Guest Photo: James Muttera - Lady in Pink

I took this photo of a smiling woman on a Brompton folding bike wearing a pink sundress and white sandals. Taken 02 Aug 2010 on the Iron horse trail in Walnut Creek, CA.

Sol Stylin'

On a not so sunny day, I met Sol coincidentally right in front of Cafe du Soleil, one of my favorite SF hangouts (AWESOME pain au chocolat and a nice selection of wines by the glass). It was right after the Holland v. Brazil game. Though not dolled up in World Cup spirit, Sol was chic'ed out from head-to-toe with an ultra-feminine look. Any cyclist wearing a crinoline under her dress gets extra points - going the extra mile to catch some air as she billows down the block. Very Vogue!

Enthusiasm Is Beautiful!

I take a lot of pictures of people on bicycles. Lots of them. I get all kinds of reactions. There has yet to be a time anyone has really protested, but there is definitely a technique to it. The big trick is to keep people talking and never put the camera down. It also helps, if while I am shooting someone, they actually know what it is I am shooting for. When I asked these ladies if they had heard of a blog called Vélo Vogue they went from hesitant to enthusiastic instantly!

I find if I tell people right off the bat they start to pose. If I leave them dangling for just a moment, I get this kind of fantastic picture. What a couple of cuties! Can't get that driving a Prius.

So if you see me out there with my big, fat camera pointed at you, remember that I am taking a picture of you because you look like a fabulous SF bicyclist (unless you are dancing naked with an Elmo doll, in which case I am shooting pictures of you because there is no choice)!

KT, Meli, Tut & The Golden Age of Cycle Chic

Though I've been known to parody my friends' self-portraits lately, this one just happened to be a happy accident.

The Golden Age et moi.


And now, Meli y Tut.

Great minds do think alike.

Be golden.
Be chic.
And bike.

Be a Cyclist. Wear a Dress.

Diane Von Furstenberg is one of my favorite designers. Why? Because her dresses are kick-ass, and are ultimately feminine while the bold colors and patterns make you feel supremely confident and at the top of your game.

So I am modifying her slogan from the 70s, "Be a feminist, wear a dress" for all you ladies who feel like you can't express your individual style on a bicycle. As our 44th President is known to say, "Yes You Can."

Put on a dress. Get on your bike. Rock your world.

KT in front of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Photo by Jen Kennedy with my Lumix.

Silk Dress: DVF
Necklace: gift
Black Organic Pima Cotton Fingerless gloves: Breaux Company
Red boots: Miz Mooz
Rouge et Noir Mixte: Motobécane

free to be you and me

Urban cycling is about transportation, or as Mikael puts it, A to B -ism, but it's also about having fun.


As this blog has pointed out many a time, you can wear anything on your bicycle. (We merely prefer when you look this colorful, striking and vibrant.)


In a recent post on his blog, Dave from Portland pointed out that a bicycle represents freedom.


And Adrienne commented that maybe instead of a Slow Bike movement, what we really need is a Freedom movement.

Bicycle Rights are Human Rights.

VV Profile: Ramona Wheelright

Occupation: environmental consultant
Hometown: sad diego (so sad that such a beautiful place was designed for cars instead of people)
SF neighborhood: mission dolores
Helmet or no helmet: helmet (i'd prefer none, but this is san francisco where cars and people and bikes collide)
Type of bike: soma mixte- custom touring build by ramona
Describe what you like best about your bike: the juxtaposition of her efficiency and beauty. she looks like a 70's road bike but she's a 2009 urban/touring champ.

Describe your cycling experience in SF: I wouldn't exist in SF without a cycle. It's a symbiotic relationship between, me, my bike and the city.
Favorite time or place to ride: in SF at night
Favorite color: rouge

Artist most commonly played on iPod at the moment: itunes is always on shuffle, M.I.A. Mango Pickle Down River is currently playing.
Describe your personal style: modern vintage
Vélo Vogue tip of the day: going fast is fun, but you see more when you slow your roll


Miss Ramona is also the prolific author of a beautiful bike blog, Wheelright. So check her out!

glamour girls

Because I was too busy partying and getting ready for today's big Halloween ride and visit from the King, I decided to borrow pics of a couple of my favorite gals on two wheels.

Everybody loves Meli:

It's Saturday night & I'm going home.
Sleeping sounded appealing for once.

And introducing Úna, the lovely and intelligent daughter of Adrienne:

Úna decided to go girly today : ) You can't see the gold flowers printed on her helmet.


From our VV Flickr Photo Pool.

[Chantal Buard] Lydia's New Look

En rouge et blanc... like her bike!

[Lydia was VV's first personal profile! Great to see you here again!]

Photo and words by Chantal Buard.

[Christy Bockheim Meuzelaar]: Wedding on 2 Wheels

Un mariage en vélo! Congrats to Christy and hubby and good luck on the many paths you will explore together! Thanks for sharing these images and commentary with us!

I've been a fan of your blog for a while, and wanted to share some photos with your readers of our bicycle-themed wedding over the weekend.

Photo by Melissa Howard

Photo by Melissa Howard

Photo by Melissa Howard

Our invitations and programs featured a tandem bike drawn by my sister, our cupcake stand was shaped like a bicycle, and after the ceremony we rode off on a tandem bike!

Photo by Sharri Steen

Photo by Adrienne Bockheim

Photo by Sharri Steen

It was a big hit - even my nieces wanted to try it out!

Olivia Palermo in Jason Wu dress à vélo

Socialite Olivia Palermo shows us how to do it à vélo in this fantastic dress by Jason Wu.

panhandle pretty

A classic bicycle fashion look: comfy, flowing dress with leggings and flats!

hanging in the handle with Bikeman Ben

When Ben is in the Panhandle, I often stop to hang out with him and see who shows up.(He's kind of like the food cart of bike repair!)

Look! You can pump your tires.


Ben is even kid-friendly.

Just make sure you stop by before continuing on your way!

Guest Photo: Summertime in Venice Beach

Apparently princess cut dresses and bikes are all the rage in Venice this summer.!

Photo by: Veronica Wheeler
Caption by: Holly Mosher
Pictured (from right to left): Jenni (blue bike), Jolette (black bike) and Holly

VV goes to Portland! [pt. 2]

Dave of Portlandize told me that on average 2,000 cyclists pass by this street corner every day.


Here are two of them, on their way to go play hoop!


Some more downtown shots: a cyclist casually chats on her phone while pushing her pretty rouge et noir bike across the street.


That casual elegance of the Pacific NW gets me every time!


Clever Cycles sells and rents these awesome Dutch bicycles, though I'm told this is an Electra.

17th Street Plaza

This post has moved.

Get your Bicycle Art this month

Earlier this year, I did a series of Vélo-Vogue-inspired monoprints. Two of them are now on display at CityArt Gallery. If you've walked down Valencia this month, you may have seen them in the window at 828 Valencia (x 19th Street). I like this one because it conveys the moody, foggy San Francisco air that many of us ride through in the summer time.

These prints are on display until the end of the month. For more information about my work, see my yahoogroup. You can view photos of my art and sign up for (very infrequent) announcements about my art showing activities.

Vélo Vogue or Bust

"The warm weather is a’ comin’– time for me to bust out my rad bicycle!..."

We were delighted by Bust Magazine's write up on bicycling, the cycle chic movement and mention of Vélo Vogue.

Parisiennes biking in pumps

This post has moved.

The Loveliest Cyclist at Saint-Eustache

Last summer, I was eating pizza outside Église Saint-Eustache at Les Halles with my friend Tina when this woman rode up. I knew instantly that she was the loveliest cyclist I would see (except for my friends of course).

She appeared to be meeting her boyfriend/husband/lover/male friend at this very spot. We paparazzied her extensively. She didn't seem to notice. He seemed to think that was a perfectly reasonable reaction to her presence.

Notice the lovely vintage bike with fenders and basket, the classic gray dress and pink pumps.

I'm glad it rained so much in San Francisco this February because we need it. However, I'll be honest with you: it's slowed me down. I don't go outside as much, and similarly, neither do many of our fellow cyclists.

But every challenge is an opportunity. You are finally going to see my photos from Paris last summer including my inside tour of the Velib program.