I've had a great opportunity to take part in a fantastic outdoor activity in this, Milwaukee, my urban environment. I'm talking of course about the underwear bike ride that is held on Thursday's each month in Milwaukee where, at the most recent ride, EcoHiker Adventures “Team Bacon” had their first team event. This ride is all about good self image while providing a healthy, fun, and safe riding environment for new bikers and old schoolers alike. I had the opportunity to sit down with it's creator, Steve Roche and talk about the ride, the bike community of Milwaukee, and all things cycling. Here's what he had to say:
Background:
-Steve Roche
-Bike Milwaukee and Underwear Bike Ride Coordinator
-Resource advocate and creator of http://www.mke.bke.com
Eco: So tell me about yourself
Steve: Well I'm a 24 yr old male who lives on Brady Street in Milwaukee, Riverwest is my home though. Milwaukee I absolutely love. I've crossed the USA and have a hard time thinking about living anywhere else right now. I guess I got engaged with the bike culture here and started forming events and rides.
E: What is it you advocate so much about two wheeled travel?
S: There are so many perks... fun, healthy and good for you, saves money, engages city environment in a completely different way than you normally would... The list goes on. You're able to get to a destination in a simpler manner, its natural and organic and sustainable, that’s attractive. It's a sense of community in the city, and you don’t find that a lot. It breaks you out of the driver norm of we're all drivers; it's like 'you have a car?! Me too!', you know?
E:Why is it you advocate bike travel so much? Why is it your passion?
S: Its keeping people in the city and if you want to experience it (Milwaukee) in a genuine way then get on a bike and commute and ride in that manner. Idk, its just common sense almost. I don't want people to go to the major bike cities (not that I have anything against them) like Minneapolis, Portland, etc. I wanna make something happen in this city. I’m in it to contribute to the general well being [of the bike community] in Milwaukee in a good manner. I feel like it's almost a cop out to go to a city like that. But if something is out there calling you then so be it, but I don't think people contribute as much to the community and environment as they should, I want to see the city to be as I want it to be.
E: Tell me about Bike Milwaukee
S: mke.bke.com Milwaukee bicycle community website – I wanted that strong presence in Milwaukee, it was already here, and this community just is a central hub attempt. A kind of a forum or communication center where people could go to loan a bike or if people where biking into a city and needed a place to stay... I had a lot of friends leave town for the big bike cities, so I wanted to show people we have pride in the Milwaukee bike community. The Underwear Bike Ride started before the movement. It was a start of a ride with friends.... but the website... one day I was in Riverwest on the net and I just did it, bought the domain and went from there.
S: Idk *laugh* its a fun liberating event. I was at a friends house in 2010 on my birthday (I had a few in me) playing around with underwear, and I love riding my bike, so I wanted to get five friends together for an underwear bike ride! Like a mobile party almost, though I'm on people about etiquette and safe riding all the time. Then we went with a crappy poster and a Google image, and one of me drinking a 40oz. or something. Now it's what it is. It's kinda cool engaging environment. With the monthly rides we go ride unconventional spaces and places people haven't been while being supportive of arts and other groups that are culturally defining of the city. It could be any bike ride to a bar, but we could make it more than that by engaging people and making it ours.
E: Why is the UBR so popular?
S: Idk... If you've been on it, it speaks for itself. When people ride it they think “how have I skipped out on this?!”. It's a fun, liberating, and empowering event. It engages the city in creative way, people are meeting new friends and have a strong sense of community while (simply) riding in your underwear. Everyone has their own story and they're happy to share it and have others experience it. It's a good definition of what a summer in Milwaukee is like.
E: It (The UBR) happens when?
S: Mid Thursday of month usually. The last one is Sept. 13th, we will meet at the Artery (see map above) at 8:00 pm. Since this is the last ride of the year I want it to be a good one!
E: How has it affected or changed people's lives?
S: I hear from countless people of the friendships they've made, I know people who have emerged into relationships like a dating service almost. Its a good social event that impacts peoples lives well with people that don't normally do it; they are breaking out of their shell, all ages and demographics. Hopefully people let loose and that transfers s to their everyday life, see things at a different perspective and start taking chances. Hopefully more people are biking and turn up for this. Hopefully people start riding and taking their own routes as well as help out and be good to everyone around them while we ride. Get a bike and be practical, it is so much more than it seems.
E: What's in the future of the UBR?
S: Keep doing it in the city. Idk what it can grow to, this summer has been tremendous, more people are turning out (such as yourself) who have participated and can see (and participate and help) for themselves. Like I said, it's organic and natural. I want to spin it with other groups and organizations, such as body painting, making sure we have music at after party or live art, taking the crowd and giving the people and arts a chance to see new things. I wanna spin it in and outside of the city and take a portion of these people and give them a fun liberating event. Maybe it'll be to help restore this or that house (through charity) or co-ops or work trade up... anything positive to help build the city for a beautiful as it is. Hopefully it can transcend to that or more.
E: What has been the biggest challenge with what you do?
S: Spreading myself too thin, sometimes taking on too much. I do have friends which help out, they ask me to call them to help, and that helps. And just some people on the rides don’t handle themselves well... They (and this is important) need to take personal responsibility for their actions and etiquette when riding. Personally, I need to ask for help when I need it too, and people have a good role in it when I do. It would be a good thing.
E: Sounds like an invite if you're down with the bike community and want to help out!
E: So where is this going? What's Bike Milwaukee's plans for the future?
S: Hopefully getting bigger and being a resource, Milwaukee's Bike culture is growing. The artery is this trail that is on this old unused railroad property, its happening (being developed) in stages. It's like a side project in the works, I bring it up cause we will meet there for the next ride at Richard and Keefe hike and bike Capitol over pass. Once they (people) know more by a bike hike or the artery, they can become a huge part of it. It passes capitol up to port road and hits private land which is a quick private street and heads to Home Depot and goes to Hampton and Tuetonia... it's a great project and I can't wait for it's completion.
E: How can people stay safe on while biking?
S: Wearing helmet and protection, in the road on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic in the bike lane, we talk about lane placement (1,2,3) and positioning yourself for turns. Signaling, scanning, lights, bright clothes. Just common sense stuff that people should always do, there's not a lot of room in bending the rule on this stuff and it's important to get it in at an early age. Etiquette is impotent. I teach bike safety classes, I work for the bike fed. A friend Jake who is in Sweden right now he is the peer of mine and is all about safe rides and helps kids in schools work on bikes and learn about bike mechanical and real life placement. Its a real life skill and application, those bikes come full circle when we bring them to clubs and organizations to for kids to ride, it's a cool curriculum thing that people can take part in. People get excited about places they haven't been and many have been better than many other rides lol! Like your an adult instructor, it's sad when it's done and you get to know the kids well. You wanna keep doing these rides with them and you’re doing free rides at some point. You begin to say "Its weird, I'm at the beach with kids and having a blast teaching them about biking!"
E: A lot of people ride year round. How do you suggest people beef up their ride for the winter months and stay safe?
S: Just wear layers, use synthetic materials or good natural fibers like wool, just making sure you're dressing appropriately. Feeling your body is a good thing! There’s really cool Milwaukee bike collective things like seminars that have a good turn out too (google them). Studded tires are debatable on conditions, better tires for conditions are suggested. Being cautions of the conditions and realizing that cars are driving in the same conditions you are... so give them and yourself enough room to slip out is important to remember. Take the lane if you need too, sometimes you need to assert yourself so you can ride safe. Planning for conditions is the biggest thing though.
E: Any closing remarks?
S: Keep riding, it's something to get out and ride. Just make sure you’re having fun and being safe and responsible at the same time. It's OK to steal other peoples words. We're pro-bike not anti-car. Lead by example if you want to see change in how you ride and how you’re doing and how you talk to cyclists. We're a powerful presence and we need to give respect if we are to get respect. Just get out and ride, that’s really it! The biggest thing you can do is be a good bicycle citizen and do what its all about.You can join Steve Roche as well as Team Bacon on the UBR ride coming up September 13th @ 8:00 pm. We will meet at The Artery (see map above) and ride closer to 9 pm. I hope to see many of you at the last ride of the year! Cheers, beers, and the great outdoors!
