The way it should be!

Doin it 4 da Kiddies!

Let it not be said that Rat Patrol Oz doesn't do it 4 da Kiddies!

All this week at the Front Cafe and Gallery in Lyneham is an art exhibition by 8 - 12 year old kids titled "You'll never get here by car", inspired in part by Rat Patrol freakery. It's part of the Art of Moving project. Hats off to the Rats who went and met the young artists.

A number of us were at the opening last Friday night, and i gotta say, we were touched! Great to see so many creative young minds thinking about sustainability... and their first freakbike! Why be normal?!

Here's the flyer:

After the opening of the exhibition, budding Rat-to-be, George (who's been working on an alternator bike to recharge batteries and the like) played with muso partner Andi and a handful of others as the Andi and George band. BEST GIG I'VE SEEN IN THE 'BRA FOR AGES!! I wanna see you rock up at yer next gig with all yer gear on bikes George (don't tell me it's not possible... eytis has done it!)

:)

Happy Days!

Lonely Planet do Rat Patrol Oz

Yet another well-planned and executed national media coup plan... suck mar barls Gar'a.

Descending Into Darkness

This bike was the third chopper created by Rat Patrol Oz. Secretly I took it away and sprayed it pink before anyone could say anything. The revolutionary larger-sized front wheel ensures the pilot is capable of high speeds. These are slightly inhibited by the knees smashing into the handlebars though. But chicks dig symmetrical bruises. I was eventually to get pissed off with it and add lots of other things to it that improved its handling such as an extended bottom bracket and huge reinforcing once the front forks started to bend. Later on came a banana seat. I piloted DID to two victories in a row at the first BBQ bike-attended race-around-the-Carillion. I have spewed while riding it without stopping. I have outmanouvered a V8 farkstick trying to run me down when leaving Tropfest. I nearly came off at 60km/h at the bottom of Wattle Street when a swooping magpie got me. The bike got its name because the front wheel was white, frame pink, and rear tyre black. This indicated descending from light to darkness. The rear rim used to be brown (prior to it perishing completely) and due to this I was named Loose Brown during the naming ceremony. I got off lightly.

Whelf

Bike Name: Whelf

Builder: Nancy Porker

Type: Chopper

Pic: Whelf at the Art of Moving Launch last week - pic by Tim Raupach (http://cutflat.net)

History: This was the second chopper in the Rat Patrol Oz fleet. Learning that seat to crank distance is important for a comfy enduro ride, a ladies bike with high seat post, low top tube was selected. This frame also allowed for a considerable rake angle for the longest possible forks with minimal mods. Later additions have included front fork reinforcement, bling wheels, non-functioning speedo (knowing one's speed is irrelevant on a chopper), and christmas lights :)

What's in a Name?: Short for Wheelchair Friendly as I discovered she did not like going up gutters on one of her early rides, when I took a good spill, lost a bit of bark, and considerably bent the front forks.

The Ride: Most people can't ride it to begin with, getting twitched off thanks to the "power steering". This is probably to do with the bars being tilted a long way forward and being so freakin big! Relaxation is the key (as with most bikes). Once mastered she's a dream to carve down the street. Small movements of weight and turn of the bars relate to big movements underneath you. So provided you relax, you can make huge turns whilst your body stays seemingly motionless.

Most Memorable Ride: Probably carving through the traffic, people and madness on the Summerats ride. But any ride you can test your precision riding is great with this bike.