Check out this inspiring article in The Independent on Sunday Magazine by Robin Barton on 18th October 2009. “On your bike: What the world can learn about cycling from Copenhagen”, talks about how Copenhagen is bursting with eco-friendly solutions that the world’s leaders would benefit from taking a closer look at when they arrive in the city for COP15, the UN’s Climate Change Conference in December.

Whilst in Copenhagen the journalist, Robin Barton, stopped by the Velorbis flagship store for a visit and an interview with Velorbis founding partner Ken Bødiker.  Robin writes the following about Velorbis...

”Surprisingly, for a city with as many bicycles as people, Copenhagen's most fashionable bike company began life in London.  He'd noticed that his native Copenhagen had something to export to London: a culture of urban cycling. Three years later and Bødiker has opened a flagship store in sedate Frederiksberg and exports his German-made town bikes to the UK, US and Australia.

He lends me a Scrap Deluxe, a pepped-up, Dutch-style model with lights, mudguards, a rack and kickstand that counts Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers among its owners, and I set off to discover how Copenhagen is offering a vision of the 21st-century city.”

The article also talks about urban sustainability in various areas of the city and Copenhagen cycling culture in general. Read The Independent on Sunday article in full.

This really interesting article by Christina Passariello in the Wall Street Journal Fashion section – “New cyclist styles pedal their way into Paris” – mentions how the new wave bicycle revolution is continuing full steam ahead, intertwining fashion and cycling as one statement.

The cool cycling culture that started in Copenhagen is now gathering momentum in Paris. It seems that arriving fashionably late on two stylish wheels is the new vogue, with many fashion editors and models predicted to do just that at Paris Fashion Week.

Paris has also introduced a bike share scheme (Vélib') to encourage more people to cycle. Copenhagen Cycle Chic has an article that talks about how the city is being transformed and how the Parisians are embracing urban cycle style in a convenient social context just like Copenhageners.

Velorbis is pleased to sponsor The Slow Bicycle Movement, founded in Copenhagen by Mikael Colville-Andersen; often referred to as the leading ambassador of Copenhagen cycling culture.

“Style over speed” is its ethos. Just shift the gears into full-time cruise control and enjoy the actual cycling experience.

There have been some really fun slow bicycle races in various cities around the world since 2008 such as London, Chicago, New Orleans, etc., with the cool concept filtering into other aspects of daily life for an utterly de-stressed way of life. It’s amazing how chilled-out people can get.

Velorbis Scrap Deluxe gents bicycle took part in the Copenhagen Slow Bicycle Race earlier this year – Copenhagenize vs Amsterdamize - and was the proud winner of this challenge. See video footage on The Slow Bicycle Movement blog.

It was nice to see another great city like the ‘Big Apple’ adopting a piece of Copenhagen cycling culture. The recent article in The New York Times - “Whose bike are you wearing?”on 9th September 2009 – brilliantly highlighted how retro style classic bicycles have become an accessory for life and an extension of your personality. Just like fashion or home furnishings; the bicycle brand you choose reflects your style standpoint.

More importantly it illustrates how cycling and style can be conveniently integrated into everyday life, whether taking the daily commute or taking a leisurely cruise to the deli. This green transport option is a win, win.

Copenhageners have been doing this for years.
It’s what inspires Velorbis and our designer classic bicycle icons.
Good to see this positive influence spreading around the world!

Velorbis’s iconic ‘lady in red’; the Dannebrog classic bicycle, was unveiled in London during a recent stage of the Dreams on Wheels tour – the unique exhibition that focuses on the bicycle as an important cultural icon.

The Dannebrog classic ladies bicycle joins the other members of the Velorbis bicycle family: Victoria Classic ladies and Churchill Classic gents models, Churchill Balloon gents and Scrap Deluxe gents; who have been on tour around the world as part of the Dreams on Wheels exhibition since January 2009. Previous stops have been other great global cities such as Edinburgh, Riga, Moscow, Tokyo and Sydney.

Dreams on Wheels comprises a moving installation that promotes Danish cycling culture as a viable public transportation alternative. The concept is that by drawing on, learning from and applying the Danish cycling model, urban cities around the world can adopt a more cycle-friendly approach, infrastructure and lifestyle.

It’s an important message; one that Velorbis fully endorses.

In London from the beginning of September until the start of October, the exhibition will then move on to destinations in Europe and the US. It is planned that Dreams on Wheels will visit Copenhagen in early December as a fitting prelude to the historic COP15 meeting; the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen from 7th -18th December 2009.

Velorbis Dannebrog ladies classic bicycle at London City Hall, England.




Boris Johnson, Major of London and the Danish Ambassador at Dreams on Wheels in London.



Velorbis Scrap Deluxe gents bicycle on display at The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland.


A selection of the Velorbis family of classic bicycle icons in Sydney, Australia.


Some wise words from Albert Einstein...


And some wise words from Boris Johnson, Major of London about Copenhagen cycling culture, as included in this interesting article by cool street style blog, Copenhagenize.

Copenhagen Design Week 2009 (27th August – 6th September) was the “essential design event for a changing world” that brought together new and established designers to present socially- and environmentally-conscious ideas and products.

The theme of the event was sustainable design; a fitting tribute to the forthcoming COP15 (the historic UN Climate Change Conference) that will be held in Copenhagen in December this year.

The Velorbis Scrap Deluxe gents bicycle was exhibited at Copenhagen Design Week as part of the Dreams on Wheels exhibition in ShowHow and as part of the heritage of Danish design.

The ShowHow area explored various themes such as transportation, architecture and energy and displayed the best in social design and innovation. Dreams on Wheels is the travelling exhibition promoting Danish cycling culture worldwide.

Danish design, Copenhagen cycling culture and all things carbon conscious are all close to Velorbis’s heart and provide the inspiration for our ‘urban glam’ designer classic bicycle icons, such as the Velorbis Scrap Deluxe. A perfect setting!

En route to the event...
Our friend and street style guru, Mikael Colville-Andersen, spoke about taking his “beautiful bicycle” Velorbis Scrap Deluxe gents, for a visit to the event. Check out his article on Copenhagen Cycle Chic.

Velorbis was proud to be involved with the COP15 Cycling Tour of Japan. As you know, we fully support urban sustainability initiatives and the push towards carbon-conscious transportation alternatives. Therefore we were exceptionally pleased to assist our friends at the Danish Embassy and the Dreams on Wheels exhibition by providing Velorbis bicycles to be used for the tour throughout the main cities of Japan.

Organized by the Embassy of Denmark in Tokyo and the Japan Cycling Association, the aim of the tour was to carry the message of sustainability and responsibility for the environment from Kyoto to Copenhagen, where a new framework will be established at COP15; the forthcoming UN Climate Change Conference in December 2009.

At each location there were events and exhibitions focusing on cycling, sustainable development and climate change. Velorbis classic bicycles such as Churchill Balloon and Scrap Deluxe, and other leading Danish bike brands were on display.

See some more COP15 Cycling Tour of Japan photos on Flickr