Can you be chic when cycling in traffic?

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

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

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!

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

'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

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

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)

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

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.