Urban Cycling

In addition to public transportation, my primary mode of getting around the city is riding my bike.

One of the most punk things you can do in a place like America, is to ride your bike or walk everywhere.

Most of the country is so clearly designed (or demolished and rebuilt) with only cars in mind, so much so that your mere existence not in car will inexplicably piss people off. At first, it can seem frightening and dangerous, but that is quickly overshadowed by the freedom it affords. It is a true form of liberation from the prohibitively-expensive and dismally-unsustainable auto-industry.

I'm particularly interested in an urban assault approach to riding: Riding fast on city streets, unbothered by busy downtown areas or inclement weather.

This city has a ton of bike messengers and couriers, who know the streets better than anyone and whip around on track bikes.

Getting to know these folks over time has convinced me to build up and try out riding a fixed-gear bike for myself. Needless to say with my very first ride I was hooked.

Check out some urban cycling-related pages/tools below:

• Alleycat Hacker
  • Simple web tool to assist in formulating the best route for fixed gear alleycat bike races
  • Check out the detailed write-up in the project catalog here
• Biking related photos
  • Some photos of my friends and I having fun on our bikes