I'm Tom Bowden - bike commuter, lawyer, husband, father, not necessarily in that order...
Anyway, this blog is a reference to the now famous Copenhagen Cycle Chic blog and its progeny, dedicated to the normalization and glamorization of the bicycle and those who ride it, especially those who ride not to win, compete or impress, but just to get from A to B in style, with panache, flair, elan, maybe even a sense of humor.
Richmond, believe it or not, is a big bike town, with a pro team, many clubs, and a rich history in cycling. Some remember the Tour de Trump, Tour DuPont, CapTech Classic, etc. They were great spectacles, but the point is, racing is really a small part of cycling, in the big picture. And Richmond has a lot going for it besides its association with racing. In fact, as much as I like those events, I think the future of everyday cycling in Richmond is much more important for the average Richmonder.
Now if only we could make more people in Richmond realize just how cool cycling can be, as a mode of transportation, for casual recreation (i.e. with minimal sweat, and maximum fun), they would find that they have nearly everything that the great cycling cities of the world have, and many things that the others don't! For example, read my earlier post, re-published from my column in RichmondBizsense.com, and realize just how close we are to being a world class cycling destination. Or read Managing Editor Tom Silvestri's editorial in the Richmond Times Dispatch a few weeks back for a sense of what cycling can do for Richmond.
For Richmond, the heartbeat of cycling can best be felt on the campus at VCU. Bikes are everywhere - zooming in all directions. Beaters, fixies, mountain bikes, comfort bikes. Some sleek, some squeak, rusty, bent, new, old - you name it, it's there. And there are bike shops - Bunny Hop on Grace, Agees, Recycle and Carytown Cycles on Cary Street, Pibby's on West Marshall and Cyclus on Church Hill - each with their own vibe, clientele and theme.
And downtown, we've got a cadre of bike messengers that could mix it up with traffic anywhere, NYC to SF, London to Beijing. And we've got cops on bikes - in fact, we will be hosting the bike cop convention, with 3000 of our two-wheeled constables, and a downtown police bike criterium!
All we really need are more regular guys and gals on bikes. We've got students, cops, & messengers galore, but where are the hip yuppies, the "with it" professionals, the cargo bikes, the kids in trailers - the families out for a picnic? Well, they will come if we make it attractive enough - make them feel safe, normal, mainstream and comfortable.
So this blog is dedicated to connecting Richmond with the rest of the cycling world, the world of the chic cyclist, the utilitarian, the cyclist in khakis and sandals, or a tweed jacket in the fall, the business man with his brief case/panniers and the professional women in heels and skirts on comfortable but efficient two wheel works of art.
Check out the links I have provided - feel free to post links, direct me to pictures, examples, your favorite route or your pet peeve pothole. Together, we can make Richmond the best cycling city on the East Coast, and that's just for starters!
OK enough for now - so get of your duff, roll out your old clunker, oil the chain, roll up your pants leg and ride.
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