Urban cycling magazine le velo

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U R B A N C Y C L I N G

At the Heart: Spot Light Issue Not the Tour de France Spotlight Issue Bonus Edition

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S T O R Y

F O R

C H A N G E

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Issue 1

URBAN CYCLING 04

Inspiration

07 Hille & Ellis Leather handbag

Welcome Edition * = Weblinks

Events Local Pop-up at HQ

STAPLES 03 At the Heart 04 Editor's Note: Inspiration 05 Not the Tour de France

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07 Interview: Be the Change 09 Summer Pop-ups 10 Newsletter sign-up

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URBAN CYCLING

AT

THE

HEART

OF

URBAN

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AUGUST 2016

CYCLING

BY SUSAN STOKHOF

At the heart of urban cycling is a desire to be part of a community.

Not just of like-minded people, but a community that embraces freedom and values sleepy streets and local cafĂŠs where friends meet on weekends for gettogethers. Where not only local shopping takes place but buzzing with people and activities where friends and families can gather. This is how it used to be before the car interrupted the flow of street traffic.

It's about getting back to a

'

slower time and pace.

You'll find local markets filled with crafts and local goodness everywhere.

Our spotlight in this edition of Urban Cycling is on Mike @CommunityMike. Mike is a community activist & believer that the removal of front porches on houses is leading to the decline of modern society. Father, Husband, Cyclist & Copper

* Mike s wearing our DU/ER performance denim in relaxed fit

I N S P I R A T I O N *

Welcome to our first issue of Urban Cycling.

Susan believes that you don't have to wear spandex to ride a bicycle because cycling isn't just about sport. Since 2013 Le VĂŠlo Victoria has been showcasing what's possible when you design a lifestyle around the bicycle.

Her online boutique specializes in stylish bicycle accessories, and provides elegant solutions for everyday cycling challenges.

Her blog provides in inside look at cycling normalcy and tips and tricks to help you let go of the spandex and get out on your bikes riding more often and in style.; your style, whatever that may be.

Welcome to our first issue of Urban Cycling!

We hope you find inspiration here.

Le VĂŠlo Victoria | Issue 1 | Urban Cycling | Editors Note | 04

Helene Cyr Photograph

N O T D E

T H E

F R A N C E

Not the Tour de France

Recently I was asked a series of questions about how and why I ride my bicycle. I thought I would share them here.

How often do you ride?

365 days a year (with some exceptions).

What type of bike?

A Dutch City Bike & Vintage Gazelle, also a Dutch City bike, for city riding. I also have a touring bike for long rides & cycle touring. I have a personal obsession for beautiful bicycles. cont. next page...

Urban Cycling | 05

T O U R

Photograph @helenecyrfotos *

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GETTING TO KNOW LE VÉLO VICTORIA

INSIDE SCOOP

NOT THE TOUR DE FRANCE ...

Being seen on your bicycle isn't about what you wear!

What is your favourite gear?

Panniers - my leather pannier is my favourite because it’s so pretty on my bike on off, I can take it anywhere and still look stylish. Lastly I would be lost without the basket on the front rack of my bike to carry the little things I like to keep close.

Why do you choose to ride?

I ride my bicycles because I enjoy it. You will hear people saying they love the sense of freedom you feel while riding a bicycle, well it’s all true. I can move around the cityscape in a more comfortable way then being stuck in traffic driving my car ( I think I have road rage ). My first thought when I go out to do something is, can I do it using my bicycle? I can’t imagine not having a bike in my life.

Number one commuting tip: Being seen while riding your bike isn’t about what you wear! – It’s about being aware of your surroundings, looking over your shoulder (mirrors have blind spots), taking proper positioning on the road stops people in cars from passing you on narrow streets & making eye contact with people in cars & people on bikes.

It’s really prevalent in North America to wear spandex whenever you hop on your bike. I believe there is a time and place for spandex like tour cycling to some far off place or for exercise. However, I still wear a skirt over my cycling shorts so that I can go into any café and not look like I was on my bike. But when you are traveling under 10km it is totally possible to ride your bike wearing your dress clothes. The trick is to slow down, give yourself enough time to reach your destination, wear layers and enjoy the ride. Its not the Tour de France and we don’t have to travel as fast as cars.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

BE THE CHANGE Getting to know Le VĂŠlo Victoria

by Chris Bruntlett , Modacity

We're bringing sexy back to cycling .

Cycling is a normal activity that millions of people partake in every single day." "

B

e the change we want to see.

Outside of the office, you will find Susan working tirelessly to promote what is possible when you design a lifestyle around a bicycle.

You may not know this but Le VĂŠlo is my labour of love for everything cycling. I work a day job as a full-time business analyst and spend my spare time with my husband, who shares my love of cycling, our labrador Esmee & working on by brand. I was recently cont. next page... interviewed by Chris Bruntlett of Modacity and here's what we had to say.

Join our Newsletter URBAN MAGAZINE

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BE THE CHANGE

PAGE 08

INTERVIEW

BE THE CHANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH SUSAN STOKHOF

BY CHRIS BRUNTLETT, MODACITY cont.

"I believe we need to be the change we want to see."

Inspired by two-wheeled travels to

Most importantly, Susan's website

Amsterdam and Haarlem with her Dutch

represents, powerful, rarely seen images

husband Laszlo, she founded Le Vélo

of bicycle normalcy, in a region where

Victoria to "bring sexy back to cycling"; while

sport and recreational cycling still reign

providing stylish, yet functional accessories

supreme. "We're attempting to promote

that perfectly compliment your wardrobe,

a lifestyle we want to see, especially in

ride & destination. In addition to an online

Victoria.

boutique and traveling pop-up, Susan

The more people buy into the idea

provides a vital voice in the push to

cycling is a normal activity that millions

normalize cycling in Victoria. From regular

partake in every single day, the more

features on her blog about the citizen

likely we are to build better bicycle

cycling movement (with a particular focus

infrastructure here. I believe we need to

on women who cycle for transport), to

be the change we want to see".

sponsoring events that bring guest speakers

You can read the full article in * Spacing

to the Island to inspire and inform, she

Magazine where Chris gives a rich look at

rightly puts her money (and boundless

Victoria's cycling culture and proposed

energy) where her mouth is.

cycling infrastructure.

URBAN CYCLING

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SUMMER IN

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AUGUST 2016

POP-UPS

THE

CITY

Summer Pop-up's BikeFest | We're celebrating everything bike at the Oaklands Sunset Market.

Join us for an evening of cycling accessories, food carts, local veg. & more!

Come by our booth for the chance to win a free bicycle accessory gift certificate! August 3rd, 4:30 to 8:30pm, * 2827 Belmont Avenue Pop-up at Le Velo Head Quarters (HQ) | They are exciting and products sell quickly! So if you're in the hood come by our pop-up and grab that absurdly stylish bicycle accessory you've been eyeing! August 6th, noon to 4:30, * 455 Sitkum Road Our Head Quarters - well really, it's our loft where I live with my Dutch husband, Laszlo, and our yellow Labrador, Esmee, AKA shop dog and Ministry of Happiness. We set up our shop to give you a rich shopping experience + you can satisfy the voyeur in you and see how we live. Peruse our collection of stylish bicycle accessories and feel obliged to buy one of our stylish bags.

SUBSCRIBE &BE AMUSED.

Join hundreds of others who enjoy the Le Vélo newsletter!

We look forward to sharing what's going on as well as what's inspiring us in the urban cycling scene.

Get all issues free!

SIGN UP AND FALL IN LOVE WITH CYCLING

We promise to only send you good things. * HTTPS://LEVELOVICTORIA.CO SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE & SUBSCRIBE

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PROFILE

AUGUST 2016

Keep evolving, keep thinking, keep pushing yourself.

While a good conclusion is an important ingredient for any article or in this case our first magazine publication, like all good things, it must come to an end.

ON TAKING RISKS

If you've liked what you have read and want more, please let us know! Send your feedback to info@levelovictoria.co. We read everything!

FINAL THOUGHTS OF AN URBAN RIDER TOP TIPS FOR ASPIRING CYCLISTS Susan shares words of wisdom from her years of experience as an urban rider, cycling her way through Europe and living in Victoria with her Dutch husband and yellow Labrador, Esmee, AKA Ministry o f Happiness.

EXPERIMENT We've said it before, cycling isn't just for sport. If you're undecided on which path to take, in terms of how you ride, try several paths and then decide which one is the best fit.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

FIND US: * Instagram: Le_Vélo_Victoria * Twitter: Le_Vélo_Victoria Susan Stokhof Founder, le vélo victoria sstokhof@levelovictoria.co | * http://levelovictoria.co

* Facebook: Le_VéloVictoria

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URBAN CYCLING MAGAZINE

BONUS - LETTING GO OF THE SPANDEX

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WHAT TO WEAR :

10KM RIDE OR LESS

NO SPANDEX

I dress for my day, I don't really give my bike a thought. That means a dress or a skirt and sometimes jeans or other pants. No special clothing required. I wear my heals while on bike, it's easier to cycle in them than walk all day in them.

If I walked to work in my heals I would have to take them off by 10AM. Because I ride I can wear them for the day.

If your destination is less than 10km, cycling dressed for your destination is more than possible.

Dress in layers and be prepared to take them off as your body heats up. Keep to a moderate pace and enjoy the ride.

Not long ago, my husband and I rode our city bikes 25km round trip with 3 gears on our bikes. We rode at a nice comfortable pace.

About 12.5km in we stopped for a nice lunch, and after a time rode back home for the remaining 12.5km. With no spandex in sight for either of us.

Follow us on * Instagram: Le_VĂŠlo_Victoria

Dress for your destination, choose style over speed, & transform the street view with us !

Everything we do has always been to show what's possible when you design a lifestyle around the bicycle.

We're all about expressing your cycle fashion while moving in and around the urban landscape in a more comfortable way.

A bonus is the community you discover that you just won't find while sitting behind the driving wheel.

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URBAN CYCLING