Community Postcard Series
Sent by Julika Natalie, our latest postcard comes from the German capital of Berlin.
Born and raised in the city of Berlin, Julika’s parents moved to the Eastern part shortly after the Wall came down. They never owned a car during this time due to financial struggles and the fact that getting around the city was easy enough by bike, public transport or walking. This way of thinking was instilled in Julika and meant that cycling became her way of getting around the city. Those everyday commutes taught and made her realise that she enjoyed cycling more than just a commute. It slowly became a joy to cycle in her own time, something she describes as a “passion and fascination”.
The freedom given by bike was one of her biggest influences for wanting to ride more often. Having that chance to escape the city, or even explore it more, was what drew Julika in more. Describing herself as a city person, she loves to get around fast and explore new paths to familiar places. Her natural creativity crossed with her love for cycling resulted in constantly customising her bike and working on it, to make it truly unique and hers.
Growing up, Julika’s curiosity for discovering new ways of getting from A to B was further inspired by the cycling messenger community, a community with a long history in the city. Seeing them go around the streets throughout her childhood, she recently joined her local community of messenger riders, CROW Berlin, to help continue this rich tradition.
Such a large city, steeped in history, has meant that there is still much improvement for its cycling infrastructure. “As many big town cyclists know — bike lanes do not necessarily protect you from ignorant drivers.” She turned this situation into a positive one by exploring the landscape around and further afield. Getting a train to the outer parts of Berlin has meant she now explores parts of Brandenburg. A fantastic area for gravel riding, Brandenburg has a plethora of muddy and sandy trails to choose from. On days when time is limited, Julika also enjoys roaming the city streets by bike and discovering the architecture and parts of the city that are still new to her.
Going back a few years, getting into riding wasn’t as straightforward and stress-free as some of us may have experienced. Being aware of the quirks and standards set by others within cycling meant Julika struggled to feel comfortable at first. But after a short while and feeling more at ease with how she felt on the bike, she decided to invest in a pair of bib shorts. These turned out to be our Mono Women’s Bib Shorts. Owning specifically designed bib shorts gave her a further confidence boost and the level of comfort she needed for cycling more and longer.
Her friends in the cycling messenger community then did the rest, making her feel welcome and comfortable. Julika explains: “The CROW Berlin riders were chill on group rides and never pushed me too hard. That was one of my biggest fears in the beginning — not being able to keep up with all the experienced cyclists.”
These experiences now mean Julika has gained the confidence and courage to head out by herself. “It can be such a good experience to go out by yourself, especially if you feel like you need to breathe and clear your mind.” That said, a ride with a small group of close friends is still her favourite: "You can push each other so effortlessly to go further than you ever would have on your own.”
When it comes to fueling on the bike, Julika likes to find places to stop along the way. She enjoys the surprise and sense of spontaneity it provides during a ride.
Her love for food and cycling was further solidified recently by joining a group called “Pizza Gravel”. They organise fun group rides every Thursday around Berlin, with anyone welcome to join. And as their name suggests, every ride finishes at a pizza place. “A good concept, if you ask me!” says Julika.
Over time, Julika has found numerous good places to eat, drink or just socialise, and would like to share a couple of suggestions to anyone visiting her eclectic hometown.
-
Huadou - A vegan, soy-based cafe where everything is delicious; they take their sweet time but it’s really worth it.
5 Elephant Coffee - They have a few places, also in Kreuzberg.
Sofi - Go here for great sourdough bread and focaccia; their morning bun is amazing too.
-
Smart Deli - A super sweet Japanese bistro with amazing lunch and dinner options with a little shop inside.
Liu - This Chinese noodle house offers, amongst other things, amazing home-cooked spicy broths.
-
Rocket Wine Bar - Close to the Sofi bakery.
-
Gaststätte Prassnik - If you like it a little more simple and local.
Z Bar - A very old-school Berlin bar from the 90s.
“Honestly, I would suggest everyone to come and visit Berlin. There are so many small and untouched little spaces that can be found if you just walk around with a lot of time and openness.”
For those that visit the city by bike, she suggests visiting the abandoned airport of Tempelhofer Feld. This space has now been turned into a public park, with the opportunity to cycle around the airfield and do laps. Alternatively, you can appreciate the open and wide feeling offered by this vast space.
When not cycling or enjoying some of Berlin's finest cuisines, Julika enjoys exploring her creative side. Her Major in Graphic Design has meant that she has gathered a lot of different interests, with her getting the most pleasure out of anything craft related. “Anything that I am able to touch and create from scratch gives me the most joy.” This ranges from knitting and crocheting one day, to cooking a new meal the next or getting a blank sheet of paper out to create some sketches or printings. On days when the weather is on her side, you can also find her taking the city by foot. Appreciating the cities’ architecture and her surroundings one step at a time with open and relaxed eyes, in contrast to her usually zooming through the city streets by bike.
We would like to thank Julika for taking the time to share what it is like to live, ride and move in and around the city of Berlin. You can connect with her via the link below.
If you would like to get involved and send us your Postcard, drop us a DM on Instagram - @universal.colours
-
Julika Natalie
@jewlz6000
