Bikes across borders
Thursday, 22 September 2011 00:00
Interbike is the type of place defined by people and a cause. It’s not so much a place, though, as it is moments, atmosphere and camaraderie.
Las Vegas, Nevada claims host to this annual conglomeration of everything cycling—riding stories, new products, industry marketing— things of that sort.
Athletes and fans travel the globe to grab a piece of the action.
In BMX alone, countries like Spain, Australia, France and the United States were all represented. Along with the riders, came a new language around every corner, unique perspectives on cycling media, and tales of respective homelands; all this, because there is a world that loves bicycles.
Interbike is the place where Japanese, English, German and Spanish all say "thank you" to the sport.
With so much to see and everyone to talk to it’s easy to get lost in the magnitude of the convention. That being said, there remain intimate moments of human interaction that define the magic of such a place.
Take for instance the communal support for BMX legend Mike Aitken.
Aitken is the Lou Gehrig of action sports, who nearly lost his life in a tragic accident at a set of Pennsylvania trails a few years back. Interbike was arguably the first time Aitken has re-entered the public spotlight since his injuries.
Aitken showed signs of his struggles—stuttering speech as a result of his brain injuries, trembling hands as he tried to put ketchup on a hot dog in the Palms hotel food court—things never wished upon a top-notch athlete who made a living by staring death in the eye.
None of that mattered though, when Aitken was humbled with a roaring applause upon his appearance at NoraCup 15 (one of the BMX industry’s largest award ceremonies complementing Interbike activities).
Challenge fell victim to triumph as athletes and fans came together to show there are no boundaries in this culture.
There are no borders—no physical limitations, no world conflicts, no politics, no division of language or bias—quite simply, the world of bikes overcomes, and it unifies.
As a reporter, the traditional approach is to capture single voices that tell a grander tale, to track down the ones with the know-how and the in.
Interbike spoke for itself however, with no discrepancy.
Words can only do it so much justice.
Pictures, videos and sounds capture its true essence.
Bikes cross borders.
Written by Tyler Kurbat You are reading Bikes across borders articles
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