---
title: "What The Web Was Made For: Vélo-City-Girl"
date: 2012-03-21T11:02:16Z
modified: 2012-03-21T11:02:16Z
permalink: "https://redmonk.com/jgovernor/what-the-web-was-made-for-velo-city-girl/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 3696
categories:
  - Uncategorized
timestamp: 2012-03-21T11:02:16Z
tags:
  - Uncategorized
---

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6up7FL8mwzY/T2m0TMQHZoI/AAAAAAAACnY/5rVCpMnToFo/s720/Lady%20Velo.jpg)

I have been very much enjoying robertbrook’s daily newsletter – in case you’re not on trend [tinyletter](http://tinyletter.com/) is [the new blogging](http://gigaom.com/2010/07/07/is-it-time-to-stop-blogging-and-start-an-email-newsletter/). Talking of being on trend however, Robert’s newsletter today pointed to a wonderful blog called [Vélo-City-Girl](http://velo-city-girl.blogspot.co.uk/), which is described as

> East London Girl on a [Pashley](http://www.pashley.co.uk/), blogging about cycling & fashion. And anything that happens in between on two wheels.

So this is a crisply written blog, with great photos, all about looking fashionable while riding around East London. How cool is that? Its one thing to [fashion blog](http://velo-city-girl.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/fashion-thursday-vulpine-bike-apparel.html) about cycle clothing brands like [Vulpine, wearing the looks you’re reviewing](http://velo-city-girl.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/fashion-thursday-vulpine-bike-apparel.html).

But Lady Vélo is all about cross-cutting. So for example, while H&M’s new collection has generated thousands of column inches in the press and just as many [Tumblr tags](http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/marni), how many of those reviewers [looked at Marni in terms of how its accessories would look while riding a bike](http://velo-city-girl.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/fashion-thursday-madness-of-marni.html)?

> Those chunky bracelets, big statement necklaces, ribbons, wood, beads & acrylic magic… it was all there. The preview confirmed the capsule collection was gorgeous; and at a more affordable price, I had to have some of it. As I’ve been planning out my Spring Cycling wardrobe already _(which consists of me spying random items I love and mixing them up with what I already have)_, throwing in some of the bobby-dazzlers from Marni would be perfect… the fact I could already see them going well with the black of the Pashley and catching the glimmer of the sun as I cycled through the city was indication enough of how much these were a “WANT”.

A story of small objects of desire, and enforced scarcity (the H&M website basically crashed under demand for the Marni) perhaps – but more than that a story about looking good on a bike in lovely Spring Weather. Like I say – what the web was made for. Blogging is now a staple, rather than a fad, and it will be around for a long time to come.

And of course it turns out that cycle fashion blogging is a rich subculture, as illustrated by Lady Vélo’s favourite blogs – such as [Copenhagen Cycle Chic](http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/). and [London Cycle Chic](http://londoncyclechic.blogspot.co.uk/).

In all the excitement about Pinterest, or whatever new service is getting the most breathless coverage, its easy to forget how refreshing blogging was in the first place: voices from the grassroots, unmediated by PR, a place to celebrate and curate, without needing anyone’s permission.