Steel city alleycat 5

An Alleycat is an unsanctioned bike race with multiple checkpoints and no set route. The Steel City Alleycat is a small part of a much bigger history of urban cycling. The history of Alleycat races started in Toronto in the late '80s and has since expanded world-wide. Originally, it was a way for bike messengers to see who's the fastest. The race mirrors the job of a bike messenger: in a city, no set route, several locations, and get there fast.

On Sunday, September 7^th we're back in the streets of Hamilton for the 5^th edition of the STEEL CITY ALLEYCAT.

Same as the last race:

• Start Line at Durand Park
• Paper manifest
• 4 new checkpoints
• Unknown finish line when you start the race
• No set route

You don't have to sign up.

Just show up to Durand Park for NOON on Sunday September 7^th ready to ride.

1. Put your bike on one side of the park
2. A paper manifest gets attached to your bike
3. Line up on the other side of the park
4. When I say go, run to your bike, open the manifest, and ride like hell

FRONT

BACK

Find out what's inside on race day

• The manifest will have a list of 4 checkpoints. For example: BANDSHELL
• Go to that checkpoint location
• Find the race marker with the code at the checkpoint
• Write the code in the manifest
• There will be a puzzle to find the finish line location
• There may be some other fuckery in the manifest to keep it interesting
• First rider or team to arrive at the finish line with a completed manifest wins
• When you get to the finish line find me and I'll record your rider name, number, and finish time
• Stick around for spoke cards, t-shirts, and vibes

Race bounds are west of Ottawa St, east of Durand St, and down The Mountain.

Spoke cards for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place. Dead Fucking Last gets something special as well.

T-shirts and stickers for the Raddest Riders. In the past, people have gotten t-shirts for:

• Shittiest bike
• Biggest breakfast
• Doing the race on thier wedding aniversary
• Most hungover
• Best socks
• Biggest group
• Sickest handlebars
• Furthest travelled
• Best rider/team name
• And whatever else I feel like that day

1. Ride safe
2. Have fun
3. Friendly competition only. The prize is a fucking piece of paper, so relax
4. Ride anything you want but...
5. You can only place 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd on a human-powered ride
6. No sharing clues/checkpoints. You can ride as a team, but you can't split up. I'll know
7. Ride safe

• What if I showed up late to the start line?

  Too bad, I'm not sticking around.

• Do I have to do the checkpoints in order?

  No.

• What do I need to bring?

  • A pen or pencil (I may have some golf pencils, but don't count on it)
  • Something fast to ride
  • Good mood
  • Bad attitude
• I can't make the race, but I still want a t shirt, can I buy one from you?

  No.

• What if I can't find the marker at the checkpoint?

  Look harder.

  If you think it’s actually missing or covered, DM me on instagram or email me at info@steelcityalleycat.com.

• I don't live in Hamilton, am I going to be able to figure this out?

  Yea for sure, the checkpoints aren't that hard to figure out, you can just Google them. Or make a friend at the start line.

• Can I give you money? (somebody has asked me this before).

  No. Give it to your local food bank.

• Who’s behind all this?

  My name is AL. You can contact me at AL@steelcityalleycat.com or on instagram.