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Tall Bikes: Mutant Bike Culture Not Yet in Tel Aviv

This is old but funny.

First, some background: For those who don’t know, tall bikes are part of the nebulous bike culture and residing somewhere in the subculture scene bordering the hipster and fixie lifestyles.

Part of the philosophy of the tall bike movement is to recycle and reuse old bikes and parts and recapitulate them as useful, if unreliable and totally impractical, bikes. The philosophy borders on the preachy when the corporate culture tries to incorporate the insular tall bike culture.  Tall bike riders form clubs and drink a lot and talk about individuality and yada yada but if you want to join their clubs - Black Label or C.H.U.N.K. 666 to name a couple - you must pass a vetting process and conform to their norms.  Sounds great.

Listening to the Best Show on WFMU’s archives, the host Tom Scharpling read a Village Voice article about vandalism in the hipster capital of Bedford Avenue.

Some disgruntled tall bike rider objected to Brooklyn Industries’ use of tall bikes in a window ad campaign and proceeded to scrawl (sponge?) “Bike Culture Not for Sale” in acid on multiple Brooklyn Industries’ outlets.

Despite most of the tall bike clubs unwilling to talk to the press, the Village Voice meets “Darko”,  a member of C.H.U.N.K.,  agrees to meet and shed light on the situation.  The most striking element in the entire article is that Darko is the creative director for the Ralph Lauren website,  a bastion of capitalism and excess.

How is it that directing advertising using all sorts of ploys and gimmicks to sell clothes is acceptable but using a tall bike is not and is seen as sacrilege?

This fad, too, shall pass.

Tom Scharpling dissects the paradox of “Bike Culture Not for Sale” and debates a tall bike enthusiast. Listen here. (tall bike discussion from the 25 minute mark to about minute 60)