Rats are about to descend on Canberra’s drains but it’s not a rodent plague, it’s a breakaway cycling group with mutant bikes made from scrap parts, pitted against each other in the 2024 Rat’lympics.
It sounds like a scene from Mad Max but it’s a global social group that harks back to 1880 when a rebellion formed in Chicago against the rise of modern “safety” bikes. Rat members scavenge dumps (in Canberra it’s the old Green Shed) for spare parts to weld into freakbikes (chopper bikes, tall bikes, two-seater couch bikes etc).
Canberra’s chapter (est. 2005) is Australia’s first – and only – Rat Patrol contingent. They are a carbon-neutral, non-profit, leaderless democracy, which holds regular bike-building workshops. But every four years, it’s the elite Rat‘lympics.
There will be a torch relay, a cauldron and an opening ceremony but that’s where the similarities end. Just as Rat Patrol is non-conforming, so are the bizarre sporting events such as bike bungee, wheel throwing, tall-bike jousting (or baguette jousting for a French flavour).
Founding member Dan Watters said the whole notion behind rats was that rodents were good at evolving or adapting to their environment and surviving.
“What we have learned from Rat Patrol is that bike culture tends to evolve and become strong in cities where there’s a good, healthy bike riding culture and we’ve experienced that,” he said. “We have about 25 bona fide rats and to be considered a legitimate member, you have to build your own bike.”
Creating your own freakbike and riding it is the only initiation and criteria for being officially recognised as a rat. The alternative, underground nature of this group may sound secretive but remember, Rat Patrol spans half way round the world (U.S.A., UK, Africa – and Canberra).
The Rat’lympics will take place on 21st September in drains at the top of Phillip Avenue and while it’s not a private event, it’s not an official event either (no public liability insurance and no government sanctioning).
“Rat Patrol has never done anything officially or organised, it’s very much anarchic, not anarchist,” Dan said.
Helmets will be worn, however, and Rat Patrol Oz (sanctioned by the American chapter) does take a moral legalist approach to everything.
Dan has created many freakbikes over the years but his favourite is “Ronin”, which can carry eight people – and it’s amphibious (tried and tested on Lake Burley Griffin). In true parochial style, it was fashioned from old Electric Shadows Cinema seats and, appropriately, it has been used for a bicycle-powered cinema in Dickson.
“It’s fast and it handles really well,” Dan said. “I literally love this bike, it’s so capable, it’s so fun and it’s a piece of Canberra history at the same time.“
The Rat’lympics promises to outshine the Paris opening ceremony, with a fire-bike (called Will Robinson) fitted with a fire drum, which is set alight by a burning wheel (one ring not five). The fire bike then lights the cauldron that burns for the duration of the event.
The Rat’lympics concrete stadium is very apt – rats in a drain. Rat riders compete at their own risk and winners are awarded medals made from refashioned bike chain rings and disc rotors painted gold, silver and bronze. Let the games begin.
“It’s fun,” Dan said. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”
For info on Canberra’s rat infestation visit Rat Patrol Oz on Facebook or http://rat-patrol.org/RPOz/RatPatrolOz.html
