History of the Bike Salute

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Permalink Reply by Gin on January 28, 2011 at 10:59pm

Also known as the Chicago hold up. . .

http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Chicago_hold-up

 

And, from the ye olde version of the CCM website: http://old.chicagocriticalmass.org/

 

What is a “Chicago Holdup?”
Occasionally, when CM riders move through intersections, they spontaneously lift their bikes over their heads. This is also called a “bike lift” or “bike salute” in other parts of the world. It is a symbolic gesture to emphasize our belief that bikes are superior to cars as a form of urban transportation.

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Permalink Reply by Dubi Kaufmann on January 29, 2011 at 12:19am

 I don't know, I think it is a primal triumphant gesture. and It probably has its roots in the time when bikes moved from steel frames to aluminum.

 

If I were still in art school I'd say that:

It all started with Milo of Crotona, an athlete who lived in ancient Greece. One day he held a new born calf over his head. He would continue to carry that calf every day until He could hold a full grown bull on his shoulders.

later The bicycle was invented in france

 

Jean de Paleologue circa 1898  (Déesse means goddess in french).

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Permalink Reply by lauren sailor on January 29, 2011 at 4:18am

to add to Gin's comment, a Bike Salute was employed on the inaugural Daley Plaza Chicago Critical Mass on September 5, 1997. you can read Jim Redd's ride report at http://old.chicagocriticalmass.org/ridereports/cmridse7.html (reload the page if it doesn't load at first), which notes the first Chicago Hold-up at North/Milwaukee/Damen. here is an excerpt:

 

Once we got out of the Loop, the cops pretty much left us alone. As we approached the Wicker Park destination point, I led the Mass on a slight detour to cross through an intersection all bikers hate because of the car traffic. Since it wasn't on the route map, no cops were there. My intention was to just cork it and ride through, making a left turn so we could block maximum traffic. Someone rode up beside me (I think it was a woman named Amara, who had been on other Mass rides) and said  quietly "Let's lift our bikes." I pondered the implications of this for a few seconds, then, remembering Burnham, said to myself "What the hell." As I approached the intersection, I got off my bike, lifted it over my head, and walked out into the intersection. I looked back, and the entire Mass lifted theirs immediately! They surged into the intersection, blocking traffic from 5 directions, cheering with those bikes raised in some kind of bike salute.

 

Bikes over cars! Motorists had no idea what to make of it. Some honked. Some got out and sat on their hoods, watching the spectacle.  My intention had been to just briefly raise our bikes and then be on our way, so I put my bike down and headed south. But this time, no one followed. I looked back and the entire Mass was still in the intersection, hollering and cheering. I looked around for cops. None yet, so I lifted my bike again and joined in.  Then, as if some silent signal had been given, the riders lowered their bikes, mounted up, and headed toward the park. A squad car showed up, but there was no one to arrest, no trace of what had happened.  Car traffic had resumed it's normal flow, thus all was right with the world.

 

i will also add that i rode in San Francisco Critical Mass last night, and there were no fewer than 3 instances where the riders up front circled in intersections before one or two dozen did a hold-up. there was even a tandem bike salute!

 

 

Gin said:

Also known as the Chicago hold up. . .

http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Chicago_hold-up

 

And, from the ye olde version of the CCM website: http://old.chicagocriticalmass.org/

 

What is a “Chicago Holdup?”
Occasionally, when CM riders move through intersections, they spontaneously lift their bikes over their heads. This is also called a “bike lift” or “bike salute” in other parts of the world. It is a symbolic gesture to emphasize our belief that bikes are superior to cars as a form of urban transportation.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 29, 2011 at 8:39am

Bikes over cars! Motorists had no idea what to make of it. Some honked. Some got out and sat on their hoods, watching the spectacle.

 

Always love reading this one-- at the time I thought CM was a horrible idea-- I'm pretty sure I was the one sitting on their hood, on my way home from Kounty.

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Permalink Reply by Gin on January 29, 2011 at 10:25am

I salute this comment! Meanwhile, I can never quite wrangle my bike over my head with all the panniers, the steel frame and feebleness in my arms.

Dubi Kaufmann said:

 I don't know, I think it is a primal triumphant gesture. and It probably has its roots in the time when bikes moved from steel frames to aluminum.

 

If I were still in art school I'd say that:

It all started with Milo of Crotona, an athlete who lived in ancient Greece. One day he held a new born calf over his head. He would continue to carry that calf every day until He could hold a full grown bull on his shoulders. 

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Permalink Reply by Zach Straw on January 29, 2011 at 2:02pm

Thanks all!

 

Awesome information. Seems like the most organic growth of a cultural salute that is possible.

Epic.

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