An Ottawa Cycle Chic week

May long-weekend

Cruising along the river Lovely rose-coloured classic Biking in heels on the Bixi

A Lovely day in May. We had a little picnic along the canal on Sunday and this is some of what we saw. Bike: Blue Pashley Classic Dutch bike A sporty look Stripes on a Capital Bixi

A warm fall day

This photo should help balance out my male-female ratio of chic cyclists photos. Surely even the helmet afficionados would admit this photo wouldn't work with helmets.

Bikes: Capitale Bixi





A glorious fall day (27 degrees celcius!) and everyone was outdoors.
Bikes: Schwinn and Raleigh



I did a double take when I saw this bike. Exactly like the first bike I ever bought though I think she has swapped out the drop bars for straight ones.
Bike: Sekine



Switching gears
Bike: Bianchi



Bike: Marin

Action at the Bixi station

Apparently a stumbling block for setting up bike-share programs is what to do about helmets. I think we have the answer here.

Bike share mystery

Friends enjoying Capitale Bixi




What is a bikeshare bike from Arlington Virginia doing in the city of Ottawa? This little mystery started about a month ago when an Ottawa Bixi was spotted in Montreal. Shortly thereafter I spotted a Bixi from Melbourne in the market area. This was followed by both Toronto and Montreal Bixi sightings here in the downtown. So, what is that all about? Well, it turns out as part of the promotion for the Bixi world bikeshare program, they are placing bikes all over the world to show the international flavour of the Bixi system. I think it's rather fun!

Quick update...this afternoon I spotted a Barklay's bike from London!

Sunday cycling

Cornering the market on a Schwinn





Heading to Quebec on a Bixi

Ottawa Bixi

Lowertown Bixi

Capitale Bixi launches in Ottawa

Capitale Bixi started up last week under slightly dreary weather but it did nothing to dampen the spirits of those test riding the bixis. Ottawa Cycle Chic was there to capture the moment.



Bixi chic!



Ottawa Cycle Chic found the colour scheme of our Capitale Bixis to be very appropriate for the Nation's capital.

Capital chic!

What better time to launch Ottawa Cycle Chic than the May holiday long weekend. Glorious weather and bicycles everywhere! In addition, we launched Capitale Bixi this past week and the bike-share plan is off to a great start with red and white Bixis spotted all over the streets and pathways.




Lovely lady on a Skeppshult Natur


I first noticed the cycle chic style in Ottawa during the summer of 2009, but it wasn't until last summer that chic cyclists were seen more often. This summer it has really taken off. Upright bikes have obviously found their way out of cellars and garages and maybe a mountain bike or two has been parked. I've seen Pashleys, Multicycles and Adriaticas popping up along the canal pathways and on our city streets. No longer a head-turning occasion but now part of the everyday scene in Ottawa...as it should be.



Gent on a Pashley