Last week Artsicle contributor Waverly Mandel sat down with Slideluck Potshow Founder Casey Kelbaugh, and  Producer Carly Planker, to find out a little more about  Slideluck Bikeshow (full interview here).  Not only was it the first event by the organization to be hosted uptown, and by uptown I mean Harlem, but it was also the first event by SLPS to focus on a subject as narrow as bike culture.

Well, the Bikeshow was Saturday, and as a long time fan of SLPS, cyclist, and resident of the SLPS HQ, I attended. 

The show commenced in true Slideluck form at the Hostelling International flagship in Harlem, with attendees swilling an assortment of Brooklyn Brewery's finest offerings, and chowing down on local cuisine.  In respect to the show's unifying theme, preferential treatment was given to those brave enough to haul up to Harlem on two wheels.  Cyclists were offered discounted admission, courtesy valet parking, and some sweet raffle giveaways compliments of the event's numerous sponsors.  A troupe of cyclists, myself included, arrived in style in the Slideluck Bikegang, led by Red Hook Crit organizer Dave Trimble.  I had the pleasure of cruising up to the event on a vintage Schwinn tandem bike, which would be used in the official SLPS photobooth, which I would later be coerced into operating.

Coalesced around two seemingly distant themes, bikes and art, attendees ranged from spandexed road warriors and weekend-Dads (mine included), to alley cat racers and BMX bros, to everyday commuters.  The SLPS New York team hand-curated a collection of bike themed art for the focal piece of the evening, a multi media slideshow.  Submissions included an edited clip from Zeitgesit Film's Bill Cunningham documentary, photography of the Red Hook Crit, an infomercial about hipster bike messengers in Canada, and other general bike porn (including a slideshow called "Bike Porn"). 

Eventually, by bike, by foot, by cab and by train, Slideluckers made their way back downtown.  As it turns, out, bike culture is not so narrow after all.  And maybe, just maybe, that is the lesson Slideluck Bikeshow set out to teach us.

For more photos, check out the post on the Brooklyn Bloggery

Text by Dan Teran, photos courtesy of Slideluck Potshow