BrandAlley

Women’s cycling is hot news in the UK right now. So too is bicycle chic – riding your bike in urban landscapes, wearing fashionable clothes and accessories. We’re not talking lycra-clad, sporty types here, but everyday cyclists who use the roads as a catwalk, showing off their unique, individual looks. And you can’t help noticing that there are lots of very stylish cyclists pedalling around Britain’s city streets!

It’s all part of a growing global trend started by blogger Mikael Colville-Andersen in 2006.  The term ‘Cycle Chic’ was coined for his site, Copenhagen Cycle Chic, which documents his daily shots of the bike-friendly city’s most fabulous cyclists. There’s even a Cycle Chic Manifesto, with gems like, ‘At every opportunity, I will choose style over speed’, ‘I will ride with grace, elegance and dignity’ and ‘ Allowing my bike to upstage me is unacceptable.’

Getting from A to B using pedal power is a chic pursuit in UK fashion circles too. After all, it’s sustainable, cheap, healthy and practical.  Model Agyness Deyn is famous for cycling between Fashion week shows on her beloved Electra Amsterdam and eco-friendly Vivienne Westwood on her trusty Pashley is a familiar sight too. Their sit-up-and-beg granny bikes are really popular and as they’re not designed to go fast, fashion-conscious cyclistas can pootle around happily in high heels without working up a sweat. Which makes being stylish on two wheels a whole lot easier!

Talking of cycle fashion, there are all sorts of gorgeous accessories around, like classic wicker baskets for your flowers and bike helmets you’re actually happy to wear to stay safe on city streets. Skateboarding-style Bern helmets, like the one pictured here from cyclechic.co.uk, have even appeared in Vogue. Check out cyclechic.co.uk’s ‘Hot in a Helmet Gallery’ on their popular London Cycle Chic blog too. Founder Caz Nicklin is ‘on a mission this summer to rid the bike helmet of its geeky image, championing it as a fashion accessory not a fashion crime’.

Cycling gloves are important as well, because if you fall off, you instinctively put your hands out to stop yourself. And who says they’re all ugly? Just look at these adorable Bow-Peep retro-style gloves from Ana Nichoola’s Ride Lovely range.

You can read great reviews on cycle-chic products and lots more at Vélo-City-Girl where Londoner, Jools Walker (aka Lady Vélo) blogs beautifully about cycling and fashion. And for more top bike-style blogs, click here.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out on your bike and ride safely in style.

Jo x

Picture credits:  Topshop’s cycle-chic club via killahbeez.com, Cycle Seven, Vivienne Westwood – photo via A P Photo, Agness Deyn via BNA Australian Cycling Forum, Classic wicker basket and Bern Lenox turquoise helmet via cyclechic.co.uk, Bow-Peep red gloves from the Ride Lovely range via ananichoola.co.uk.