Cyclecide
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bicycle club
Cycling club
A cycling club is a society for cyclists. It can be local or national, general or specialised. The Cyclists' Touring Club, CTC) in the United Kingdom is a national association; i-Team and are internet clubs; the Tricycle Association, Tandem Club and the Veterans Time Trial Association, for those...
based in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
that is composed of clowns, altered bikes, and a traveling show called "The Bike Rodeo
Bicycle rodeo
A bicycle rodeo is a clinic that helps teach children the importance of riding a bicycle safely and what skills and precautions they need to develop to have a safe time on their bicycles.- The idea and the name :...
".
In the beginning
Cyclone Warehouse
Cyclone Warehouse is an underground venue in the Butcher Town area of San Francisco, California, between Potrero Hill and Hunter's Point. Though many art and event venues have been ephemeral, the Cyclone has lasted, and is known for hosting eclectic and extreme underground events, and serves as...
in San Francisco. The event was a call to all local artists to build any type of bicycle attraction they could think of and bring it to the Bike Rodeo. The show was a massive success with several people flinging themselves off of a 3-foot burning bike ramp at the end of the show. This show solidified the group and they decided to host more events.
An inspiration for many bicycle gangs, including Cyclecide, is the C.h.u.n.k. 666
C.h.u.n.k. 666
CHUNK 666 is a tall bike and chopper bicycle club based in Portland, Oregon and Brooklyn, New York...
zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
.
Who are they
"Cyclecide is a group of people in San Francisco who take junked bikes, alter them, and weld them into tall bikes, choppers, and other contraptions. Welding is fun." The group is composed of welders, musicians, seamstresses, inventors, and bicycle enthusiasts.Bikes
Cyclecide takes bikes out of the junkyardWrecking yard
A scrapyard or junkyard is the location of a dismantling business where wrecked or decommissioned vehicles are brought, their usable parts are sold for use in operating vehicles, while the unusable metal parts, known as scrap metal parts, are sold to metal-recycling companies...
and "pre-cycles" them—they turn them into art before they get recycled
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
. Tall bike
Tall bike
A tall bike is an unusually tall bicycle often constructed by hobbyists from spare parts. Typically, two conventional bicycle frames are connected, by welding, brazing, or other means, one atop the other...
s—the symbol of the bicycle subculture—are a staple in the Cyclecide fleet. Some bikes are welded into bicycle choppers
Chopper bicycle
A chopper bicycle is a bicycle that is designed to get attention and provide a smooth comfortable ride.- About :While the term "chopper" is generally used to describe a motorcycle or bicycle that has had some of its original parts replaced with custom parts, today's definition has grown to include...
. The Suburban Intruder is a Frankenstein
Frankenstein's monster
Frankenstein's monster is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. The creature is often erroneously referred to as "Frankenstein", but in the novel the creature has no name...
combination of a push mower and a bicycle: "2000 are in production to mow a strip across America", states Reese in a performance. Other bikes have names like 666 Chopper, Twelve Pack Fetch, Bone Bike, and Bumblebee.
Rides
Seesaw
A seesaw is a long, narrow board pivoted in the middle so that, as one end goes up, the other goes down.-Mechanics:Mechanically a seesaw is a lever and fulcrum....
was a 10-foot 4x4 piece of wood with a 3-foot fulcrum. Then came the Bicycle Carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
—just like the one at the carnival
Traveling carnival
A traveling carnival is an amusement show that may be made up of amusement rides, food vendors, merchandise vendors, games of chance and skill, thrill acts, animal acts or sideshow curiosities. A traveling carnival is not set up at a permanent location, like an amusement park, but is moved from...
, but you have to pedal the bikes to make it go around. Paul daPlumber designed and welded a two-seated, pedal-powered Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
for Cyclecide.
Other notable rides are the Cyclefuge, Whirl'N'Hurl, Spanking Bike, and Dizzy Toy.
Performances
Cyclecide decided that they should do shows, collect money for beer and gas, and tour the country. Reese's role model of success without talent was Circus RedickulessCircus Redickuless
A traveling circus created by punk-rock impresario Chicken John Rinaldi in 1995 in association with Michael Gump.-History:Formed largely with members of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Cacophony Society, the circus was formed on the premise of being completely without talent. No actual performers...
. Oddly, over the years of dedication to the bicycle, the group has gained a bit of talent. Enough so that they have been paid (minimally) to perform all over the U.S., in places such as Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, Durango
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
, Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
), Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, Point Arena, Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, San Francisco, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, Seattle, and Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
.
While touring, anywhere from eight to 14 people live on an old converted school bus and drive from event to event. All the bikes are packed onto the roof in a custom, bus-long roof rack. Citizens witnessing the colorful bus full of dirty art punks pull into their town are agog. Around the San Francisco Bay Area, Cyclecide is often found billed at large art events such as 'Sand by the Ton' and Yuri's Night.
Tours
- Fall 2004 – Tour de Fat
- New Belgium Brewing CompanyNew Belgium Brewing CompanyNew Belgium Brewing Company is a regional brewery located in Fort Collins, Colorado. It opened in 1991 after Jeff Lebesch, the brewery's founder, took his home-brewing passion commercial. In 2009, it produced over 582,000 barrels of its various labels...
hired Cyclecide to augment their beer-drinking campaign. Cities visited were: Boise, Reno, Omaha, Durango, Santa Fe, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Denver, Fort Collins, Minneapolis, St Louis. After that leg, Cyclecide continued on their own. - Firehouse, New Orleans
- Cafe Mundi, Austin
- Doublewide, Dallas
- New Belgium Brewing Company
- Fall 2003 – Tour de Fat
- Again, Cyclecide was hired by New Belgium Brewing Company and became part of their traveling show. Venues included: Tucson, Cafe Mundi (Austin), Smithville (Texas), Flagstaff, Santa Fe, Durango, Boulder, Fort Collins, Santa Cruz, Portland, and Berkeley.
- Summer 2003 – New Your
- Madagascar, Brooklyn, New York
- Phat Mandy Presents, The IACC Theater, PittsburghPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
- Sibley Bike Depot, Minnesota
- Sprint 2003 – Tour de Tour Detour
- Ace Junkyard, San Francisco
- Rutimaya, Austin Texas
- The Arc in New Orleans
- Tultepec PyroTechnica Festival, TultepecTultepecTultepec is a city and municipality located in State of Mexico, Mexico. It lies directly north of the Federal District in the northeastern part of the State of Mexico. making it is part of the Greater Mexico City urban area. The name comes from Náhuatl meaning 'hill of the tule plant'...
, Mexico - Hotel Congress, Tucson
- Summer 2000 – First Tour
- StvCo North Hollywood
- Abandoned Parking lot, Treasure Island, San Francisco
- July 4 Festival, Point Arena, CaliforniaPoint Arena, CaliforniaPoint Arena is a small coastal city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Point Arena is located west of Hopland, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 449 at the 2010 census, down from 474 at the 2000 census, making it one of the smallest incorporated cities in the state...
Festivals
Cyclecide has participated in several annual events.- Maker FaireMaker FaireMaker Faire is an event created by Make magazine to "celebrate arts, crafts, engineering, science projects and the Do-It-Yourself mindset".-Past events:The first was held April 22 – 23, 2006, at the San Mateo Fairgrounds...
hosted by Make (magazine)Make (magazine)Make is an American quarterly magazine published by O'Reilly Media which focuses on do it yourself and/or DIWO projects involving computers, electronics, robotics, metalworking, woodworking and other disciplines...
, San MateoSan Mateo, CaliforniaSan Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
2006-2009 - Coachella FestivalCoachella Valley Music and Arts FestivalThe Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
, IndioIndio, CaliforniaIndio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...
2002-2007 - BumbershootBumbershootBumbershoot is an annual international music and arts festival held in Seattle, Washington. One of North America's largest such festivals, it takes place every Labor Day weekend at the 74-acre Seattle Center, which was built for the 1962 World's Fair. Seattle Center includes indoor theaters,...
, Seattle 2007 - How Berkeley Can You Be Parade, BerkeleyBerkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
2001-2005 - Street Fair and Fireworks, Point ArenaPoint Arena, CaliforniaPoint Arena is a small coastal city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Point Arena is located west of Hopland, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 449 at the 2010 census, down from 474 at the 2000 census, making it one of the smallest incorporated cities in the state...
2000-2002 - Madagascar Street Festival, BrooklynBrooklynBrooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
Hosted events
Pedal Monster is a multi-day, annual event organized, promoted, and hosted by Cyclecide. Cyclecide invites all other altered bike clubs to San Francisco for a weekend of activities including a poker runPoker run
A poker run is an organized event where participants, usually using motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats, or horses, must visit five to seven checkpoints, drawing a playing card at each one. The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run...
, a day of feasting (BBQ), and a show with the rides set up.