Hey Nashville, do you know what an Alley Cat race is? I didn’t either, but they sound very cool.
An Alleycat race is an informal bicycle race. Alleycats almost always take place in cities, and are often organized by bicycle messengers. The informality of the organization is matched by the emphasis on taking part, rather than simple competition. … Regularly organized Alleycats can be found in cities across North America, Europe and Asia. Many smaller cities with no cycle messenger population are also home to alleycats run by the burgeoning urban cyclist subculture.
The basic premise is that there is no set route, only a series of checkpoints. When you get to the first checkpoint your are told where to find the second. Sound fun? I think so.
Nashville is having an Alley Cat Race on Saturday August 30th. I am not sure if I am in shape to complete the race yet (let alone be competitive), but it sounds like it will be a good time. I am thinking I might volunteer to staff one of the checkpoints. The thing is, I know my way around town really well, so I am a little tempted to see how I can do.
If you are interested, check out the Fixed Gear Nashville blog. I will probably be there in one capacity or another.
