Trains, Buses and Banana Peels // Cyclists of Chicago (Humans of New York Rip Off)

I think I'm starting to figure this city out. 

When I was back in Mexico, I thought for sure there where better places to ride in the world. I felt limited. Then after riding in California, Miami, Colorado and North Carolina I realized I was wrong. Some of the best riding I've done in my life was right in my hometown backyard. 

When I moved to North Carolina to do my Master's Degree, I thought it was kind of flat. The riding scene was nice, but I felt the riding wasn't technical or steep enough. Yet, I could bike to the trails from home. Now I miss NC terribly too.

Now, I've moved to Chicago for a finance job. It takes way more to get out to the trails but I think I'm getting old enough to realize its stupid to reminisce all the time. When I was about to move out here for a Finance job, people swore to me there was absolutely no mountain bike scene. They coulnd't have been more wrong. I've been pleasantly surprised. 

I know that when seeing it from an angle of someone that's lived here their whole life there's a lot to complain about. However, for me, that I did not know a thing about Chicago before moving (except that one of my favorite movies, High Fidelity, was filmed here), it's all been positive. 

I've never been in a city with bike traffic outside of Amsterdam. I absolutely love to commute among fellow rider brethren (Yes, even if they do the "Shoaling" thing). So many of them along N Milwaukee. Mountain Bike trails? They are out there if you look closely. Jumps, drops and features? Also out there. 

I'm really surprised of how diverse the cycling community is out here and I'm glad I landed here. At least for a while.

I've decided to get out and start taking pictures of cyclists along my commutes to form a gallery that features a snippet of their story (Kind of like Humans of New York). I think most cyclists are not really cyclists but rather ordinary people who happen to cycle. People who don't cycle like to put us in boxes and refer to every cyclists in a general sense when its pretty clear we are all different and permeate every corner of society. Hopefully this project will help raise awareness and shed a positive light on cyclists. If nothing else comes out of it, at least I'll meet a few of you out there.

So if you happen upon me wanting to take a picture, don't take offense, just trying to get something going here. I know most of you are in a hurry, but if you can spare a second it would be greatly appreciated.

Here's the first dude I bumped to at 1 a.m. last Thursday.

"Hablo español" 

Views: 777

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin on November 1, 2016 at 4:50am

I absolutely love this idea and can't wait to see where it goes. Thanks for doing this, Marcelo!

Permalink Reply by Marcelo Marcos on November 2, 2016 at 2:52am

Thanks Jeremy! I'll keep you posted for sure

Permalink Reply by Caiken on November 3, 2016 at 6:57am

your video is chevere! i've often wondered if someone would do something like this and I can't wait to see more. I hope to catch you sometime but you should definitely show up at Bike Winter Art Show and hit up Stuart and Steve in the next few months!

Permalink Reply by Marcelo Marcos on November 3, 2016 at 4:10pm

Thanks! Not sure if anything will come out of it and I know its been tried before. Not easy to get people's shots mid busy Chicago commute but at least I'll try. I'll be sure to check out the Winter Art Show, thanks for letting me know about it!

Permalink Reply by Bikefreeek on November 3, 2016 at 12:33pm

I hope you gave Flip Bike T a tip for shooting a photo of him. He's a street performer and that's how he makes a living, by putting on a show. If you take in the show and don't pay for it, you're taking from the performer. Please make sure you support the culture that you enjoy discovering here in Chicago!

Permalink Reply by Marcelo Marcos on November 3, 2016 at 3:43pm

I'm actually not trying to go that route. That's one thing I don't miss about L.A. Every dude banging buckets on the street had a manager that helped them manage and request tips. I'm more interested in starting a dialogue with those who will be commuting alongside me this winter. I don't get paid for any photography or projects like these so I'm going to try to keep it more low key. After all the idea is to bring out the average rider who is taking a chance commuting out on the streets of Chicago. At least those that don't mind getting photographed. It just so happens I ran into this guy and got to talking about his trip through Mexico. Pretty rad dude. 

Permalink Reply by Douglas Knapp on November 5, 2016 at 4:04am

Really enjoyed your post, video, and pictures. Where is that statue of the man looking skyward?

Permalink Reply by Marcelo Marcos on November 7, 2016 at 4:23am

Thanks! That statue is Tom Friedman's "Looking Up" and I found it while biking south on the lake front rail around E 52 St. Pretty sure it has been recently relocated here. I believe it was originally in Manhattan or an exact duplicate was there too. Pretty trippy, I had to stop and stare. 

RSS

Groups

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service