Need for Speed- An Alley Cat Playlist
London is many things to many different people but in general, it is not a city favoured by those who crave the wind rushing past as they watch the miles disappear underneath their tires. For them, creative measures are required. It is no surprise that, lurking underneath the idyll of Boris Bikes and family rides through Hampstead Heath, there is a core of riders dedicated to underground ‘Alley Cat’ races, which are held amongst most of the major cities in the Western world.
In a time of mass movement to urban centres, when many residents will not know the city beyond their routes between home and work, it is no surprise that the participants are made up mostly of cycle couriers whose livelihoods revolve around an intimate knowledge of the city’s streets and alleyways.
It is a passion that has as much to do with a personal reclamation of the urban environment – an environment that is being ever more ruthlessly streamlined towards the ultimate goal of consumerism – as it does with an adrenalin fuelled need for velocity.
Despite a certain amount of mainstream attention, Alley Cat’s nature means that it must always be – at least in part – in conflict with the law. Ride manifests are not sent out until a few minutes before an event, although this can vary from race to race and will certainly not be advertised in mainstream news outlets. Checkpoints are set on these manifests for the race, offering a level of structure to the chaos of flying through the cluttered and dangerous London streets.
Like skateboarding or BMX, pursuits that produce such a rush need a soundtrack to compliment that rush – music is for me the only thing to match the intensity of a heavy skate session, and I imagine that for these guys, it is much the same. Alongside the past manifest below is compiled an idealised playlist from me for each section of the race:
City Hall: London Posse – Money Mad
An old school classic to kick things off – London Posse were one of the groups to cement the sound of UK hip hop as it is today, getting the race started with some rugged back in the day local flavour!
Cloud 9 Cycles: The Clash – 48 Hours
Another legendary group that the city can claim its own, the Clash were formed in the then vibrant London squatting scene; a more straightforward manner in which to reclaim unused space which is again looked upon with suspicion and distrust by the authorities, the band’s first album is the purest distillation of this life. As such, it was an obvious choice for inclusion – cerebral connections aside, it’s a great song bursting with enough energy to restore flagging limbs.
Brick Lane Bikes: Husker Du – Divide and Conquer
It seems fitting to continue the straight up energy boost in the form of Husker Du, a band whose raging hardcore was tinged with moments of beauty in the form of folk rock influences and who were majorly influential on 90s indie and post punk. This song definitely leans towards the former, all buzzsaw guitars and throat wrenching vocals to get those pedals turning!
St Mary Axe: Nine – Who U Won Test
America’s East Coast has a lot in common with the UK, from rugged streets to highly questionable weather patterns. Nine was one of the rawest rappers to come out of hip hop’s golden era, from an environment which means this track sounds perfectly at home soundtracking one of London’s rawest events.
Carlton Square and Gardens: The Spits – Take Back the Alley
Scuzzy punk done as it should be, this is street music which should have you struggling to not want to dodge traffic at high speeds.
Adrenalin comedown pint: Johnny Osbourne – Lend me the Sixteen
While it might not be specified on the manifest, nothing helps to ride out the comedown from a surge of adrenalin like a cold beer – as such I saw fit to add a final leg to reflect this, and what better soundtrack to laid back boozing than some classic reggae from Johnny Osbourne?
Play alongside the above musical selection, or whatever your preferred soundtrack might be, and next time you are travelling through the streets of London take stock of your surroundings with a fresh perception…
By Jono Coote
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