Chicago Alleycat backlash
29.02.08 by Buffalo Bill
After the death of Matthew Manger-Lynch, which was widely reported on blogs, forums and, crucially, the local media, it was perhaps inevitable that the mainstream media in Chicago would find out about the alleycat phenomenon. After all, for a so-called underground event, it is remarkably easy to get information about where, who and what for. I have known about Da Tour de Chicago since its inception. Travis Culley wrote of his experiences in a Chicago alleycat in his book ‘The Immortal Class’, which was published 7 years ago.
ABC Chicago has aired a 3 minute package on the news about ‘alleycats’. It features lots of footage obviously filmed by riders. Quoting the Chicago authorities, it describes the alleycats as ‘unsanctioned’.
The reporter suggests that it is a matter of time before the Mayor of Chicago makes a pronouncement. Also notable was a local cyclist trying to defend the indefensible. There is no way that you can make a credible statement about alleycats without admitting that they are possibly illegal, definitely more than occasionally dangerous, and probably irresponsible. Ok, the bigger picture is that people get killed all the time on the roads without needing a unsanctioned bicycle racer to help them on their way. But it’s a subtle argument that doesn’t really fly in a 30 second sound-bite.
This was why I always thought it was better not to attract media attention to alleycats, and indeed actively discouraged all the various enquiries that I received down the years. It’s too late now, Lucas Brunelle’s videos are all over the web. But I still maintain that the best policy is to keep a low profile. After all, what’s the point in the first place? Having fun, or trying to be the baddest-assest motherwhatever on the video? We originally started to hold alleycats in London to stimulate the apathetic London messenger scene. To get people together and have a laugh. Not to start a global street-credible brand and get ourselves on tv. It was something that we did for ourselves.
And if I thought that someone would get killed doing it, I would probably not have started doing them. And if I thought that alleycats would eventually be used by the media, and others, as a stick with which to beat my community, I would have had second thoughts. Actually, I did fear that these things might come to pass, but went ahead anyway, which probably makes me a hypocrite.
House of Pistard called the death of Matthew a ‘black day for the alleycat’. They were right.
But the reporting of the incident has at least one comic aspect, the humour of which is not intended by the author. This piece in the Chicago Tribune claims that the reports on the alleycat scene are a triumph for investigative journalism. It’s a sad day for journalism when collating a bunch of web content that is easily accessed by searching google for ‘alleycat chicago’, or looking at bikeforums (which is how most of us got to hear about the death), is heralded as the ‘enterprise of a reporter skilled in tapping into social networks.’
I CANNOT die. I’m immortal.
— McCourier of the clan McCourier 29 February 2008, 19:18 #
Fuck American “news”. It’s such total BS.
If I ever die doing something awesome, my last words are going to be, “No… media…” I’d hate to give those cunts anything with which to perpetuate their useless filth.
— David 29 February 2008, 19:36 #
It’s an interesting story. I thought you might have been harsh on the intrepid reporter in your last paragraph since I hadn’t heard of alleycats until tonight. But I googled “tour da chicago” and I see they even have a website. Nevertheless, I think the positive comments the Tribune article makes about the reporter are focused more on the evolution of getting quotes from people found on myspace rather than by pounding the pavement. Although, that technique might be just as vulnerable to criticism as relying on computers and the internet for any kind of research about the real world.
Speaking as an outsider, and someone who likely falls in the class of people who will first hear about alleycats from the mass media (although I found it here first, so I’ll say I’m just outside that class), the whole thing is more interesting by virtue of the fact that it is deliberately under the radar. Afterall, if everybody’s doing something, why would we be interested in watching a newspiece about it?
Anyway, I suppose this is completely off topic. It’s a shame to hear of anyone getting killed.
— Andy 1 March 2008, 01:05 #
just a thought, if one were to count all the miles completed by all alleycat racers in all alleycats and compared the single fatality to the average number of cyclist fatalities per however-many-miles; what would that look like?
obviously just one is too much, but everything has it’s inherent risks. condolences to the family and friends of matthew, and thoughts to the driver…
— sleepy 1 March 2008, 14:24 #
hey bill, regarding your last paragraph, have you read flat earth news? i just ordered a copy on the basis of a LRB article and the fact that it pissed the editor of the guardian off to no end.
— lurkette 1 March 2008, 18:18 #
I haven’t; but I think I will! Cheers for the tip.
— Bill 1 March 2008, 20:53 #
I can really recommend “flat earth news” also - really eye opening in ways you might not expect.
— murkalurkawurka 2 March 2008, 19:31 #
I live in Chicago, and ride through that VERY DANGEROUS intersection where this bicyclist died, even under the best of circumstances that particular crossroads sucks. You’re not far off in regards to the local Chicago media…it sucks, only the weather reports come close to reality. These bone hunters will grab at any “scandal” and run with it never stopping to do the hard work that is true journalism, and really find out what ‘happened’. Matthew Manger-Lynch seems to have been a good kid, probably a great husband, and a wonderful son and it seems a pretty good friend to have had (according to the online condolences logged on through the Chicago Tribune’s Obit section), in short Matthew was a 29 human being who made a fatale error. Was it his fault? Yes. Was it his fault? No. Was it the driver’s fault? Yes. Was it the driver’s fault? No. These critical questions have been hashed out ‘til the horse is dead already…as you’ve pointed out in blogs, forums and yes “crucially” in the local media. The amount of venom, cruelty and unmitigated hostility towards cyclists is unnerving…bottom line, a young man who loved to ride bikes died while doing so, and a vacuum has been created in the lives of so many people, one that will be very difficult for them all to fill. The local media attention will fade fast (one week later and the process has begun), except for a story here or there in regards to possible law suits, the weather will change, and life will go on…except for one thing, that lingering bad taste that all of this has left in auto drivers and bicyclists hearts and minds. I just hope that we’ve all learned a valuable lesson from this sad affair, and that we all try to behave with humility, non-aggression and some degree of compassion towards one-an-other…but fat chance that happening, this is Chicago, everyone for themselves, good luck.
— Ramon 3 March 2008, 13:16 #
What a tragedy. Matt’s death has left everyone in Chicago reeling. There are some memorial events planned, including a group ride and the placing of a ghost bike, but they’ve been overshadowed by the media coverage of alleycats and the ensuing moral outrage. Some of the comments people have made, especially on the Chicago Tribune page, have been disgusting.
— Simon 3 March 2008, 15:36 #
20 years of alleycat racing and the unthinkable has happend.“It’s fun to have fun as long as it’s funny!“Remember - be careful out there. Underground is where the alleycats come from and that’s where they belong. Evolution is present here , obviously, but it’s all just a gag, it’s for fun. We’ve all done crazy things in the name of fun, for thrills and bragging rights, Matthew and the driver involved are victims of luck, kismet whatever. One death in 20 years of racing . That’s an unbeleivable record, if they only knew the half of it .The media will be back to the election soon and the cycling community will heal.But we’ll think twice about that next move, that next yellow light , and if there’s ever any benefit that comes from another’s passing from this life , it’s the lessons learned and the joy of their experience,their imprint on the lives of the people close to them. And some not so close.
— pete 3 March 2008, 16:09 #
Yet another fool steps up to waffle about alley-cats, tinyurl.com/3d7glb (NY times)
Particularly badly chosen words: “We give away a prize for Best Crash at every alley-cat. Usually it’s pretty cool.” All this from a chap who claims to be involved in running MonsterTrack.
He’s either been misquoted terribly or needs to engage brain before opening mouth.
— suicide 4 March 2008, 12:27 #
that ‘fool’ is Mike Dee, who has been a messenger in NY for a long time, and been an alleycat and roller race organiser there for years as well.
His comments seem foolish now, but the interview was conducted weeks before the death of Matthew, and wouldn’t we all have just laughed at that ‘crash’ comment then?
Times they are a changin’
— dubmess 4 March 2008, 14:31 #
Dubmess, It’s a dumb thing to say (or do regarding the whole interview) no matter what the timing.
Could you give me 1 (one!) positive effect an article like this could have on your job?
— Jos 4 March 2008, 18:56 #
Advertising alleycats in the mass media has always been the wrong thing to do.
— Francois 4 March 2008, 21:08 #
Jos,
ok, maybe just me, but I personally would have looked at that article like I’ve looked at 100 different articles about alleycats and not thought twice about it, but, since someone has died my perception, and that of many others has changed. Now it’s not merely a dumb comment, but an irresponsible comment.
I haven’t read many articles about messengers at all that would have any positive effect, in fact I have recently advocated that we in Dublin don’t talk to the press any more, as it is proven time and time again that they are a bunch of self-serving cnuts…
Loose lips sink ships…
‘n’ all that jazz…
— dubmess 5 March 2008, 01:25 #
everyone of you (and me) is trying to be ‘cool’ in the best way we can imagine…
that it’s different strokes fo’ different folks is no reason to have fit of upsettedness about
It explains MikeD’s comment
Jos’ high n mighty
the fact of alley cat races
zines
all the Bruyneel vids
and any culture
only argue face to face when sober!
— R. Sole 5 March 2008, 20:12 #
The “cool” dont try to be cool,fool.
— Old school 5 March 2008, 20:25 #
@Dubmess
Aye, I saw that he’s a longtime organiser in the article, but I’ve always held that talking to the media about illegal activities is at best foolish and self-destructive. I ken the interview would’ve gone differently after the recent sad loss but the point of alleys has always been “Prizes for finishing [*], not for crashing”.
Fun, not fractures.
[*]Even if that prize is just a chance to blather about the course while getting hammered with good buddies.
— suicide 6 March 2008, 12:08 #
Yet more fodder for the mainstreamers to try to use to break us apart, trying to “out” our behavior to the general public. Sad that one of ours was struck down by an SUV or a twit on the phone no doubt. Even more sad is the hint of undeserved self congratulatory at finding a nose on someone’s face.
— EDGe 9 March 2008, 05:46 #