Classy Sunday

Where is this well-clad couple heading? The opera? The ball? A wedding? Where ever it is, they’re getting there in style.
by Meredith

 

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!

Sunglasses are sexy!

Is it finally time to (really) break out the sun wear? To roll up our sleeves? Leave the heavy coats at home? Wait, wait–maybe even gloves too?!? These Amsterdammers think so. I was convinced spring was never going to come, but with this sunny, 20-degree weather, I think it’s finally here. It’s definitely time to celebrate with a breezy bike ride through my favorite cycling city!

So get out those sexy sunglasses, I think there’s more sun in store…

by Meredith

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?

Sunny Sunday!

Hey! Where are you going with that leek?! Come to my house and cook! Where ever this handsome chap is heading, looks like he’ll be sharing a lovely meal.

Any groceries in your bike basket today?

by Meredith

PS. Thanks to Joni for snapping up this pic!

 

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?

Bici-chic in Spain

Over the long weekend, I headed to Spain for some much-needed R&R. I found some super chic folks using Barcelona’s Bicing bike-share system. Then over in San Sebastian, great weather allowed for some smiling riders. What a fantastic city with cycle paths that rival Amsterdam’s for sure!

by Meredith

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!

Cyclist of the Month: Vitor from Recycled Bicycles

Please meet Vitor, a Portuguese bike fanatic who owns and runs Recycled Bicycles here in Amsterdam. He grew up in Lisbon  and has been BMX riding since he could pedal a bike. I meet him at his workshop on Spuistraat one rainy day to chat about his shop and his passion for bikes.

How did you end up here in Amsterdam?

I came here for a visit in the early 90s and loved the cycling culture. In ’96 a friend of mine was living here, so I crashed at his place for a month and really got to know the city. I moved here shortly after.

When did you start up Recycled Bicycles?

In around 2002, I was sick of the menial jobs I was doing at the time, tired of working for someone else too. Since I’m a BMX rider I’ve always been around bikes–I love fixing up my own bike and I was already helping out friends too. So I started up the shop to build bikes in 2003. We’ll be celebrating 10 years next month!

Where do get all the parts of the bikes?

When I opened the shop, I built all the bikes from abandoned parts on the streets.But one day, the police came knocking on my door and told me I couldn’t use the abandoned parts from the street or in the trash–that it’s illegal to go through the trash and take home parts of bikes. So now I have to buy the bikes from the Gemeente, like everyone else. I wish they had a better system for the small businesses like mine; I’m competing with so many larger businesses that have much more money.

What is the bike culture like in Lisbon?

Different from Amsterdam, but growing every day. There are many more people on bikes now–not just for exercise, they are going from A to B. One day we’ll see some fietspad in Lisbon…

Do you have other hobbies besides BMX and building bikes?

I also play bike polo. It’s a tight-knit sport right now, just a small group of us here in Amsterdam play, but it’s gaining momentum. I also want to get more into long-distance riding. I did a ride from Paris to Lisbon, and it was an epic journey. I want to do it again, but on a fixed gear bike this time.

Thank you Vitor! Keep on building those bikes.

by Meredith