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Cat 6: Competitive Commuting Turns Bike Rides into Races

Allison Burtch, November 9, 2010, GOOD - Transport

 

Image: Allison Burtch and Alan Tansey

Every day in New York City, young cyclists—fueled by gender battles, competitiveness, and good old-fashioned fun—race each other to work. Welcome to the world of cat-6 racing.

Cyclists have a joke about “racing in cat 6,” which, despite the name, is not exactly a race nor does it refer to an official category of cyclists. Cat 6 refers to commuter cyclists, and racing each other to work is their sport. Also called "the great commuter race" and "hipster racing," cat-6 racing is the unspoken urban tradition of trying to go faster than, and not get passed by, a stranger on your bike.

How do you know you are being challenged into a commuter’s race? "You just sense it, or the other person is making it obvious,” says Johnny Hsu, a graphic designer who lives in Greenpoint. “There's no formula.”

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