Business delivery
by Aude
I just loved these blues-brother-like guys, appearing on the borders of the Amstel river. It made me wonder, though: are they just colleagues on their way to have a drink or is this a smart dressed entrepreneur, taking his client out for lunch to one of the nicer restaurants on the borders of the Amstel. In any case, you must have a good deal of self-confidence to sit on the front seat of a bike like this, because a clumsy fall of the bike in front of a fully occupied terrace does not really match with this cool image!
Boy in the back seat
Getting your two kids on your bike can be quite a balancing act. Check out how this dad gets his son in the back seat. He clearly does this more often!
Red Bike Sunday
I have a red bike, so I’m always on the look-out for fellow red-bike-lovers. These three hip ladies all look spring-tastic on their red bikes! Listening to music, sporting the bright green bike bell and yellow pants, thigh-highs, skirts and heels–nice. Keep riding those red bikes!
by Meredith
3 bikes that made me smile
This May is very grey. It is cold, rainy and windy. Luckily some people make the city less grey by pimping their bikes. They paint them, decorate them with flowers, or other objects.
These are my three favourite bikes of this month:
Rubber Duckie Bike
Colourful Tape Bike
Piggy Cargo Bike
Amsterdammers taking it easy
In one week we had many festivities in Amsterdam; on the 30th of April Queensday and the coronation of the new king; on the 4th of May the Remembrance of the Death at Dam square and on the 5th of May both Liberation Day and the championship celebrations of Amsterdam’s football club Ajax.
After all these celebrations, with many people in the streets from all over the world, we are now taking it easy. Just enjoying the city and reliving about all the beautiful festivities.
The Amstel river was full of boats. Not only on Queensday Amsterdammers love to go dancing and drinking on their boats. Also Liberation Day is a busy day for the river. Every year there is a concert on the river. King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and former Queen Beatrix came to listen and many Amsterdammers joined them on their boats. Now rest has returned, this guy only saw one sightseeing boat when he crossed the famous skinny bridge.
On Queensday the Vondelpark is full of family fun. The park is turned into a big freemarket place. There are many activities for kids like face-painting, games and musical and theatrical performances. But also in the most famous park of Amsterdam, rest has returned. This guy is enjoying an easy cycle through the park.
How Cycle Chic is the new king?
As you probably have heard; we have a new king! On Tuesday the ceremony of the abdication and the coronation (without a crown though) took place in Amsterdam. Prince Willem-Alexander (also known as ‘Prins Pils = Prince Pilsener’) is now king Willem-Alexander and his Argentinian born wife, Máxima, is Queen Máxima.
For Amsterdam Cycle Chic the first question that arose was of course; how cycle chic are the new king and queen? As a royal couple you usually are very chic, but do they also cycle chic? We found the following pictures of the King and Queen on bikes. What do you think? Quite cycle chic eh?!
The king of the Netherlands cycling in a suit
Dutch Royal family on bikes
Royal family cycling with a cargo bike
Queen Máxima on a bike
The Dutch king and queen on their bikes
King Willem-Alexander as a boy
Cycling with Job, former mayor of Amsterdam
Paddy and Philip from the blog Cycling with… went for a cycle with Job Cohen, former mayor of Amsterdam. On a sunny day, Job told them a lot about the history of Amsterdam, about living cities and about interesting things that happened during his time as mayor.
Job Cohen was Amsterdam’s mayor for more than 8 years, he was the first to wed a same sex couple and he was awarded with the title European Hero by Time Magazine.
So sit down and relax and let Job take you for a spin through the Westerpark, de grachtengordel (the old canals) and along the river Amstel…
Cycling with Job from Paddy Cahill on Vimeo.
Ten minutes in an Amsterdam window
Let me invite you to Amsterdam, to have a look out of my window. Every minute at least one chic cyclist is passing by. Having a Cycle Chic blog in Amsterdam is therefore not too difficult, almost any cyclist is a chic cyclist.
Please enjoy, ten minutes hanging out of an Amsterdam window:
1st minute: Father cycling with baby
2nd minute: Cool cap
3rd minute: Checking out the neighbours
4th minute: No hands!
5th minute: Doubling
6th minute: Smoking a cigarette
7th minute: Taking your bike for a walk
8th minute: Cargo bike and cargo bike
9th minute: Too cool for school
10th minute: Strong sun
Hope you enjoyed your ten minutes in Amsterdam. Don’t you love the cyclists, the sun and the cyclists’ shadows on the pavement? Please come again soon!
Two people, one bike
Imagine: you are with two people, you have one bike, and you want to go to a friend’s birthday party. What would you do? You could of course leave the bike and go walking, go by car or take a tram. But you can also be inspired by these Amsterdammers and go together on one bike.
We show you five different ways to share a bike (also called doubling). No special seats or cargo bikes needed!
1. Sit on the back carrier (one leg at each side).
Sitting on the back carrier is the most common way to cycle together. Men normally sit with one leg at each side
2. Sit on the back carrier (two legs to the same side)
This is the version that women like best.
3. Sit on the front carrier
A very popular way amongst Amsterdams youth. (Don’t try this with a heavy person).
4. Stand on the rear carrier
For a good view. Like this son on the back of his fathers bike.
5. Sit on the rear carrier facing backwards
Not a very clear picture. They went too fast and I don’t see this way very often. We actually do not know why you would do this. Maybe when the person cycling doesn’t smell too good, or you prefer looking at the streets instead of looking at a back?
There are a lot of other ways to cycle together on one bike (sit on the crossbar, on the handlebars, or on the saddle). Take a look at more pics in this Cycle Chic Republic post.
Now, after being inspired by these cyclists from Amsterdam would you take a bike together?
Bike crate
You probably already noticed it on our blog, but to have a crate on the front of your bike is really trendy in Amsterdam! Hardly any cute baskets in the streets just cool and sturdy crates, in different colours, sometimes branded or full of stickers. What do you think of this trend?
Sunny Easter Sunday
Easter started with snow this year. Luckily the sun soon came through and turned this Easter Sunday into the first real day of spring.
By Joni
Senior Cycle Chic
In Amsterdam people of all ages cycle. Last week we saw ladies with their babies on bikes, we have seen young kids cycling and trendy students. This week we show you chic cyclists with grey hair. Aren’t they stylish and fit? I guess cycling keeps you young!
Ladies with babies
Before kids can cycle themselves, they have already been on a bike many times. Dads and mums take them in a carrier, a child seat or in the cargo bike and cycle them around. To daycare, to the supermarker or just for a relaxed ride through town. Kids love it. You see them looking around, enjoying the speed when cycling down a bridge or just sleeping like angels.
by Joni
Blonde Sunday
Who doesn’t like a blonde on a bike? Nice flowing hair. Great upright posture. Can’t go wrong.
by Meredith
OV chic
Heels, tights, and sub-zero weather–a great combination. This girl proves that you can still be chic on the OV Fiets.
But really, Amsterdam, who’s ready for spring?! I know I am.
by Meredith
From art student to artist!
It seems our last post has inspired our dear blog readers, or at least my mother (Merci Maman!) who sent me this nice picture of the artist Fabien Nissels:
Photo by Fabien Nissels – Post by Aude
As perfectly explained on the Visual News website: “If you liked playing with Mr. Potato Head as a kid, then you will love this new project by photographer Fabien Nissels. By photographing each of his friend’s body parts at different angles then printing them out on life size cubes, he created a modular man with lots of hilarious options. They positioned the pieces in various poses in a myriad of locations and the result was quite entertaining. According to Nissels, “There is no photoshop cheating, our modular man really went to all these places and always asked for souvenir pictures, except maybe the one when he was on the toilets.” Check out the rest of the collection on Nissels’ website.”
The art student
by Aude
How do I know she is an art student? Easy: the black tube she wears is used to carry her drawings. I wish I could see her work! She was cycling in West but I would not be surprised if she studies at the opposite side of Amsterdam, at the famous art school the Rietveld Academie.
Sunday Snuggle
Snowy days are perfect for snuggling up to your loved one. Even on a bike! ♥
by Meredith
Mohawks ride faster
There’s so much going on here. First of all, the mohawk. (No, it wasn’t just the wind). Awesome! Then the Louis bag. Classy. Bright blue jeans? Totally hot. Old school Nike’s. Yes, love it. Slick wheels–obvi. Should I expect anything less in the 9 Streets?!
I don’t think so.
by Meredith
The best car is a bike!
Why not make gorgeous bicycles out of old cars? Lola Madrid, a Spanish creative agency, decided to design their version of the perfect bike, and for materials, they are using parts from a junkyard.
“Bicycled is not only a new type of bike, it is also a return to the roots of biking. It’s a handmade bike created specially by bicycle shop owners. Those fantastic creatures that are about to become extinct.”
Each Bicycled Bike is unique: “Because every Bicycled is made out of real car parts, there won’t be two of a kind. That’s the key to a product designed to use as much car waste as it can.”
Watch here the video of the construction process:
It’s a smart way to use materials that would otherwise be rusting outside, and a great way to imagine the future…
by Aude
Flirty Sunday
Flirt tip #17: Get a cute dog. And like a good-sized one (nothing against little dogs!). Put him in your bike basket. Roll up to cute blondes. Make them smile.
Now that’s a flirty Sunday.
by Meredith
