Ladies and gentlemen, mount your bikes!
A British-style cycle race took place in Kyiv during the weekend. The Day’s staff also participated
The world-famous Tweed Run was first held in London in 2009. Every year since then, this retro race has been gathering fans of the elegant British style all over the world. Its counterpart, the “Retro Cruise,” is held in Kyiv for the third time already. Odesa also joined the ranks of Tweed Run organizers, along with London, Stockholm, and even Kansas City.
Cries of astonishment could be heard everywhere. Passersby stopped, took photos, car drivers honked tunes, as they usually do for newlyweds. It was hard to tell whether it was a time machine in action or whether an itinerant theater set a show in Ukrainian capital. The “Retro Cruise” gathered over 200 participants, each dressed in the early 20th century British style (the interwar period of 1918-39 in particular). People of all ages came to demonstrate their love for cycling: young girls and boys, ladies and gentlemen, and even married couples with children. The British esthetics gave a special atmosphere to the streets of Kyiv.
Elegant tweed suits, woolen sweaters and gaiters, hats, suede gloves, and laced shoes – all these details completed the elegant British style. The vintage bicycle ride along the central streets of Kyiv aimed at reminding about the value of traditions, etiquette, and sense of style in clothing and behavior typical for the olden time and rare today. It was also organized to promote cycling and riding classic city bikes.
This is the second time that The Day’s staff has participated in the race. “This is a bright and beautiful event, it is entertaining and social at the same time,” said Anna MAZURENKO, director of The Day’s advertising agency as she shared her impressions. This year, The Day’s creative team prepared for the race thoroughly. They came to the starting point with a bicycle, a basket of apples, flowers wrapped in The Day’s exclusive wrapping paper, and a case with issues of The Day and its glossy supplement Route No. 1. One of the participants, Olena Hrynina of The Day’s advertising agency, even took her cat Robin along, who looked like a real gentleman with his bright tweed bow tie. It was a sensation!
“This year, the most persistent and beautiful participated in the Run,” admitted the organizer of the “Retro Cruise” Volodymyr CHEREMYS. “To be honest, there were fewer participants than I expected, given the weather conditions. But I enjoyed it all, I am satisfied. Participants had very fine images, some people had their outfits made to order. This year we announced Tweed Run well in advance, so those, who wanted to participate, had enough time to think about their images and get bikes ready.”
Cat Robin was a highlight of the bicycle ride and a model for all film and photo cameras. “He participated in Tweed Run for the first time. Sustained English style, behavior (and education!), geopolitical view through the centuries,” told Olena HRYNINA, owner of the unique cat, with a smile. “He hopes for a fee in the form of food and tummy scratching. As a true English gentleman, cat Robin loves to eat oatmeal and to soak in the sun.”
The participants of Tweed Run, including The Day’s journalist, rode through central streets, passed Lavra, went down Hrushevsky Street to the European Square, then down Khreshchatyk and Tolstoy Street, all the way to the Taras Shevchenko National University. Pushkin Park was their destination point, where a group photo was taken and a traditional tea party began.
