The Handlebagbar

I did it my way

Putting a heavy load on one side of the handlebars isn't a brilliant idea. Also cycling on the pavement isn't so considerate towards pedestrians. On the bright side, he didn't cycle against the traffic on the main artery from Dublin to Belfast (the N1).

I took the picture in Whitehall when I was on the bus. It was 27 May 2012.

The Knitted Cyclist

It's weather for a sweater

When it's cold, don't forget to put a jumper on.

Shot in a cold Terenure morning on 7 March 2013.

The Bank Robber

Give me all your money

The extreme weather conditions are still with us, so let's enjoy another Dublin cyclist who doesn't let the frosty weather spoil the mood. S/he (I couldn't determine) looked like a bank robber though :)

Shot the photo on 8 March 2013 on Charlemont Street (near Ranelagh). Since then it has become even colder (and whiter) :)

The All-Weatherman

Ready for every climate

Dublin Bike riders are versatile. Unlike many pro and pro-wannabe cyclists, they never wear a special cycling gear (or suffer from the men in lycra image). In fact, many of them seem clueless and unfit to pedalling at all. Take the guy above for instance. He wore a long overcoat with a furry hood, dark sunglasses and managed to push an enormous umbrella into a basket one-third its size. He was ready for winter, summer, spring and autumn, all at once. I found it amusing.

I came across this guy at St Stephen's Green on 1 March 2013. And there was an additional photograph:

Waiting

The Furry Purple Hatter

Winter scene

We're still in the midst of a wintry front, so it's a good opportunity to introduce a winter Dublin cyclist. I saw her wearing a thick overcoat, pushing her bike down Wicklow Street towards Exchequer Street in Dublin city centre. The purple furry hat distinguished her from any other cyclist and made her unforgettable. I shot a few snaps (1, 2 and 3). That was on the 23rd of March 2013.

Where traffic rules have no meaning

Last glimpse. Or is it?

Allow me to quote from The Charwoman's Daughter, an excellent book by the wonderful Irish author James Stephens (the book is available for free here):

In a little city like Dublin one meets every person whom one knows within a few days. Around each bend in the road there is a friend, an enemy, or a bore striding towards you, so that, with a piety which is almost religious, one says "touch wood" before turning any corner.

About two weeks later, on the 6th of March, I was cycling along the Grand Canal when I suddenly noticed a suspiciously familiar hat on the head of a cyclist on N11. It was the furry purple hatter again. It's nice to see familiar faces. It's even nicer to spot familiar hats.

Turn right

The Ninja

Brrrr

The winter seems to linger a bit longer this year (no wonder the Latin name for Ireland is Hibernia), so here's another ninja-like cyclist wearing a balaclava (here's the previous one, who admittedly looked more amusing).

I shot the photo in a cold Terenutre morning on 19 February 2013. Notice the pavement cyclist in the background, saving about two minutes of waiting on red light when turning right from Rathfarnham Road to Terenure Road. It's a popular (illegal and dangerous) short-cut.

The One-Handed Cyclist

Ghost rider

The more years one rides a bicycle, the less effort one needs to devote for cycling. Thus this gentleman is an expert and managed to cycle using one hand only, even though had a heavy load in his basket.

Took the picture on Rathgar Road, Rathmines, on 29 May 2012.

The Yellow Cyclist

 Look at the stars... yeah they were all yellow

Hi-viz clothing is a serious business. There's never enough of it (see the cycling disco). Yet, when someone dressed up all yellow, I find it a bit amusing and can't get the song Yellow by Coldplay out of my head.

I shot the photograph above in Rathfarnham on the 25th of January 2013. I also took a picture from a slightly different angle and changed the tune in my mind to Mellow Yellow by Donovan.

Mellow Yellow

Then, in Terenure he turned right and I continued straight. I took another glimpse and was shocked to discover his shoelaces were in fact shiny orange! Like Kira Willey, all the colours in the world are in him... :)

All the colours in the world are in me

The Family Riders

Family cycling

Having five souls under the same roof is being used many times as an excuse for buying a car. This family, however, demonstrates how can urban cycling be an enjoyable activity for the whole family. Mum carries the daughter behind, dad carries the young son in front and the elder son rides his own bike next to the father. A healthy family indeed.

I came across this wonderful family on 26 August 2012 on the Canal path. If I'm not mistaken, they were on their way to the Tall Ship Festival and managed to avoid the nightmarish traffic on the way there.

The Pink-Haired Cyclist

Pink, it's my new obsession

Cycling is an activity that does not discriminate on the basis gender, race or... colour of hair! This girl with a lovely pink hair was cycling slowly just behind me at Harold's Cross. As I needed to turn left anyway, I got off the bike and took a picture when she passed by.

I shot the photograph on the 15th of March 2013 by the Grand Canal, near Rathmines.

PS, wearing headphones isn't recommended while cycling on a busy road.
PPS, notice how the Dublin Bus driver blocks the road and obstructing the cyclists. Wonderful, isn't it?

The Camouflager (2)

Military fashion show

The blessed lack of a mandatory military service in Ireland, brings some chaps to endeavour to look like soldiers (remember the previous camouflager?). Bad taste if I may. He could at least wear an army-style helmet on. The German New Wave band And One called it a Military Fashion Show.


I came across this cycling guerilla at the junction of Aungier and Kevin Street on 29 December 2012.

The Hugger

I love to love (but my baby loves to cycle)

This crazy little thing called love doesn't skip cyclists. I was waiting for the green light when I saw this lovely couple kissing. I wasn't quick enough to capture the moment. Nonetheless, I did manage to hold forever the wholeheartedly hug that followed. It's so cute!

I took the picture on 14 March 2013 on Richmond Row, just off Portobello College. Later she cycled away slowly and he walked along by her side. Another Irish love story with a cycling twist. I shot one more photograph before I continued in my way.

Cycling conversation

The Shoe Matcher

Deep Blue Something or Deep Purple?

Because matching the colour of your shoes, the trousers and the bicycle frame is highly important.

A photo from February 1st 2013 on the Grand Canal path.

The Multi-Level-Bagger

Bag bag bag

You might be familiar with The Royal Society of Putting Things On Top of Other Things. The cyclist above took it literally. For him it was putting bags on top of other bags.

I took the picture on 20 July 2012 on Rathfarnham Road.

The Boris Bikers

Cycling is (almost) for free

Barclays Cycle Hire, AKA Boris Bikes, after Boris Johnson, the mayor of London who's a cycling enthusiast that helped to materialise this wonderful bike hire scheme (and has a bold vision how cycling in London should look like).

When I tried it last December, 24 hours cost the affordable amount of £1 (additional cost applied for journeys that take more than 30 minutes to complete). Since then the prices have doubled, but in £2 a day or £90 a year, Boris Bikes are still a bargain and a wonderful way to explore the British capital.

I came across the two girls above not far from London Bridge on 4 December 2012.

As a bonus for all the faithful reader, below is a short video I took while cycling on Boris Bike along the Thames on the following day:

Cycling along Father Thames

The Umbrella Holder (2)

Under my umbrella, ella ella

Cyclists like to improvise. No showerproof clothes? No problem! As long as you haven't forgotten your umbrella at home.

The photograph was spotted shot along the Canal path on 13 February 2013.

You may remember his good old friend, the first umbrella holder from O'Connell Street.

The Wheelbarrower

He wheeled his wheel-barrow through streets broad and narrow

I like unusually-shaped bikes and this wheelbarrow-like* bicycle was no different. Think of the possibilities it opens. It looks quite similar to the courier bike. It's also a working tool, like the bicycle of the ladderman.

I took the picture above on the 22nd of February 2013 on Pearse Street.

*Thanks to the follower stripymoggie, who brought to my attention that this model is known as "CargoBike Long". It is sold not far from the photo location.

The Park-Goer

Lift the bike

In the heart of Georgian Dublin lies one of the most tranquil spots in town, Merrion Square (the park is officially called "Archbishop Ryan Park", after the person who transferred the area to the city in the 1970s).

As cycling is not permitted in narrow pathways of this park, it was nice to see that the cyclist dismounted his bike and simply walked. I'm not being racist, but in Stephen's Green it wouldn't happen... :)

I took the picture on 4 January 2013. I'm not a stalker, but I happened to follow him and shoot another photo deeper in the park.

Walk the bike

The Colour Matcher

Feels like Dublin Bike

Many cyclists love to match the colour of their clothes to the colour of their bicycle. Some people even do it when they're on Dublin Bikes...

The photo was taken on 27 February 2013 on the Canal path.

You might want to have a look at cyclists who match their shirt with the saddle and their socks with the saddle.

The Hoodie Cyclist (2)

Hood for food

A friend of the yesterday's hoodie cyclist, just in a slightly different hue.

The photo was taken in the very same place as the previous photo on the following day, 7 February 2013.

The Hoodie Cyclist

Robin Hoodie

We have maintained for a long time that this photolog is an urban-fashion blog with a cycling twist rather than a true cycling blog. Thus without any further ado, please welcome the hoodie, inspired by Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, I suppose. It neither protects the noggin nor keeps it warm. Nevertheless, it looks cool (in the eye of the beholder).

The photograph was taken on 6 February 2013 in the junction of Adelaide Road and Leeson Street.

The Moving Lighthouse

On & off

Don't know about you, but many people recognise lighthouses by the flashing light sitting on their top. By this criterion, I believe I discovered a moving lighthouse in the centre of Dublin. It had wheels and he seems more like a cyclist though.

This short video clip  is from the morning of 4 February 2013 and was shot on the Grand Canal cycle path.

The Abreasters

Friends

Dublin Bikes is a great bike hire scheme, which probably helps to put more Dubliners on bicycle than any other single plan. People tend to perceive these cyclists as individuals who rent a bike in order to get from A to B as quickly as possible.

These two gentlemen, however, proved that it doesn't have to be this way. Dublin Bike riders can even enjoy cycling abreast (it's illegal to do so on the roadways though).

I took the photo on 27 April 2012 off Dublin City Hall.

The Note Taker

Taking a note

As I was walking around Stephen's Green, I noticed a cyclist sitting on the top tube of the frame of his bike. I came closer and realised he's taking a note in his notebook. I'm not sure what it was for, though it seemed work-related.

The photograph is from 11 January 2013. There's a slightly different angle of the very same guy:

Top Tube Sitter

The Doggy Bagger

Doggy style

Doggy bag isn't necessarily this leftover plastic bag people ask when they can't finish what's on their plate in a fine restaurant. Sometimes it's a way for cyclists to express themselves.

The picture is from Protobello and was taken on the 1st of February 2013.

The Royal French Cyclist

Where is she?

France has been a republic for a long time, yet, they still keep the beautiful royal complex of Château de Versailles. Hiring a bike is an excellent attraction in Vaersailles, as it allows the visitors to explore the magnificent gardens and the surrounding palaces and grand mansions, used by the French nobility in past.

I shot this photo on 9 August 2009 near the Grand Trianon, which accommodated notable figures such as King Louis XIV (the real one, not the one from Monty Python) and Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Arrow Misreader

So what's the best place to stop?

Traffic signs can be tricky sometimes and thus cyclists, as any other road users, are advised to familiarise themselves with the rules of the road. But is it really so hard to figure out where the arrow points to? Not to mention the open invitation this guy sent to other vehicles, to give him a decent shave...

I took the picture on the 22nd of December 2012 off Portobello College.

The Anonymous Cyclist

I see you but you can't see me

Have you also come across these top-secret cyclists? They can see you, but you have no way to tell who they are... Usually one can at least see the eyes of these balaclava wearers, but in this case the glasses made it impossible.

It felt a bit like cycling in Saudi Arabia (which is the exact opposite of Ireland).

I took the picture on 25 February 2013 on the Canal path. It wasn't a warm day alright, but I didn't even wear a hat. Some cyclists seem to have no survival chances in Siberia :)