alleycats

I was actually surprised to learn that people still participate in "alleycats," since the whole "Save The Track Bike!" campaign had led me to believe the alleycat was extinct and had been replaced by the fixed-gear freestyle "sesh"--which itself only exists in order to provide raw footage for the proliferation of awkward stunting videos known as "edits."

Jumping Through Hoops: What Does Everyone Have Against Hubs? BikeSnobNYC 2010

Ostensibly, alleycats are designed to replicate the daily working conditions of a messenger.

Jumping Through Hoops: What Does Everyone Have Against Hubs? BikeSnobNYC 2010

However, now all sorts of people participate in alleycats--many of whom have never delivered a package on a bicycle in their lives--and so they're now basically big fixed-gear scavenger hunts.

Jumping Through Hoops: What Does Everyone Have Against Hubs? BikeSnobNYC 2010

TCMPA features mainly but not exclusively fixed-gear bicycles, though it shows them being used in a variety of ways, such as in alleycats, in keirin races, for freestyle, for polo, and so forth.

BSNYC Product Review: Bicycle Book Shootout! BikeSnobNYC 2009

It's worth noting that alleycats are becoming increasingly high-concept these days.

Overwrought: It's Getting Complicated In Here BikeSnobNYC 2009

He has to stay above the fray, exude statesmanlike command of situations and absolutely refuse to get down in the gutter and brawl with this junkyard alleycats who want nothing but a street brawl. obama understands if you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas!

Obama Optimistic About Bailout; Moderates Criticism Of McCain 2009

But those are both specialized bikes, and I know and appreciate that Prolly's motivation is a bicycle that one can use to participate in all the various facets of trendy urban cycling: fixed-gear freestyling; alleycats; bike polo; and even commuting.

Trendcycles: Evolution or Reiteration? BikeSnobNYC 2009

On the other hand, this bike-friendliness is generally manifest in things like theme rides, bike temples, and freak bike alleycats.

Oily Renderings: Inspiring Portraits and Suggestive Hand Gestures BikeSnobNYC 2009

If you're unfamiliar with Monster Track, it's basically the Woodstock '99 of alleycats.

Archive 2009-02-01 BikeSnobNYC 2009

As alleycats become increasingly popular the organizers have to try harder to differentiate themselves.

Overwrought: It's Getting Complicated In Here BikeSnobNYC 2009