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'Alley cats' race to the finish in Hudson
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| Costumed cyclists talk among themselves and review their maps before setting out on Hudson's first official Alley-cat races on Saturday. (Paul Crossman/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers) |
By Paul Crossman
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
HUDSON — Local resident Matt Miller got together a unique type of bicycle race on Saturday, with 12 cyclists from around Hudson participating in an event that not only involved over an eight-mile course, but also included 10 checkpoints where riders had to partake in unusual tasks.
Costumes were encouraged and ranged from a plastic-crowned king to a sleek bike-riding mouse gathered at the Hudson boat docks in preparation of the race.
According to Miller, races of this sort were traditionally called alley-cat races, and started among bike messenger communities in large cities in an effort to prove who was the better messenger. The racers went to various checkpoints around the city and performed somewhat silly tasks in lieu of delivering messages, and eventually raced back to a predetermined finish.
The modern alley-cat racers themselves were kept in the dark as to what their tasks would be right up until they had to do them, but for many this was what made the race so much fun.
“It’s a complete Halloween surprise,” said Hudson resident Dominica Lizzi, who was dressed as a young boy at his Bar Mitzvah, “but I’m up for the challenge.”
She smiled for a moment and added, “Today’s the day to become a man, after all.”
The race was originally supposed to be held last weekend, but was postponed due to bad weather, and though the clouds threatened rain at various points throughout Saturday’s race, for the most part the weather held until the riders were safely at the award ceremony inside the Spotty Dog Books and Ale on Warren Street.
Though all the participants enjoyed the competition, according to Miller, the purpose of the race wasn’t just for fun.
“This is an effort to raise bike awareness in the community,” he said. “There will be ongoing events in the future.”
He added that this race, and those in the future, was meant to help make the community realize the importance of bike paths in the city, as well as the importance of bicycles for an economically friendly world.
The way the race worked was that players were awarded points for how well they completed each task, which meant that although the person to cross the finish line first got extra points, he or she might not be the overall winner of the competition.
Tasks at the various checkpoints ranged from riders drawing a playing card from a deck to see how many saltines they would have to eat (without water, of course), to making a rubbing of their own name with paper and a crayon at Cedar Park cemetery. The final checkpoint of the race even forced riders to sing an amusing variety of karaoke songs right on Warren Street of Hudson.
The rider to finish the course first took just over an hour, while the one who finished last took slightly under two, but ironically the last place finisher was actually the person who won with the most points.
Awards were given out at the Spotty Dog for the riders who came in first, second, and dead last, but everyone who participated got to choose from a grab-bag of bike related products such as air pumps and water bottle holders
Miller plans to continue holding events for bikers in the community, with the next one being a food-themed scavenger hunt around Thanksgiving, with the proceeds going to local food banks. He is also trying to set up a critical mass ride once a month, which all community members are invited to, and a six-day bicycle repair course during the winter.
Anyone who would like to either participate or volunteer at future events can e-mail Miller at secondgearbikes@gmail.com
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit our website at www.registerstar.com.
Costumes were encouraged and ranged from a plastic-crowned king to a sleek bike-riding mouse gathered at the Hudson boat docks in preparation of the race.
According to Miller, races of this sort were traditionally called alley-cat races, and started among bike messenger communities in large cities in an effort to prove who was the better messenger. The racers went to various checkpoints around the city and performed somewhat silly tasks in lieu of delivering messages, and eventually raced back to a predetermined finish.
The modern alley-cat racers themselves were kept in the dark as to what their tasks would be right up until they had to do them, but for many this was what made the race so much fun.
“It’s a complete Halloween surprise,” said Hudson resident Dominica Lizzi, who was dressed as a young boy at his Bar Mitzvah, “but I’m up for the challenge.”
She smiled for a moment and added, “Today’s the day to become a man, after all.”
The race was originally supposed to be held last weekend, but was postponed due to bad weather, and though the clouds threatened rain at various points throughout Saturday’s race, for the most part the weather held until the riders were safely at the award ceremony inside the Spotty Dog Books and Ale on Warren Street.
Though all the participants enjoyed the competition, according to Miller, the purpose of the race wasn’t just for fun.
“This is an effort to raise bike awareness in the community,” he said. “There will be ongoing events in the future.”
He added that this race, and those in the future, was meant to help make the community realize the importance of bike paths in the city, as well as the importance of bicycles for an economically friendly world.
The way the race worked was that players were awarded points for how well they completed each task, which meant that although the person to cross the finish line first got extra points, he or she might not be the overall winner of the competition.
Tasks at the various checkpoints ranged from riders drawing a playing card from a deck to see how many saltines they would have to eat (without water, of course), to making a rubbing of their own name with paper and a crayon at Cedar Park cemetery. The final checkpoint of the race even forced riders to sing an amusing variety of karaoke songs right on Warren Street of Hudson.
The rider to finish the course first took just over an hour, while the one who finished last took slightly under two, but ironically the last place finisher was actually the person who won with the most points.
Awards were given out at the Spotty Dog for the riders who came in first, second, and dead last, but everyone who participated got to choose from a grab-bag of bike related products such as air pumps and water bottle holders
Miller plans to continue holding events for bikers in the community, with the next one being a food-themed scavenger hunt around Thanksgiving, with the proceeds going to local food banks. He is also trying to set up a critical mass ride once a month, which all community members are invited to, and a six-day bicycle repair course during the winter.
Anyone who would like to either participate or volunteer at future events can e-mail Miller at secondgearbikes@gmail.com
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit our website at www.registerstar.com.
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