Rat Patrol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the bicycle club. For the American TV show, see The Rat Patrol.
The Rat Patrol is a trash and chopper club which began in 1999 in Chicago, and now also has chapters in Ghana; New Orleans; Ross-on-Wye, England; Canberra, Australia; Tanzania; Nashville, Tennessee; Lafayette, Louisiana; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Members of the Rat Patrol are dumpster-divers who get around on modified bicycles, such as tall bikes, choppers, or other unique designs that they have welded themselves. A typical "Rat Ride" consists of riding through alleys at night, dumpster diving, and drinking. Many of the members have adopted a semi-"ratty" appearance, using clothing found in dumpsters and many colorful patches. Their bikes are also relatively "ratty" in appearance and condition, resulting in the occasional broken chain, tire, or weld.
St. Ratrick's Day is the official Rat Patrol "holiday", which consists of biking, races, tallbike jousting, parade crashing, tv smashing, contests, and drinking. It takes place during St. Patrick's Day week.
