@Jos....we will be going to bed no later than 10.30 for the whole month of Feb.

The two reasons Caspar is talking about are the two statements he has quoted.

So the argument is now 'What's he gonna bring for us' ?

I don't know, sandwiches perhaps ?

There really is no need for anymore reasons, god knows you have been through a few, I was quite happy with the idea that it's a group of mates having a good time on a friday night and that bikes have nothing to do with an alley cat.

That's good enough for me ! :)

Ah I see, I misread his post as saying 'There are two reasons' (as in 'I know of two reasons') - rather than the 'here' are two reasons kind of meaning !

Whoops! My mistake :D, apologies to Caspar and scrub the goteé bearded enigmatist analogy !



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz2-ukrd2VQ

maybe some free copies of maxim and a camera you can try and run over

so what time does the alleycat start at the dragon bar on fri night??

I'm not a courier and I've raced exactly three alleycats so I don't claim to be an expert, but this is my point of view.

They're a lot of fun, an underground thing, organised by people for no better reason than to enjoy themselves with the people they know, or share a common interest with. They're not put on to 'promote' anything, which is why, in my opinion, the idea of mainstream media 'exposing' or reporting on alleycats is a bad thing. Jos asked 'what's he gonna bring for us?' - I don't think he meant in a physical sense, more what will this story bring that is positive for alleycats in general - and the answer is nothing. At all.

I don't claim to speak on behalf of anyone, but these races have been going for more than a decade without too much hassle, and the growing popularity of fixed gear bikes is going endanger that. It's inevitable that things will change, it's a part of life, but there's no need to rush towards it.

See you all at the Dragon Bar; Midnight, wasn't it?

True.

Next to that. Google any random 15 year old article on line about an alleycat, Change town, date and names and you' have your very own article. They have been writing the same shit for the past 15 years. That's the reality.

And there is no bike porn among messengers. They work 5 days a week and are to busy to make sure their handlebar tape is matching the tyres they have on.

Step 1 - Maxim article on alleycats

Step 2 - this kinda shit starts happening over here:

yeah, what they said.

Nearly exactly what I was going to say. I was going to go for

Righ on (and I'm one of the 99.9%).
.
.
.
Also I saw a guy on a touring bike enter an alleycat once. I think an article on 'touring bike culture' should be the angle you should look at.

Jos - no worries - i AM a journalist after all and am used to initial knee-jerk hatred...

"what's he going to bring for us?"

Well I would've tried to bring a balanced article to national press. I also wanted to focus on the equipment of a courier, just because I think some of the bikes i see while riding into town every day are such interesting machines. Also, having never been to an alleycat I really have no idea what they're about, nor do most people. I think people are genuinely interested in these things because 99% of people can't get involved for one reason or another.

I understand people's concerns with Maxim - on reflection you're probably partly justified - it might have been hard to squeeze an honest angle past the editor, and I would've been gutted if a subject I'm genuinely enthusiastic about had been watered down or the point removed or another added for the sake of sensationalising things.

Plus I can understand people being unwilling to be featured doing something illegal, although I understood alleycats are a legal 'grey area' - my research isn't up to much obviously.

Anyway this is all beside the point as I won't be covering it as have missed the pitch deadline. Will still come down and check things out though (sorta wish I hadn't told everyone what my bike and bag are though - might catch the bus down to avoid recognition...)

@mongrel
Why dont you race the alleycat and stop posting shite on forums?
You have to race to see what we're about!!!

I'd love to except i'd get my arse kicked and I'm not a messenger...

The alleycat's open to everyone ,the roller racing is courier only.
(They are seperate)

most of the alleycats are open to all rides...im not a messenger(thank god) and i've been on a few........i didn't do to good but thats not what its about,its about being a menace to the public :)

It says on the flyer that it's open to non-messengers. Getting your arse kicked is the way that you start in any competitive sport

@aidan
That's why it's best kept underground baby!

Much like bestiality.

Yes we're also a menace to the animal kingdom.BAAAAA!

Dog-dogging is where it's at right now.

Come and watch me and all my bitches in the lay-by that marks the start of the Catford Hillclimb.

mongrel... most people think alley cats are scruffy cats that eat shit outa bins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Cat
lets keep it that way.
skateboarding is really cool at the moment
maybe you could write about that.

bollox!!
bike and bag for fucks sake!!! dont think that would really make an exciting article!!

cant he just do something about a new fast car or the girl next door? or if he really wants to write somthing about an alleycat why doesnt he make a zine, id buy that if he made it.

For fuck's sake this battle is lost, it'll be the summer of the 'fixie' whether we like it or not.

We'll all end up sat in some shite pub trying to convince a load of cool mofos that we were doing it way before them and they won't care or believe us.

I for one would hate to see our precious fixed wheel bicycles in Maxim, but ultimately, who cares?

We'll just have to smoke some more gaylords.

Soooo.... Indian /Swiss?

mmm..... now thats Gay!

I was doing it way before you :p

eat my skinny shorts!

i've always been skinny.

Thinenger.

Anorexinger or Buliminger?

You guys are so fcuking harsh and over nothing.

This article has been written for over a decade, and what, it's old news....

How long have the majority of you been riding fixed? Not the minority of you, the majority. One year? Two? Three?

Fixed wheel is a type of (over-hyped) bike. That's it. Why be so protective over it? It's a type of bike.

On top of that, Alley cats aren't technically illegal. Running a red light is. Riding with one or no brakes is. These things are done in broad daylight every day.

On the other hand as a stringer myself for Maxim's number one competition, I have no doubt that whether Mongrel has good intentions or not the article will be completely sensationalized. And there is nothing positive that will come out of a Maxim article.

Plus, like Aiden said, it won't stop us from riding our bikes, but I really don't want anymore police "crack-downs" on running reds and the like and drawing attention to the "dark side" of riding bikes isn't going to go well. Mandatory helmets anyone??

However, Mongrel is clearly well-intentioned and it would have been just as easy to say no thank you to him, rather than fcuk off. Life's to short for that exclusivity b*llsh*t.

oh and non-messengers have been riding in alley cats as long as messengers.

Mongrel, you have been open and honest and you have taken your homo-erotic male ass-paddling initiation. Welcome. The gorrillas have beaten their chests. That means keep your head down, take a bit of sh*t and you'll be part of the herd in no time.

that's everyone told then.
play nicely now
:-)