumstances! And just when you think you’ve got them all, out comes a newer and ‘better’ range.

This close identification between a particular dress style and cycling has become unhelpful and burdensome. Firstly there is the exhaustion caused by all the work that has to be done to earn the money to buy these commodities and the bigger house you’ll need to keep them in. But worse still, it leads to the marginalisation of the activity that is supposed to be facilitated – the activity comes to be seen as being over specialised, the wearing of logo-laden lycra gradually becomes almost mandatory and eventually, because we know it isn’t really necessary, faintly ridiculous!

(Words - Roderic Howard) (Pictures - www.arkitipintel.com)

There is a better way. Come to Bristol Cycling Chic on Saturday 7^th of November. Meet at The Fountains, outside the Hippodrome at 10.30am.

Tweed Rides take place all over the world - here's a link to a Tweed Run in London. How about one in Bristol?

Heels on Bikes

2009-10-15T18:01:00.002+01:00

I've been pondering this for a while - particularly when admiring the Copenhagen Blog. No pictures as yet but a good chat on cyclechic's Facebook Group - I like this one "its much easier cycling in heels than walking in them" - hope to see some heels next time out.

Cycling Chic's back!

2009-10-10T22:40:00.000+01:00

Well, chic cycling in Bristol hasn't been away, I'm sure, but the blog has.
Anyway, we've been out and about trying to catch up for lost time. Had a few trips over here during the summer and managed to grab some pictures which will be added a bit later, but for now here's some up to date Autumnal shots:

So, it's October in Bristol, the leaves are turning and starting to fall, and it's time to start putting coats on as the evenings start to get a bit chilly. You can still ride with style though - nice bike and a relaxed riding position and a contented look on the rider's face (she might not have been quite so happy riding on the cobbles though!) (and those shoulder bags still in evidence).

All in black - nicely matched bike and outfit (with the shoulder bag too!)

The subtle schemes are often the best though - does she have a scarf for every bike or is it the other way round?

Well wrapped up.

And a very elegant pose - the cigarette dangle.

But not everyone is affected by the weather - there's still a bit of summer in the air (and that's a very wistful look!).

And for the men - the classic rolled up shirtsleeves.

Meanwhile, the youth of Bristol have a sense of "any time/ any place" and a splash of colour.

Who wouldn't like to ride on this - but where would you get the outfit to match?

And to cap it all - the chicest guy in town!

Bristol's Copenhagen Hour 2

2009-04-18T18:40:00.005+01:00

'Twas another "Copenhagen Hour" in Bristol and the sun was shining, though still a bit of a chill in the air, so it's still "coats on" and a bit quiet for a Saturday morning. Still some stylish cyclists about though:

If you don't fancy the shoulder bag (see earlier post) you can always pop it in your basket - might also be some room for a bit of shopping. (I wouldn't leave it there in Rome, mind - it wouldn't last long!).

Red shoes and rims - liking it! (I wonder which came first?)

The flowery theme continues ..

These 2 just seem to be having fun - well why not - it's Spring after all.

I'm thinking hat and coat together are going with the shoes - or am I paying too much attention?

Here's red shoes agan - looks like she's heading for home with child and gear in a very useful looking trailer (matching flag too!).

And continuing the red theme! Whilst one glides down Park Street another sees nothing wrong with a spot of walking.Here's a familiar face in the cycling world, just passing by.

Cycling by College Green

2009-04-17T20:40:00.004+01:00

It was a reasonably nice day so I sat on a bench to watch the cyclists go by.

Good to see the postman putting a bike to good use. Quite a smart uniform too! Wonder if he made it all the way up Park Street?

This young lady's got something interesting going on with the headgear and a neat little backpack - better than hanging shopping bags off the handle-bars!

Chic bikes

2009-04-17T19:21:00.001+01:00

So who wouldn't want to be seen on this Schwinn Cruiser - taking cycling to a new level of cool! Trouble is, I don't do green .....

.... maybe just the rims though?

Classic Italian Ladies bike on sale at Bloomsbury (Quakers Friars) for £695 I think.

Mud Dock have some Dutch-style bikes from Trek - that top one will keep your white socks oil-free as well as charging your lights and locking itself (though of course you'll use a D-lock as well I expect!)

Lunchtime in Queens Square (& environs)

2009-04-07T21:09:00.001+01:00

A sunny day just makes you want to get on your bike. Here's a nice mixed bunch of cyclists just enjoying the sights.

A bit of a flowery thing going on here - nicely co-ordinated.

Now my Mother told me never to mix brown with blue - but then we're all individuals!

These shoulder bags are getting very popular - maybe I should try one.

You can just tell that he's going to arrive nice and relaxed for his meeting.

Can be thirsty work cycling though! And is that belt for securing his bike? - hmmm!

Bristol's Copenhagen Hour

2009-04-04T19:30:00.001+01:00

Well, it turns out (!) that Bristol was hosting it's first ever "Copenhagen Hour" when I happened into town this morning. An oportunity for like minded individuals to dress up to the nines and strut (bike-wise) their stuff around the shopping centre of Broadmead. Do I detect co-ordinated legwear and outfit between these two - a turquoise theme going on here perhaps?

Nice attention to detail from this gentleman - matching socks and scarf - and of course it would have been wasted if he had simply used trouser clips or those velcro things!

As you can see - there's a variety of styles.

And some excellent hand signals from the lad in the rear gunner's seat.

And then it was time for coffee and buns in Castle Park - and some water for the hound. Handy having a milk crate on the front of your bike to carry the picnic.

Unfortunately I had a pressing engagement with some litter and graffiti on the Bristol to Bath Path so couldn't stay to enjoy the view.

So that's it started - let's see where we go from here.
(Polite) suggestions welcome.

Utility Bikes

2009-04-04T19:11:00.002+01:00

This bike and trailer is used by Booty the secondhand book and record shop on Colston Street for their Saturday stall along from the Watershed. Booty very kindly host the mailbox for the Bristol Cycling Campaign.Flower deliveries from St.Augustine's Parade?

Bristol Cycling Chic - 1

2009-04-03T21:36:00.000+01:00

So, I think we're getting started - here's a bit of "messenger" style down at the centre.

And this is some cool dude - surely that's a homburg on his head. And that's a classy helmet his little friend is wearing.

So how chic are Bristol's Cyclists?

2009-04-03T19:01:00.000+01:00

They do it elsewhere so I thought I'd take a look at just how chic are the people who cycle in Bristol. Being new to this game it may take a while to take off - first I'm going to have to get some pictures - I suppose I should have thought of that first.
This was my first attempt:
- bit too much shutter delay.
Let's see what the weekend has in store!