Bike Chicks
It is a truth unilaterally acknowledged that a pretty girl in a dress on an old bicycle fitted with a woven basket sporting a straw hat is one of the most pleasing sights on Canberran roads, as scarce as such a mode of transportation may be, since it is not technically legal (though some might argue that anything after the word “pretty” is somewhat redundant, but that’s beside the point).
Need some proof? Visit the “social documentary in high heels”. Real snaps of real people riding real bikes in a real city. It emphasises an aspect of cycling no longer taken for granted by many Australians - that cycling should still be a legitimate form of transportation, and can be done with style, and more importantly, without fear of intimidation from other road users. Granted that the subjects are rather selective on the part of the photographers, but it is no surprise that there are a lot less obesity in Denmark than in Australia. It is common sense that the more you move the more energy you burn, and incorporating exercise into daily commutes gives you very little chance to talk yourself out of doing it - you gotta get there somehow! After a while it will no longer seem like a hassle, and you’ll start to enjoy it.
On a side note, to me, there’s something intrinsically elegant about the classic step-through ladies’ roadster. It is somewhat out of fashion these days - or at least so in Australia, where it is difficult to find one new regardless of make. There’s one based in Melbourne selling Indian ones, and also Swedish makes such as Skeppshult & Kronan are also available, but the better alternative might be keeping an eye out on eBay & your local classifieds, especially if you are just starting out or want something to customise with, you can pick one up second-hand for well under $100 in pretty good nick, usually with full mudguards & rear rack, and full chain guard if you’re real lucky. Designs such as these are perfect cases where aesthetics triumphed along with functionality, regardless of any structural and/or performance disadvantages it may have compared with modern women’s bikes, which are conceptually identical to men’s bikes with subtle differences in sizing. Take these for example:
_13.jpg "Audrey Hepburn - Marco’s High Quality Movie Scans - http://www.doctormarco.com")
Okay, okay, it IS after all Audrey Hepburn AND a puppy, and Audrey Hepburn AND/OR a puppy driving a Hummer would probably still be cute - but it certainly won’t be nearly as graceful. If pictures like this makes cycling more popular, then we need a lot more of them. Sure, like all forms of propaganda, it is just a carefully choreographed idealisation, but apart from visual appeal, it is what is embodied (or envisaged) in such idealisations that makes it beautiful, looking sexy is just an added bonus. Besides, I don’t see any harm using such method of promotion as the aim is actually quite beneficial for the individual & the community in general - and nowhere as misleading & misrepresented as ads for fashion, sports cars, fast food, soft drink, alcohol, cosmetics, electronics, laundry products, ad infinitum.
Tags: Bike, Cute!, Fashion, Rant
Great commentary on the aesthetic aspects of consumerist propaganda, with the understanding that the images in question represent presumably ‘good’ propaganda. As a male with decent vision, it’s not difficult to understand the inherent beauty of a woman on a simple bicycle.
Thanks for your comment, ek. It’s nice to know there’s more people with the same predilections towards certain types of beauty.
Had look at your site, you have some beautiful things in your shop - love the saddle on that swiss army bike! :-)
Kia ora from New Zealand
I’ve been putting this web-site together to provide a resource for people wanting to promote or take up utility cycling in New Zealand ( where the conditions are pretty similar for cyclists in Australia )
http://urbanbicycles.googlepages.com/home
The web-site provides links to where utility-style bicycles and associated technologies can be obtained in New Zealand (and overseas) and to initiatives by Local Governments, organisations, companies or individuals that are setting precedents which others can follow.
Familiarising ourselves with utility-style bicycles and their associated technologies and the practices and policies that have enabled the uptake of utility cycling in European Cycletopias is a first step in enabling us to make the change away from our dependence on car(bon burner)s.
Making utility cycling practical, practicable and preferable to the broadest possible demographic range will help to build the numbers needed to ensure real political support for the establishment of a cycling-friendly environment.
Naku noa .
Alan Preston
Christchurch,
New Zealand.
urbanbicycles@gmail.com
http://utilitycyclism.blogspot.com/
G’day!
For those old fashioned bikes there are a couple of Swedish brands, both sold in Melbourne: Kronans and Skeppshults.
Kronan bikes have a store a few steps from Greville Street in Prahran and Skeppshults doesn’t have a store of its own but check the website cos they are sold in a few stores around melbourne. I saw one today at Great Dane Furniture, Commercial road Prahran, though mainly as a special feature in the window. Great Dane doesn’t sell the bikes per se…. But they are VERY good quality so you gotta see them.
http://www.kronan.com/Australia or
www.kronancycles.com.au
Shop 4, 155 Greville St.
Prahran, Victoria 3181
Australia
Tel: +61 415304117
For Skeppshults bikes, go to
http://www.cykla.com.au/
for more info.
Cool, thanks for the info, M! I’ve added them to the article. I love the headbadge for the Skeppshult!
I’ve got a little Swedish folder made by Crescent from the 60s which is really cute, too. But damn it’s heavy! :-)
Hey everyone!
Was super interested when i found this blog as i’m a swede in melbourne, and was looking for one of the ‘traditional step-through’ bikes like i have at home in stockholm.
I checked out both the skeppshult & kronan bikes and i have to be honest. I really liked the skeppshult but for it’s $3000 price tag, i just don’t the point. The kronan bikes are around $900/$1000 and are of similar quality and have WAY more colours. Also when i asked both suppliers when i could get a bike skeppshult said up to 3 months, while kronan said i could have got it that day.
So i hoped i’ve helped anyone out that was looking for a similar bike, as i was :)
Cool, What a great christmas present! $1000 is much more reasonable, still not exactly cheap but who cares when it’s that cute - that’s +1 for style on melburnian roads.
And isn’t it nice to have dealers that are actually keen to sell you something? :-D
Have fun riding!
Hello Everyone
Just letting you know that Great Dane in Prahran (along with Great Dane in Sydney and Brisbane) do indeed sell Skeppshult bicycles and there is a slight exaggeration in their price and availablilty.
The 7 speed Natur retails for $1990 and all colours are in stock and have been available since early December. Who would buy something if you had to wait 3 months?
I am always looking for unusal investmetent opportunities. What are the resale values of these bikes and what would be the likely historical value of some of the older bikes after restoration?
http://www.investmentinformation.freedvd.com.au