plan was another lonely ride collecting ftp data for the afternoon when a feed popped up on the facebook about an alley cat race during the day. So why not? They allowed any bikes and I ended up getting 4th… winner was on a fixed gear track bike. these velodrome guys can ride!
here is what alleycat racing is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xphlt0i0Lz4
any of you on this board get into it?
I watched it, and holy sh*t this makes the red hook crit series look tame.
Not sure I have what it takes (a death wish) to excel at this event … but the video is crazy …
done a few…cheap training, a good workout.
I have Orienteered/Adventure Race in my recent past so it wasn;t a new concept to me. Don’t discount the hipster lumbersexuals smoking before the race who ride in skinny jeans. Those fuckers dont have a car and ride everywhere all year. and can be damn strong on the bike…as well as knowing here everything in the cities is…
Every single one of those riders should be arrested.
done a few…cheap training, a good workout.
I have Orienteered/Adventure Race in my recent past so it wasn;t a new concept to me. Don’t discount the hipster lumbersexuals smoking before the race who ride in skinny jeans. Those fuckers dont have a car and ride everywhere all year. and can be damn strong on the bike…as well as knowing here everything in the cities is…
what would be your numbers in tri or 40k tt on the bike?
This is not ‘bike racing’. When you get killed in one of these events, no one will take responsibility. The ‘organizers’ will disappear, the participants will all close ranks, and everyone will whisper “well, he knew the risks…”.
Here was my response to the news when a young man was killed in 2008 on a local website called “Chicago Bike Racing”. My views caused the website to lock the thread and remove my post.
"I find it ironic that this would be posted on a blog dedicated to bike racing. “Tour da Chicago” is not bike racing, it’s gambling. Gambling in the worst sort of way, where the gambler is dedicated to hurting himself and his family to play the odds. ***I have little sympathy for the rider killed: let’s all admit it, he was a fool. A fool operating within the translucent confines of a mob mentality that, in the guise of “sport”, revels in its nihilism of competitive carte blanche. *
I know that Luke, and his many readers full well know the dangers of true bike racing. When you pin on your number you are really pinning on your Waiver, as flimsy a talisman against scar tissue as ever could be. It is also a social agreement that you’re not going to behave in a dangerous manner to those around you.
We have enough trouble with group rides being pulled over in this city; this group of ‘riders’ are the worst representatives of cycling, and do nothing to further the sport, alternative transport, or healthy living."
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-02-26/news/0802260105_1_street-race-bicyclist-suv
This is not a game.
as a driver and a cyclist - they’re **'s!!! I’ve no sympathy at all for some w**ker who rides up the inside on blind spots and then gets hit and killed, let alone the fact the twts have hurt and killed pedestrians (not specifically in these races but arseholes riding on sidewalks, through crossings etc) - they broadly speaking give drivers every reason to treat cyclists like twts!!! and then we’re surprised when some dickhead tries to run you off the road, abuses you, throws shit at you or otherwise behaves like an arsehole
Exactly why drivers hate cyclists. I don’t suppose illegality would stop these idiots either. Same badasses from high school who thought doing stupid dangerous shit was cool - which is fine until you’re also endangering bystanders.
Don’t be hatin’ cause they can ride!
The video looks entirely bonkers. It is not cycling. It is taking wanton risks with utter disregard for everyone else around them, whilst just happening to be seated on a bike.
When you get killed in one of these events, no one will take responsibility. The ‘organizers’ will disappear, the participants will all close ranks, and everyone will whisper “well, he knew the risks…”.
Just pointing out that that’s precisely the standard operating procedure for all races. That’s why we sign liability waivers to no end that make you explicitly state that you’re releasing everyone but yourself from liability. So the organizers can disappear.
The organizers of sanctioned races just have more hurdles to clear to get sanctioned and insured.
I think the riding in the video is stupid. But, otoh, it is not representative of all self-proclaimed “alley cat” racing, nor underground racing in general. Much of which is far more sane, e.g. midnight mountain bike rides, etc.
I just think there’s a space for racing that doesn’t involve inviting the insurance adjusters, governing bodies, and lawyers to the table.
not real races? disagree… there is an economic disparity in racing and this type is where those making minimum wage can kick ass with out having to pay heavy race entry fees etc. There is a lot of good talent out there but remains untapped
not real races? disagree… there is an economic disparity in racing and this type is where those making minimum wage can kick ass with out having to pay heavy race entry fees etc. There is a lot of good talent out there but remains untapped
And the way that race unfolded, any “untapped talent” better make hay while they can…I’m guessing they’ll be dead or disabled by the time they turn 25.
not real races? disagree… there is an economic disparity in racing and this type is where those making minimum wage can kick ass with out having to pay heavy race entry fees etc. There is a lot of good talent out there but remains untapped
And the way that race unfolded, any “untapped talent” better make hay while they can…I’m guessing they’ll be dead or disabled by the time they turn 25.
heh some of these guys are in their 40s
holy SHIT that looked like the most fun anyone could possibly have . . . reminds me of my days bike-commuting down st charles new orleans. except that I am slow and I was racing mormon missionaries instead of austin horse.
and I got to see a drunk friend of mine crash his Bronco II into a streetcar. good times
Funny, I just read about this crazy event today, and one of my clients this evening, does exactly that. When I mentioned Alleycat video to him, he immediately knew of Lucas Brunelle.
I have been in combat, jumped out of planes, I would NEVER do that ALLEYCAT stuff, way too crazy and dangerous and NO BRAKES!!!
I saw. Huge reliance on every other road user swerving out of their way or braking to avoid near misses…
I wasn’t hugely impressed. The cut some things fine. A lot of the riding around pedestrians was incredibly selfish behaviour putting a more vulnerable road user at risk. A lot of the riding around cars relied on the cars avoiding them when they didn’t have the right of way. I’m not sure how much of that is is skill and how much is just reckless selfishness.
But hey, each to their own - except that this not only endangers the riders who’ve accepted the risk but also those around them on the road who haven’t.
Christ, I’m sounding old.
I did that once. About 5 minutes in, remembered I had a kid and never did it again.
I had never heard of it, but watching this video made me hate everything about it. How stupid can you be to participate in something so blatantly dangerous for you, motorists and pedestrians?
I had never heard of it, but watching this video made me hate everything about it. How stupid can you be to participate in something so blatantly dangerous for you, motorists and pedestrians?
well the close proximity of the video makes it look faster than what it is… probably in the car/ped mix situations the speed of the bike is a fast as a pedestrian can move (4mph)