The London Lounge

I guess it's a very Danish (or Dutch - and once Chinese!) thing: the daily bike ride to work. In most Western capitals it's suicide to hit the morning traffic on the bike, but in Copenhagen and other "big" cities in Denmark this is the smartest transportation mean.

From the outset in the 1880s and 1890s the bike seems to have been a tool for everyone in the city. I still think this is the case, although it's mostly used by "Democrats" not "Republicans". On the hand, I've seen several ministers and CEOs on a bike in the city center - but in way they are Democrats too, even though they call themselves Republicans.

What's my point? Well, it's possible to ride a bike without sacrificing style. The bike might even be a tool enlarge it.


Einar Hein: Cyklister i Havstokken (1894)




1906


1910


1924


1933


1933

Thank you for the pictures.

Bicycles make so much more sense than cars in most cities, although I would not risk my life (or my suits) riding one in Paris.

Frog in Suit

Frog in Suit wrote:Thank you for the pictures.

Bicycles make so much more sense than cars in most cities, although I would not risk my life (or my suits) riding one in Paris.

Frog in Suit

There was two years ago and I am sure still is, quite a large contingent of bicyclists in London but, in the craving for a sense of security (probably quite false) they tend to wear those nasty little pointed plastic helmets and thick rough clothes; thereby sacrificing the style which is evident in the photographs above.
NJS

storeynicholas wrote:

Frog in Suit wrote:Thank you for the pictures.

Bicycles make so much more sense than cars in most cities, although I would not risk my life (or my suits) riding one in Paris.

Frog in Suit

There was two years ago and I am sure still is, quite a large contingent of bicyclists in London but, in the craving for a sense of security (probably quite false) they tend to wear those nasty little pointed plastic helmets and thick rough clothes; thereby sacrificing the style which is evident in the photographs above.
NJS

It's true that plastic helmets are a problem but designers are doing great advances in that field at the moment

Now, here's a guy I wouldn't like to meet one monday morning. He seems to have his very own ideas about traffic rules:

Gruto wrote:

storeynicholas wrote:

Frog in Suit wrote:Thank you for the pictures.

Bicycles make so much more sense than cars in most cities, although I would not risk my life (or my suits) riding one in Paris.

Frog in Suit

There was two years ago and I am sure still is, quite a large contingent of bicyclists in London but, in the craving for a sense of security (probably quite false) they tend to wear those nasty little pointed plastic helmets and thick rough clothes; thereby sacrificing the style which is evident in the photographs above.
NJS

It's true that plastic helmets are a problem but designers are doing great advances in that field at the moment

Now, here's a guy I wouldn't like to meet one monday morning. He seems to have his very own ideas about traffic rules:

A hunting weight Coke or bowler - or even a Cambridge (the square-crowned variety) might be a good solution. As for this particular bicyclist, he is an ideal candidate for the Retrocentric Club and very jolly fellow.
NJS

storeynicholas wrote:A hunting weight Coke or bowler - or even a Cambridge (the square-crowned variety) might be a good solution. As for this particular bicyclist, he is an ideal candidate for the Retrocentric Club and very jolly fellow.
NJS

Yes, the thought of some sort of riding helmet had also crossed my mind. I wonder if such a thing exist for cycling?

I remember someone showing me a website for some rather nice looking polished helmets for scooters and so on, I will try and track it down.

A hunting weight Coke or bowler - or even a Cambridge (the square-crowned variety) might be a good solution. As for this particular bicyclist, he is an ideal candidate for the Retrocentric Club and very jolly fellow.
NJS

Please forgive my ignorance: what is a Cambridge, square-crowned or otherwise?

Frog in Suit

Frog in Suit wrote:

A hunting weight Coke or bowler - or even a Cambridge (the square-crowned variety) might be a good solution. As for this particular bicyclist, he is an ideal candidate for the Retrocentric Club and very jolly fellow.
NJS

Please forgive my ignorance: what is a Cambridge, square-crowned or otherwise?

Frog in Suit

It is that square-crowned hard shelled hat rather like a coke or a bowler which Churchill sometimes wore - I recall the famous photo of him wearing one when holding a machine gun during the war. I'll try and find a photograph.
NJS

storeynicholas wrote:It is that square-crowned hard shelled hat rather like a coke or a bowler which Churchill sometimes wore - I recall the famous photo of him wearing one when holding a machine gun during the war. I'll try and find a photograph.
NJS

pvpatty wrote:

storeynicholas wrote:It is that square-crowned hard shelled hat rather like a coke or a bowler which Churchill sometimes wore - I recall the famous photo of him wearing one when holding a machine gun during the war. I'll try and find a photograph.
NJS

Thank you pvpatty and there we are FiS!! This is sometimes now called a 'Churchill' just as the black Homburg is sometimes called an 'Anthony Eden'. The Cambridge was available RTW until recently at James Lock. However, now you need to go bespoke which means that, wherever you order one in the UK Patey will make it. A truly retrocentric hat!! However, James Lock did have one made for an elderly customer about 2 years ago.
NJS

Thank you all.

Frog in Suit

Not at all, FiS! There is also a phot of WSC hunting on a cob in his own old age, wearing a Cambridge; demonstrating it strength as a safety hat. I will see whether I can find that one too but pvpatty seems to have a wealth of pictures at his disposal!
NJS

I also found this picture of a 'Churchill':



These ones are not specifically related to these hats, but they are good so I will post them anyway:





Unfortunately NJS, I have been unable to track down the other photograph that you are referring to.

P V Patty - great pictures, thank you. I will look out the one which I mentioned but not today as we are off to Rio today. I have the picture in a book but, for reasons too irksome to describe, it is still in storage back in England. However, there are ways and means!!
NJS

storeynicholas wrote:

Frog in Suit wrote:Thank you for the pictures.

Bicycles make so much more sense than cars in most cities, although I would not risk my life (or my suits) riding one in Paris.

Frog in Suit

There was two years ago and I am sure still is, quite a large contingent of bicyclists in London but, in the craving for a sense of security (probably quite false) they tend to wear those nasty little pointed plastic helmets and thick rough clothes; thereby sacrificing the style which is evident in the photographs above.
NJS

...but possibly saving their brains from being squashed?