Just a little taste…

By Anna | January 24, 2010 | No Comments

The BikeCult zine is well on its way, many thanks to everyone who contributed! Each issue will feature a letter from a different editor, in which they can get on their soapbox about any cycling issue they’d like to discuss. I wrote the letter for the first issue, and it outlines our philosophy and mission for the collective, and I’ve posted it below to give you a little sample of what awaits you in February with the zine launch!  

I’ve been riding bicycles in Albuquerque for just over three years now. In that time, I’ve met some of the most amazing people this city will ever know, forged important relationships with influential people in the community and come to learn a lot about myself, the cycling scene and life in general. It wasn’t always like that for me, though. I think I had it pretty easy in assimilating into the scene; I seem to have met the right people at the right time, but I had to work for it. Looking at the scene from the inside, though, I’ve been struck by some of its more unappetizing faults. People, myself and my cohorts included, have complained that the cycling scene in Albuquerque has a certain exclusivity to those that aren’t necessarily “in” it. I think there’s a lot of intimidation felt by aspiring cyclists (I use that term to collectively reference anyone who rides any kind of bike) when they look at the scene. We’re a bit of tight-knit band, especially given the small geographical and social size of the community; we all know or know of one another, more or less. Add to that the exclusivity of the fixed-gear scene in general (which, for this city at least, seems to be one of the more visible aspects of cycling culture), and I can understand how people might feel like riding a bike in Albuquerque is inaccessible.

As a collective, Bike Cult proposes a renovation of the cycling scene as a whole, with an emphasis on encouraging more young riders to take up cycling. We’re extremely opposed to the in/out notion of cycling that has become so prevalent in this city. Even within the scene, there are marked divisions between different types of riders, and even discrimination. Fixed-gear riders tend to stick together, and even being one, I’ve felt excluded. It’s disheartening for anyone to want to build a bicycle of their own, only to be scoffed out of shops for the quality (or price tag) of their components. Commuters don’t want to hang with road bikers, fixie kids don’t want to hang with commuters, ad infinitum. Even Critical Mass, an expression of solidarity with the entire cycling community against discrimination by motorists, has lost steam in Albuquerque.

I think the problem lies in an ignorance of (or refusal to recognize) our common ground. People who ride bicycles have so much in common. Whether you ride for sport, personal fitness, transportation or just for fun, we all share the same problems and opportunities. In a city so focused on car traffic, cyclists have to stick together to carve out a place for ourselves on the streets. Bike Cult believes that exclusivity has no place in cycling, and to that end our collective is completely all inclusive. All riders of all levels on all types of bicycles are welcome to participate in the collective and the events we sponsor. Bike Cult is an open, democratic organization, with no membership rules other than an adherence to the collective’s all inclusive philosophy. We welcome and encourage input and participation. If we are to build a better cycling scene in Albuquerque, we need your help. So come ride with us, write for the zine, organize events, spread the word!

As always, ride safe, 

Anna Reser

Editor,

BikeCult, theohshithandle.com

Comments