The New York Times has run a piece on an exhibition opening in four locations across Lower Manhatten titled ‘Why I Ride: The Art of Bicycling in New York‘.

Aside from the unusual exclusion, accidental or otherwise of Unicycling from the exhibition’s title it’s good to see cycling being recognised for it’s artisitic merits and the way it makes people feel both individually and collectively.

Carol Wood, one of the shows organisers explains:

We wanted [the exhibit] to show there’s not one stereotypical cyclist, there are cycling cultures, plural.

We’d like to feel we are part of one of those cycling cultures but haven’t yet worked out which one it is. And it begs the question of course of ‘which culture for Afan?’ and whether they are in fact interchangeable. If so, I’d like to hand the culture of mincing round trail obstacles to someone else please.

Despite the lengths that some of us go to when riding our bikes, it’s unlikely any of us will ever be recognised for our artistic endeavours. I am wondering though if Mark has an anti-consumer subtext that he’s trying to communicate with his eight year old Marin. And quite what Dave is saying with his incredible self-eating bike is another thing entirely.

Oh dear, you see what happens don’t you? The merest mention of art and people start getting all poncy. Surely if you want to appreciate how a bike makes you feel you need to actually go do it?

Just ride the thing and let others judge as they find.

About the author

Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.

Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.

An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.

If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.