Rat Patrol

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This article is about the bicycle club. For the American TV show, see The Rat Patrol. For the track by They Might Be Giants, see Long Tall Weekend. For the unreleased album by The Clash, see Combat Rock.

The Rat Patrol is an anarchist bicycle gang based out of Chicago.[1]

[edit] Background

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; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Ghent, Belgium.

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. [2] 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, tall bike jousting, parade crashing, tv smashing, contests, and drinking. It takes place during St. Patrick's Day week.[3] Rat patrol also participates in the monthly Chicago Critical Mass ride. [4]

The Rat Patrol started a community outreach program that helps urban kids build and repair modified bicycles.[5]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Maurer, Daniel "The Chunkathalon" Free Williamsburg. August 2003. Accessed May 30, 2007.
  2. ^ ELR. "Street Smart Chicago" newcitychicago.com. Aug 29, 2006. Accessed June 12, 2007.
  3. ^ unknown. "St. Ratrick Parade" rat-partol.org. Accessed June 12, 2007.
  4. ^ TD. "Chicago by Bike" Chicago Reader Sept. 22, 2006.
  5. ^ unknown. "Bike Club". rat-partol.org. Accessed June 12, 2007.