biking the city

In the last few years, the city has seen a huge rise in bikers and cyclists. Swarms of peddlers have taken to the streets, multicoloured helmets brightening the dull morning commute like party candy. The streets of London also seem to be the breeding ground for new types of cyclists. Fashionistas and couriers alike are all on wheels. Whereas cycling was until fairly recently one of those things couriers or health & eco conscious people would do, it now seems that every social strata has taken on biking. The streets of London are still rife with bicycle couriers zooming past, avoiding angry taxi drivers and double deckers, making their way through exhaust fumes and central London congestion. With their super lightweight bikes, cool attitude, they can hardly be mistaken. What is new to the streets however, is a curious breed –or rather breeds- of people on bikes. People is used rather liberally, as it really points to quite a few different groups. Fashionistas on their newly acquired bicycle are to me the most fascinating. Obviously well aware of the fitness advantages of cycling (Alice Rawsthorn from the Design Museum, once said it has helped her maintain the body of a 20 year old), these women –and they are mostly women- seem to particularly enjoy their ride, their heads up in a co-ordinated, well studied outfit. Besides, isn’t messy, ‘bed hair’ in fashion right now? From personal experience, they are well-behaved, cautious cyclists, who won’t get too sweaty and will keep to a neat speed in fear of their manolos falling off…. Their ensemble has to be well thought out – suits or tight skirts are out, shorts are definitely in along with cropped trousers and flats. Surely there should be a guideline in Vogue as to what one should/could wear. Or perhaps the fashionista’s biking manifesto? Obviously, cycling isn’t that trendy yet. Well it’s not exactly easy to wear wedges or carry the latest chloe handbag whilst cycling, not yet anyway. Nevertheless, cycling has certainly been embraced by the coolest of the lot and this has definitely helped to bring it back in trend.

Another fairly intriguing type is what I call the hybrid – a fit, health conscious person with all the right gear –the professional ‘tour de france look’- who slips into his standardized work uniform once the destination reached. The tight lycra-clad creature somehow becomes magically transformed into a smart city worker ready for yet another productive day at work. Surely the fresh air and exercise must have some impact on efficiency; has it not been proven that exercise boosts blood circulation, thus pumping fresh blood to the brain and produces endorphins? This surely has to be investigated…

All this cycling can only be good for London –fitter people, lively streets and maybe one day, less traffic and pollution. One can also hope this trend will last. The sights are certainly a delight!