ChiWhoBike #34
This is La Trucha. This is basically my introduction back into the bike community and the bike world, and also also a combination of self-expression and kind of getting in touch with my roots as a part of Chicano culture and lowrider culture. The one quote about Chicano culture I like is it’s just putting candy paint on the American dream. So as far as that, it’s kind of using American built stuff and putting a Mexican artesan twist to it. I started this build was ‘cause when I was younger I didn’t feel like I was Chicano, or Mexican, just because of the stigmas that go behind that just ‘cause I’m born in America. And as part of the lowrider culture, it’s kind of us making our own culture within two cultures. And taking a little bit of both in the best of both to create the ‘la cultura’.
I think non cyclists are missing out on a lot, because biking is a way to get yourself to do a lot more activities that you normally wouldn’t do, and build connections to your community, connections with your kids. I often bike the Illinois Prairie path with my niece, nephew, and my brother and I’ve never felt closer to them till after I started doing that with them. You know, providing them with the knowledge that I have that bikes can provide multiple things and just sharing that love and that freedom with them. Like everybody’s calling my niece my mini-me right now, ‘cause she wants more bikes, always wants to be on the bike and also learned how to use it as therapy.
The city has a lot of attractions for people who wanna ride bikes, like Big Marsh Park. It’s an oasis, far away from the city, but also very accessible through bikes. And then just give shout outs to all your bike shops, and to anybody that you see on a bike. Give them a thumbs up instead of honking at ‘em or telling ‘em to get out the way. We’re also just trying to get to places or trying to have fun, so it’s nothing that people should be aggressive towards. Then come out to any bike events you see - Critical mass is amazing, and there’s also a bunch of rides that you could do to connect with the bike community. And support your local bike shops!
