Spring Break
Off the street
By: Hunter Lockhart
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: News
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Ramp it, jump it, flip it, trick it - that's how these bikers spend their spare time.
These trick riders are a group of six who call themselves "The Ravenfeeders" and spend most of their free nights riding bikes around campus. Jesse Gordon, a local tattoo artist and one of the members of the Ravenfeeders, said he started riding with the group about a year and a half ago.
"Most of us were inspired by bootleg videos of other trick riders around the nation," said Gordon. "We usually ride around Kyle Field because it is a large open area where we know we won't interfere with other people."
Every Wednesday at 10:15 p.m., the Ravenfeeders ride at organized sessions called "Wheeler Wednesdays" outside of Kyle Field. These meetings are usually planned in collaboration with other events in the area.
"I really started riding out of necessity," said Jeff Puckett, a senior economics major who started riding with the group over the summer. "I don't like to ride the bus, so riding my bike became my main form of transportation.
Gordon said the riders often have small competitions during these sessions and the winners are rewarded with free food. He said some of the riders, such as Puckett, have jobs at restaurants and are able to bring back food for the group.
"There have been a few times that I have been walking around on campus and have seen this group doing tricks on bikes," said Alex Frank, a sophomore recreation, parks and tourism sciences major. "I think that they are a really unique subculture here at Texas A&M and I would like it if they put on a show for students to watch."
Most of the time, the group is able to ride around campus and enjoy the liberty that unites them, but that's not to say they haven't had any encounters with campus police.
"There was one instance when the cops came by and had to stop us because we had been riding on a ledge, but they were very polite and there hasn't been another run-in since," Gordon said.
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