Bike derby
Encyclopedia
Also known as "Foot Down" a bike derby is a contest, the goal of which is to be the last person still riding their bike. Modeled somewhere between a Demolition derby
and a Roller derby
, a bike derby adds the element of maintaining balance on a bicycle while causing other contentants' to lose their balance and step or fall to the ground. When a contestant touches the ground, they are considered out of the derby.
Bike derbies often involve, roughly in order of popularity:
Additionally, a newer trend of 'Ghost Biking' has become part of a derby. A 'Ghost Bike' is a riderless bike that is often rolled into the mix by someone on the sidelines. The intention of this is to knock someone off their bike.
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Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
and a Roller derby
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
, a bike derby adds the element of maintaining balance on a bicycle while causing other contentants' to lose their balance and step or fall to the ground. When a contestant touches the ground, they are considered out of the derby.
Bike derbies often involve, roughly in order of popularity:
- drinking alcoholic beverageAlcoholic beverageAn alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
s - an arenaArenaAn arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
defined by the spectators' bodies - audience participation
- personal injuryInjury-By cause:*Traumatic injury, a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident*Other injuries from external physical causes, such as radiation injury, burn injury or frostbite*Injury from infection...
- property damageProperty damageProperty damage is damage to or the destruction of public or private property, caused either by a person who is not its owner or by natural phenomena. Property damage caused by persons is generally categorized by its cause: neglect , and intentional damage...
, primarily to contestants' bikes - cheap bikes
- costumeCostumeThe term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
s
Additionally, a newer trend of 'Ghost Biking' has become part of a derby. A 'Ghost Bike' is a riderless bike that is often rolled into the mix by someone on the sidelines. The intention of this is to knock someone off their bike.
History
While historically based on a popular children's pastime, the modern bicycle derby was first implemented in Minneapolis, MN by the Minneapoilis Mafia. Since that time, bicycle derbies have spread through the industry and to events such as the Single Speed World ChampionshipSingle Speed World Championship
The Single Speed World Championship, or SSWC, is an annual event. It is only open to bicycles with a single gear ratio. Those bicycles can be either singlespeeds or fixed-gears...
.