The Cycle Chic guy

I have my ticket for Mikael's talk in Melbourne on the 24th!!

Here is a little video of Mikael talking about .... yes , you guessed it ... bicycles

Tricycles and Cargo bikes

A couple of recent conversations have got me thinking. It involves the integration of two separate cycling topics.

1. Firstly, in Denmark (arguably the cycling capital of the world) one of the big trends in recent years has been cargo bikes. These are very popular with young families and are considered 'cool'.
2. Secondly, our compulsory helmet laws only apply to bicycles (two wheels) and not to cycles with one, three or more wheels.

So the thought hit me that those of us who would like to legally choose when to wear a helmet while cycling might be able to somehow wiggle through this gap in our fickle helmet law.

I quickly dismissed the unicycle option and placed it in the 'too hard basket' and moved on to the tricycle option. This raises the question "what is the legal definition of a tricycle"? Is there one? Well obviously a tricycle requires three wheels but how big does the third wheel have to be? Does it even need to touch the ground? I am presuming that it has to be an integral part of the vehicle and not simply a 'bolt on'. Ideas anyone?

Of the dictionary definitions I have unearthed most identify a tricycle (or trike) as "a vehicle with three wheels" and not much more. They can be powered with your feet or hands, or a motor. Three wheeled cycles fall into categories such as cargo bike (two wheels at front), and rickshaw or pedicab, recumbent and classic tricycle (two wheels at back). I have pretty much discounted pedicabs and recumbents as I think I would have trouble getting them in my apartment lift. But there are distinct possibilities with tricycles and cargo bikes.

Cool

Not cool

(photos courtesy of Copenhagen Cycle Chic)

In NZ tricycles have a bad rap as vehicles for the disabled but realistically the only difference that I can see from cargo bikes is the position of the twin wheels ... so, tricycles are available in NZ but, the million dollar question is, "is it possible to make a tricycle cool?" Three wheeled cargo bikes are not available in NZ (as far as I know) so the questions there are "how hard can it be to put the wheels on the front?" and "can we start a cargo bike trend in NZ?"

We even have a company that makes tricycles in NZ - I wonder whether they would be interested in becoming 'cool' and positioning themselves in the front row for the next big cycling trend on this side of the globe?

It's just a thought .....

Lost for words

Sometimes, I find it hard to explain to non-cyclists what I love about it.

Here is one of the things I love about cycling ...

Italy

I received these gorgeous photos from a Heather Lyon a few days back. The weather is wet and cold here in Auckland so this is a nice respite. Heather says:

"I've just spent a few days in Padova, Italy (a mostly-flat) university town 40km west of Venice (pop. around 220,000)...as a life-long cyclist it was fantastic to see EVERYONE on cycles, going about their everyday business...men in suits, women in dresses, grannys' shopping at the market, young students, families and even nuns. I found taking photos of them quite addictive...but many of the best photo opportunities had sped by, by the time I had my camera ready!"

We're famous I tell you, famous!!

The Frocks have made it to the big time. Some of us are centre spread (well one of them) of Next magazine for July!!!

Pick up your copy, chocked full of Frockilicious glamour, today!

(please excuse my daughters finger tips on this image but one thing I have discovered is that one's centre spreads are very difficult to photograph - she said in a very diva-ish way)

Bikes in the city

What I love about Auckland is that even in Winter the weather is mild and often sunny ... and bicycles are perfect for enjoying both.

Very nice - did I mention that bicycles are also 'green'

And then of course we are blessed with a fabulous waterfront for cycling along

And you can't beat bicycles for shopping

Or just enjoying the city.

Now they've upgraded Symonds street, it's really quite nice to cycle along ... as long as you stay on the pavement!! Those combined bus/bicycle lanes are a bitch!

But the pavements are really quite nice now and there are handy zebra crossings most of the way up!

Friday!

Friday video - nice tune, pretty girl.

Happy Queen's birthday weekend!!!

Bags and bicycles

Some say diamonds are a girls best friend ... but I say

"Get a bike!"

Handlebars and handbags ... a match made in heaven!

Here again ... handlebars are just sooo handy

I wonder if 'drop' handlebars are called that because they aren't very good at retaining bags placed in their care?