Here is a brief article on everyone’s favorite fixed gear street race by Nick McManus who took some cool poloriod group shots of the MT scene.
Speed Demons Were Out In Full Force For The Monstertrack Fixie Race
MonsterTrack pre-registration party at Legion Bar in Williamsburg hosted by Le Noize karaoke, 3/16/17. (Photo: Nick McManus)
By: Nick McManus
March 20th, 2017
While everyone else was working off their St. Patty’s hangovers, the city’s fixie fanatics were gearing up for the eighteenth annual Monstertrack bike race. The unsanctioned, fixed-gear-only messenger-style race is a favorite of both local and out-of-town riders from all over the world. (This former messenger took 22nd place in 2009.)
Videos are starting to surface from the race showing a wet and wild time.
Here is one from Pedal Strokes-
And Eastcoast30-
I was looking up some random media on MT and discovered this great interview in a podcast with Domincan Chris, this year’s MT winner. Whaaaaa? A cycling culture podcast I hadn’t heard of? Where have you been all my life?
Check this: A crew of street racing, track bike enthusiasists, consististing of Gabe “Electronica” Diaz and Jason “Buckets” Colon-the hosts, and Cisco “Free Agent Frank” Colon on production-have this amazing podcast often recorded in their favorite bowling alley.
Now heading into their second season, which mean there is this amazing archive of interviews with some of the biggest names in NYC bike culture and some you need to get to know. There stories are really amazing especially Dominican Crihs as he talks about racing, fighting accusations of. cheating, and battling it out on the streets for respect in the world of alley cat races.
Mission Workshop makes really great bags for the urban cycling lifestyle. They’ve been doing it for over 20 years based out of the West Coast messenger bag making hot bed of downtown San Francisco-home to heavy hitters like Chrome Industries and Timbuk2. Whenever I see someone with one of their slick classic Rolltop back packs, I get a little jealous…”Did you get that in SF?”
It’s that time of year again…New York City’s longest running, fixed gear only (no hand brakes) messenger style alley cat race.
Monster Track, now in it’s 18th year. WHAAAAAA???
Who will get bragging rights to being the fastest on the streets and win this awesome prize bag from Reload Bags. As well as Cash and other prizes.
It’s a track bike holiday with urban city racing enthusiasts and speed junkies traveling from all over the world to compete in this one-of-a-kind sporting event.
The weekend offers parties and racing for four days of bicycle lore.
According to CNN (this must be #fakenews?!?!), 78 year old great-grandmother, Ethel MacDonald, (not to be confused with the famous anarchist propagandist) has cycled solo more than 10,000 miles across Europe, and North America since 2003.
She uses both the Warm Showers and Couchsurfing communities on her trips to save on money for lodging and more importantly to meet new people.
According to the CNN article – “MacDonald only began cycling in 1979, when she moved town following her divorce and her bike became her main mode of transport.”
“For anyone who wants to follow in her footsteps, her advice is simple. “Just do it.””
In a different article from 2010, Ethel states some of her reasoning for her lifestyle: “Every person not confined inside metal makes for a better community.”
Marchand’s coach and friend Gerard Mistler told the AP that despite being just 5 feet tall and weighing 115 pounds, his fitness is a result of his daily cycling, diet (lots of fruit and vegetables, a little meat, and not too much coffee) and proper rest.
You can watch a 47 minute video of Robert’s historic record breaking ride below:
During a year in which NYC cycling deaths actually increased compared to the previous two years, smart phone manufacturer Samsung produced a TV commercial “Samsung Galaxy: A Perfect Day” posted to youtube on 11/10/2016, which already has over 1,814,000 views, idealizing youths cycling on Brooklyn streets all day on their own showcasing some of its famous neighborhoods.
At two points in the full video, the kids are biking on South 6th Street, in Williamsburg, home to the Time’s Up! Bike Coop!
Rumor has it, Time’s Up! received some of Samsung’s over $530 billion in assets for the use of their bike vending machine, building, and sidewalk for the shoot.
Screenshot from “Samsung Galaxy: A Perfect Day” youtube video 0:39.
In scanning some of the over 680 comments in the youtube video, they can be broken down into three general reactions:
2) Something to the effect of, people feeling lonely and isolated, wishing their childhood were like what they were seeing in the video.
3) An isolated anti-bike rant: “Nice ad EXCEPT encourages kids to do dangerous stuff on their bikes. Riding off sidewalks into intersections, hogging the road, not stopping at stop signs, etc. Irresponsible of Samsung and its ad agency.” by a youtube user.
In spite of the fantasy depicted, the only real suggestion, is maybe to change the music to an artist who was actually born in Brooklyn, like Lou Reed’s“Street Hassle”, “Perfect Day” or Garland Jefferies’s“Wild in the Streets” to stick with the strong NYC theme of the video. Well at least 3/4 of Nada Surf were born in NYC.
Leave below in the comments what songs you think would go best with the video.
Saturday December 31st, 2016
Three meet-up locations: 9:45PM at the Brooklyn-side entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge
OR at 10PM at Washington Square Park Arch, Manhattan
OR at 10:20pm Madison Square Park, 23rd & Broadway, Flatiron Side
This is usually a fun, and large bike ride, no matter how cold the weather, and always free, so come on out, celebrate the closing of 2016, and who knows what 2017 holds in store for us?
Looking for something Green and pro-active for the planet for #givingtuesday? How about this:
Austin Horse and George Pigeon, two great animals, are taking self powered bicycle generators to the brave water protector’s camp at Standing Rock, North Dakota.
Gofundme.com: Engergy Bikes for #DAPL Protest
From Austin Horse:
“Our goal is to bring new working energy generators & bikes and install them to support the water protectors protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline.”
Change of plans, because tropical storm Hermine has forced the City to close all NYC beaches, so the beach ride will occur on Sunday, September 11th, 2016, 11:30am–Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn instead.
From Time’s Up: Join us for a leisurely bike ride out to Rockaway Beach to enjoy an endless Summer afternoon of swimming, and relaxing on the beach!
Invite your friends! Meet new ones! Let’s have a party on the beach!.
