Cape Town cycle chic

Cape Town cycle chic
I’ve been riding back and forth from the Design Indaba on my bike this week, totally whupping cars all the way up Long Street, and feeling very Copenhagen Cycle Chic (see below, but in a sundress and 15 years older).
Bike riding is not huge around these parts, unless you’re male, wearing lycra that matches your buddies’ outfits, and own a bike for which you extended the mortgage without telling your wife.
So I’m on a mini mission to up the glamour quotient of bike riding in central Cape Town, always making sure I’m wearing a pretty dress, nice shoes and lipstick. The helmet rather ruins the overall look, unfortunately, but as most drivers appear to be brain dead or on the phone (it’s the same thing, right?), and our traffic officers are too busy scoffing the snacks on movie shoots to enforce cellphone laws, it’s pretty much a no brainer.

And while I’m feeling smug about my occasional well-dressed sojourns on my bike, I just have to add that my fella is the real deal. Come rain or shine, he’s off on his single speed every single day, and right now is riding a long and arduous race on another of his single speeds. What a guy.

Anyway, the purpose of these rambles, and the gorgeous poster at the top by Nick Dewar – available for free download from ReadyMade – is to encourage other people to also get about on their bikes. In my algebra of life, I reckon the more of us there are, the less likely the cars will hit us, as we’ll be more present in their consciousness (such as it is). Also, if you look nice, drivers might notice you and remember not to turn out in front of you. Capetonians, visit the adorable Hello Again shop just near the Jardine bakery for cute and cool bike-related inspiration.