{"id":6766,"date":"2012-11-05T18:40:45","date_gmt":"2012-11-05T10:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/?p=6766"},"modified":"2012-11-06T09:51:48","modified_gmt":"2012-11-06T01:51:48","slug":"alleycat-street-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/alleycat-street-race\/","title":{"rendered":"“Alleycat” Street Race Catalyzes Chengdu’s Cyclists"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Natooke Bicycle Shop<\/a> hosted Chengdu’s first “Alleycat” street race this last Saturday, and it was a historic event that drew together hundreds of members of the city’s burgeoning bicycle sub-culture under the Natooke banner.<\/p>\n

In case you aren’t familiar with an alleycat (as I wasn’t), it is an informal, urban bicycle street race that demands quick thinking and knowledge of the streets as much as a heavy pedal. Birthed from the bicycle messenger culture of cities like Toronto and New York City, alleycat races can attract hundreds of cyclists who race between checkpoints, often on fixed gear bicycles. But by most accounts alleycat races aren’t \u00a0just about being the fastest: there’s emphasis on ad-lib fun and debauchery.<\/p>\n

“It’s kind\u00a0of like a scavenger hunt” says co-organizer Jacob Klink. “The points are not revealed until just before the race.\u00a0 It’s not just a test of speed and fitness, but also someone’s wits and their ability to navigate the city.”<\/p>\n

This event wasn’t just an alleycat street race. Nicknamed “Zombiecat”, this was a halloween party on wheels, roving across Chengdu in waves of cyclists.<\/p>\n

At the Alleycat Event<\/h2>\n
\"Larry
Larry Adamson, half of Natooke Chengdu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jacob Klink and Larry Adamson of Natooke Chengdu began promoting the underground race several weeks ago on their Weibo account<\/a> and with a post<\/a> on the Chengdu Forum<\/a>. With such a humble promotion campaign, many more participants emerged than organizers had expected.<\/p>\n

“Response to the alleycat was amazing,” said co-organizer Jacob Klink. “With only 10 days notice we had over one hundred people from in and around Chengdu show up to race. Add atop that the number of bystanders, photographers, friends without bikes, etc. and it made quite the crowd.”<\/p>\n

\"Chengdu
Jacob Klink addressing hundreds of participants through a megaphone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Chengdu
The “Zombiecat” spoke card<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Competitors arrived at 4pm and registered just north of Tianfu Square<\/a> at the center of Chengdu and were handed two items only moments before racing off:<\/p>\n