Fashion, fiesta, friends... Well, b&b could already stand for the fabulous surprise that awaited me in the City of Sunshine this morning. I was passing the cathedral in my usual morning mood, when some cute biker guys popped up to give me…kakaós csiga!!!, a.k.a. the best Hungarian bake roll – as part of an official bike marketing and advertisement of the upcoming Critical Mass.
Bike and breakfast. It really knocked my socks off but is it actually necessary to make this type of transportation more popular?!
Big Bike Buzz
The sun is shining, bees are humming with satisfaction around the blooming trees, birds twitter love songs and yes, the bikes, even the bikes damned to hibernation are set at liberty. But the proliferation of the two-wheeled object is probably also due to the government’s terminal campaign to make people bike to their workplace/university. Round 10 000 bikers registered in the last term, cycling 1.700.000 km and like this, saving 39.000.000 forints. And now the new government is already planning to nominate a “minister for bicycle affairs”. Nobody predicted such a success three years ago, when the whole idea started with this legendary commercial:
Trends – did you know that…?
Having two wheels between your feet is ok, but how about having only one? Or you could just take your gears and breaks off, as these guys do in Szeged. The Fixi-craze is booming and nobody can stop it. Szeged city became the famous venue for the Flatland Alleycat races. But you can take part in mad DH (=downhill) sessions in Buda and elsewhere, számháború* on two wheels, creepy night rides or you may join the latest pedal-rage, the urban bikepolo. You can even become a real celebrity, provided you join an artistic indoor cycling club, as these guys did in Csillag születik, a Hungarian talent show:
Black nail polish and pink lube oil
Cycling is chic. Or at least it can be. Fortunately the odd stereotype of bikers wearing spandex clothes or sweat-suits has long turned obsolete: severe guys in suits and ladies in lively dresses are not a rare sight anymore. But to keep the trend, the bike fashion movements keep a rewarding eye on pioneers. Over 20 cities have their own Cyclechic websites to keep trace of the latest brands and provide pictures of the street trends. Experts and enthusiastic bloggers motivate businessmen- and women, students, pensioners or young mums to remain stylish - even on the iron horse. You already posses such a treasure? Show it proudly at the bike beauty contest! If you want to be up-to-date, catch up with the Cyclechic staff on a bike fashion show!
So what about your true friend, the protagonist of this post: your bike? Well, recumbent, cruiser, fixi and the elegant “Dutch” style and retro is IN (forget the mountain bikes, for God’s sake!). But if you really want to show off, you make your own horse – the more unique and personal, the more jealous glances you get! Homemade tastes always best, doesn’t it. Get ingredients from a flea market or a dump and just 22/04/2011 B* party
The biggest, internationally observed bike festivity called CRITICAL MASS is being organized two times a year in Hungary: one the occasion of the international Earth Day (April 22) and the Car-free Day (September 22). In Budapest tens of thousands (!!!) of cyclers gather each and every time. How come this small country manages to bust so big?Bike your city
