Alleycat? What's that?

On Sunday, September 27, 2009 one of the first Omaha Alleycat races was held in downtown Omaha. Bike Omaha's very own Scott Redd was on hand to help out and do some reporting on the event. Check out his report and pictures to see how the event turned out.

You may be wondering what an "Alleycat" is exactly. The Wikipedia page on "Alleycat races" has this to say:

An Alleycat race is an informal bicycle race. Alleycats almost always take place in cities, and are often organized by bicycle messengers. The informality of the organization is matched by the emphasis on taking part, rather than simple competition.

If you search Google Video for "Alleycat race" you will find many examples for Alleycat races, but keep in mind that the reckless riding found in many of those videos does not reflect the typical Alleycat race. In fact, many Alleycat organizers encourage participants to ride safely, wear helmets, and obey ALL applicable laws while participating in the event and riders caught breaking traffic laws are often disqualified from the race.

Alleycats can also be a great tool for showcasing interesting areas in the host town/city.  Organizers often place the Alleycat checkpoints in geographically interesting locations.

If you would like to participate in an Alleycat race this fall, there is another one coming up on October 31st.  More information for this Alleycat race can be found at the "Spooks on Spokes II" blog.