We wanna be like Mike. Mikael Colville-Andersen, that is. An avid crusader of the biking lifestyle, Colville-Anderson promotes his mission in Copenhagen Cylce Chic, a gorgeous, sartorialist-
style site featuring the most stylish of cyclists,
along with two other blogs: Copenhagenize, a site dedicated to advocating for the rights of the half a million people who travel by bicycle everyday in Copenhagen, and the Slow Bicycle Movement, a poetic online destination that encourages cyclers to "enjoy the ride." 

Considered the "Cycling Capital," Copenhagen has transformed from a car-clogged city to a place where, according to Colville-Anderson, 37 percent of commuters crossing the city boundary ride bicycles every day, a number that rises to 55 percent inside the city proper. Documenting these citizen commuters—parents transporting kids to school, ladies going to lunch, businessmen all buttoned up in suits and coats, college students looking fetching in trendy clothes—has turned into a banner cry for the bicycle as a viable, practical, and eco-conscious, not to mention stylish, mode of transport. Colville-Anderson is on a mission to promote public health, and not necessarily the spandex version. "Chic, not cheek. Choose style over speed," he says.

The Inside Source: As fashion fans, we're particularly drawn to Copenhagen Cycle Chic. Why did you decide to start it?

Mikael Colville-Anderson:  I do a lot of street photography, and one day in 2006 I took a photo of some cyclists in Copenhagen in the morning light—not because they were cyclists, but because the light was nice. My network on Flickr was amazed that the women in the shot were wearing boots and a skirt. I thought it was odd they noticed that. Regular people in regular clothes are the norm here. Without knowing why, I started shooting photos of more cyclists and then started a blog. Visitors poured into the blog. It led to Copenhagenize, and the rest is history.

TIS: What's the appeal of the bikes and clothes combo?

MCA: Elegant women and dapper men on fine bicycles appeal, apparently, to many people around the world. The fashion bar is high in Copenhagen and bicycles are everywhere, so finding material wasn't hard. The cycle chic blog became streetstyle on bicycles. And what better way to sell cycling than by showing the effortlessness, the enjoyment and the practical aspects of cycling in a city.

TIS: Every time we've been in Copenhagen, we've been struck by the beautiful city dwellers on the beautiful bicycles. 

MCA:  Danes always top the Happiest People on Earth list, and every time it happens, bicycles are mentioned as one of the main reasons. When 500,000 people cycle to work, the supermarket, the cinema, etc. each day, it can't be bad for their health. If you travel to towns in the country where cars are the norm, you actually see a difference. People are slimmer and fitter in Copenhagen. We cycle a lot and we walk a lot.

TIS: How do you see CCC evolving now that it has inspired so many cities and people?

MCA:  It's amazing that Cycle Chic has become a global movement and that it has inspired so many people around the world. I'll keep photographing until I get bored with it. After three years, it hasn't happened. I get to travel alot and give lectures about our bicycle culture and about marketing bicycle culture positively, and I have a consultancy company that advises cities and towns on bicycle infrastructure. So my future will involve bicycles for awhile.

**Copenhagen Cycle Chic photos provided by Colville-Anderson. You can also check out some of Anderson's equally artful videos, like this one of a bike ride over New York bridges and this one of the green bike lanes in Copenhagen.**

TIS: CCC has impacted the "green" movement by promoting cycling as a lifestyle option.  Any further thoughts on that?

MCA: Bicycles have always been green. They are a fantastic tool for transforming cities into more livable places—if you implement safe, separated infrastructure for the citizens. In Denmark, we've found that for every kilometer driven by car, society suffers a net loss of of 16 cents. For every kilometer cycled we enjoy a net profit of 25 cents. Bicycles are cost-efficient. There are a variety of factors to reach those numbers, including better public health, fewer sick days and a healthier workforce, fewer man hours lost in traffic and so on. Promoting cycling as a feasible, respected and accepted transport option is probably the most clever move any city can make.

When the City of Copenhagen asks it's cycling citizens why they cycle, 56 percent (the majority) say it's because it's quick and easy. Only 6 percent do it because it's cheap and only 1 percent do it because it's environmentally-friendly. If you make the bicycle the quickest and easiest way to get around the city, everyone and their dog will do it. I call it A2Bism. Get people quick from A to B and they'll hop on your bandwagon.

TIS: If someone wants to begin a cycling lifestyle, what kind of bike should he start with?  Or does it matter?  Does he need anything special?  Any tips?

MCA: All you need is a bike. Cycling may be an adrenaline-based thrill for some, but the rest of us just need to take it easy and enjoy the ride. The Copenhagen Cycle Chic motto "style over speed" is the greatest safety slogan in cycling history. Choose a bike that you like. I'll always recommend upright bikes for ladies and gentlemen, as they are safer and more enjoyable. 50 percent of Americans live within 5 miles of their workplace, so there are plenty of Americans who can cycle to work. Or just to the supermarket. Do what feels comfortable and do it at your own pace. The great thing is that whatever you wear when walking can be worn while cycling. Your closet is filled with cycling clothes, so don't get fooled by companies telling you that you "need" all that crazy gear and lycra and all that.

CCC Picks the CHICEST CYCLES ON EBAY

We searched eBay's 12,000+ bicycles and frames listings with Colville-Anderson for bikes befitting a cycling citizen. They range from a $120 red 10-speed to a $1,200 collectible 1940s cruiser in bright orange.

As for finding a great deal on a bike, "a buyer needs to scan as many of the popular bike listing sites as possible, and every day in order to miss a good deal" says David Alyea, founder of QBike, an eBay affiliate that aggregates bike listings from eBay and other sites and allows users to search by brand, price range, size and material. The site's Road Bike Finder is specifically targeted at casual bikers and commuters, and its buying guides help newbies navigate the bike shopping pricess.