Will wheelies save us?
Or more specifically…will they save bike riding?
Bicycling magazine seems to think so:
Forget all our arguing over how to take back the streets from cars. These kids just do it. Their wheelies—all wheelies—command authority. Their wheelies halt traffic and stop pedestrians. Their wheelies celebrate their place in the city, proclaiming that they own the pavement they’re rolling down. Cars deal with it.
In a 6-page article titled Bikelife: The Revolution That’s Taking Back the Streets, Bicycling magazine’s October/November issue takes a look at wheelies and the #BikeLife culture that has breathed new life into this classic biking move (is “trick” the right word here?).
And not only that….how the BikeLife culture is serving as a positive outlet for kids and creating a community that’s all about fun.
The article’s author, a former road racer, seemed a little wistful/jealous of the the BikeLife kids:
These kids had everything I wanted from cycling: Not a contract or designer bike, but friends, unregulated fun, and a small, perfect slice of freedom.
In the end, he succumbs to his more primal cycling urges and gives in to popping some wheelies of his own….because, who doesn’t want to be part of the fun?
Of course, Bicycling is not the only mainstream media outlet to notice the BikeLife movement and give it coverage.
The Wall Street Journal (of all places!) covered it in a 2017 article called, “The BMX Bikes Getting Teens Back on Two Wheels — or One”. I bet more than a few people were surprised — and stoked — to see the Wall Street Journal write a piece on wheelies.
Closer to home, we saw what the BikeLife movement was capable of back in 2016 when we saw the righteousness of the Philly rideout.
What we found after checking out the rideout footage?
Big crews, big wheelies and even bigger fun.
The mainstream outlets are catching on now…but you and I both know…it’s always been about that.
(Pictures: Bicycling Magazine)
cruiser revolution 