Spring
Posted by Stijn | Filed under Kortrijk
It’s the beginning of a new Cycle Chic era
Tags: folding bike, Kortrijk, spring
Folding biker goes fluo
Posted by Stijn | Filed under Kortrijk
Tags: fluo, folding bike, Kortrijk
Foldie & fixie
Posted by Stefan | Filed under Leuven
Meanwhile in Leuven.
photo by Erik Daems
Tags: fixed gear, fixie, folding bike, Leuven
An easy Commute
Posted by | Filed under Antwerp
Tags: Antwerp, commuting, folding bike, Meir
A bicycle to go shopping with…
Posted by Stijn | Filed under abroad, design
Meet the Ville, a foldable bicycle that can easily be transformed into a shopping cart. It’s designed by Hyuk Jae Chang, who won the bronze medal with it at the IDEA Design Awards. The idea is simple. You ride to the shop, fold the bike and do your groceries with it. Unfold the bike when you finished shopping and of you go!
Thanks to Weekend Knack
Tags: award, bicycle design, folding bike, Hyuk Jae Chang, shopping, ville
Sigur Ros & Brompton
Posted by Stefan | Filed under abroad, video
Here’s a silly little gem I found on youtube: Sigur Ros having a bit of typical tour fun with some Brompton folding bikes in Montreal, Canada.
Gotta love Sigur Ros. Yep.
Tags: Brompton, folding bike, Montreal, music, Sigur Ros, video
Fold your bike, not your chic
Posted by Stefan | Filed under Ghent
Another lovely shot by Hans D.
Tags: folding bike, Ghent
Futuristic coolness
Posted by Stefan | Filed under Ghent
At the risk of sounding rather gay, I would like to say that this shot, sent in to us by Hans Dekeyser, is tight. I’d almost say as tight as the guy’s black jeans around his bum, but that would be maybe, well, a tad bit too gay.
In his mail he states he had to react really quick, so the image was completely over-exposed. But I actually digg the over-exposure, giving the shot this futuristic tight – there’s that word again – look. Especially combined with the specific frame of his folding bike, the clothes he wears and the baldness he sports.
photo Hans Dekeyser
Tags: folding bike, Ghent
A folding bike is as simple as that
Posted by | Filed under Brussels
Step 1: unfold it
Step 2: get on it
Step 3: ride it (Pay attention for pedestrians)
And you’re of
Tags: Brussels, folding bike
Velo-city: on bicycle marketing
Posted by Stefan | Filed under Brussels, marketing
So this week Brussels is hosting Velo-city, the international cycling conference. The baseline of the conference is re-cycling the city. And Brussels, mind you, really needs to re-cycle. The overall comment we were hearing was how odd it was that a city that isn’t really known for his bicycle culture is hosting such an important conference, despite good efforts from Brussels minister Pascal Smet. But hey, at least he is putting in the effort.
We were there to follow the session on bicycle marketing and communication. Because everybody knows cycling is the green and the healthy thing to do. But that doesn’t result in everybody riding the bike in the city. So what is needed?
According to Guillaume Van der Stighelen, one of the founding fathers of award winning advertising agency Duval Guillaume and author of the brilliant book Maak van je merk een held.
Guillaume’s insights on how to market cycling, was actually right up our alley. Or sort of, anyways. Present cycling as the chic thing to do, Guillaume suggested. Make it about status. If you want to get people out of their posh BMW’s and Mercedeses, you have to take it to the next level.
His example: if you are succesful and you can afford a BMW, you want to be in it. You want to be seen in it. Flaunt it. But if you really are succesful, you can afford yourself the luxury of buying yourself a classy Italian bicycle and leave that fancy car in the garage. Status.
Guillaume also thinks there is a huge role in this story for bicycle manufacturers. But they don’t seem to see that opportunity. And that, Guillaume concludes, is a crying shame. They, if anyone, have the means to turn cycling into a healthy, fresh fun and above all classy.
Guillaume, being a huge Brompton fan – fan of the bikes, not their marketing – had this scenario in mind:
Imagine the airport. Next to all the cars pulling up, there comes a guy on a Brompton, with a stylish Brompton case, completely shaped in that custom Brompton style. Practical and classy. People will notice you.
So there are opportunities. But according to Guillaume Van der Stighelen, the manufacturers just need to step up.
On our way back we ran across this girl, being very cool on a Brompton.
We also met up with Mikael Colville-Andersen, the man behind Copenhagen Cycle Chic and Copenhagenize. He also had other, but just as interesting views on bicycle marketing. More about our meet tomorrow!
Tags: advertising, Brussels, conference, folding bike, Guillaume Van der Stighelen, marketing, Velo-city
