A proposal for the formation of:
T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L B I K E R O D & K U S T O M A S S O C I A T I O N
FOUNDING CONCEPTS:
Let us take the following as givens; that:
Involvement with cycling is a good, healthy activity for children, youth, and adults.
Working with bicycles is a very good way of developing skills and physical co-ordination.
The processes involved in designing and building bicycles are a pleasurable and interesting way of learning
mathematics, physics, metallurgy, chemistry, arts, and crafts, at the very least.
Working on individual projects within a group organized around a common interest provides:
development of teamwork skills, fulfillment of competitive instincts, enhancement of leadership qualities,
and increased consciousness of responsibility.
It is good for a person's self esteem to participate in an activity which one's peers consider glamorous.
Simply put, The International BikeRod and Kustom Association is intended to provide a veneer of glamour and excitement to a fundamentally healthy and character-building activity. We realize that this is a fairly shallow goal, but we feel that it will add considerably to the advancement of bike culture in general, and aid in providing the long-term benefits to youth of participating in organized creative and physical activity
There is an increasingly growing list of local programs designed to provide opportunities for "at-risk" children to become involved with bike work. There are school programs which do the same for more mainstream youth, who are also "at-risk" simply by growing up within the current mass culture
Our goal is the expansion of existing and future youth bike programs and activities, through the popularization of them.
YOUTH CHAPTERS OF THE IBRKA:
A chapter is any group of people of any age who wish to be a part of the IBRKA. Ideally, in the case of youth, they would be involved in an existing bike class or program. They could also just be a group of
people who like to do bike stuff together. Many aspects of bikerodding and kustomizing do not require
elaborate workshop facilities.
INDIVIDUAL IBRKA MEMBERSHIP:
The benefit of having an international sanctioning body to any activity is that everyone knows the rules and class requirements. This makes it possible to have local, regional, national, or world competitive events for which an individual can prepare.
IBRKA EVENTS:
The Bike Show and Parade, and the Drag Races. Ideally, these events would occur on the same occasion. These events would start at the Chapter level. These events can occur at any interval the Chapter prefers.Judging is optional for Chapter events. Sometimes a show is just a way of showing a Chapter's work to the public. Sometimes a race is just a way for members to get their performance timed on a standard course.
Area Events:
Two or more Chapters in an area may choose to share an event. Judging is optional, although competition is more likely.
Regional Events:
Invitational events open to Chapters and Individual Members in a given region. The size of the region is mostly dependent upon the density of Chapters within it. Judging is compulsory.
National and International Events occur when circumstances are right, and underwriting sponsorship is in place.
THE ELEMENTS OF AN IBRKA EVENT:
The opening event is the BIKE PARADE. To participate in all other events, the bike must first be ridden in a single-file procession for a given distance, three miles is suggested, on a legal thoroughfare, following all local traffic regulations, with no passing allowed. Sanctioned BikeRods and Kustoms must be safe, roadworthy vehicles; this also applies to radical dragsters. Helmets must be worn. Any bike which is unable to stay the course will be disqualified, although simple repairs en route will be permitted. The stop-and-go nature of the parade's obeying all traffic signals will reveal any braking deficiencies. Bikes displaying inadequate braking capabilities will be disqualified.
THE BIKE SHOW:
One hour from the time the last parade vehicle reaches the show location, all displayed bikes will be in their assigned spaces. This allows a modicum of cleaning and polishing time, which the viewing public may find interesting to watch. At the end of the tidying period, Judging and viewing will commence, and will last as long as the process requires. Show bikes are each judged in one of several classes:
These are bikes which have been fixed-up and repainted. Superficially, they appear to be stock bikes of a
given period and style. However, they are made up of whatever components the builder wishes to use. In addition to the workmanship and paint finish, phantom restos are judged by the cleverness of their make and model graphics and detailing; for a phantom resto may not be a duplicate of any actual bicycle ever made, but it should seem authentic to its given vintage. In many ways this is a research project similar to ones assigned college art history students: create a pastiche, done in the manner and subject type of a particular artist or school of art, which looks reasonably authentic. Cleverness, workmanship and finish quality will be judged on a scale of 1-5 each.
These bikes are based upon unmodified stock frames. The other components which make up the bicycle may be of any type or style, depending upon the design goal of the builder. Chopper-style fork rework is permitted. Paint style is unlimited; finishes may be as simple or elaborate as the builder wishes. This class is judged for workmanship, finish quality, and koolness, on a 1-5 scale.
These are bikes based upon reworked stock frames or new frames built from scratch. Other components may be modified as well. Within this class are gathered sub-types which may well be judged as separate classes should the size of the field warrant it. Types which fall within this general category are tallbikes, radical choppers, stretched cruisers, tandems, recumbents. Workmanship, finish quality, and awesomeness will be judged on a scale from 1-5.
These are bikes which have their frames fully or partially covered. This allows more surface area/volume for styling and graphic decoration. This may be accomplished by adding bondo-ed filler panels to a bare frame before painting, or in the form of a separate fairing which is fitted over the frame. In either case, the idea is to have a roomier canvas for surface finishing and graphic decoration. Judging on a scale of 1-5 for workmanship, finish quality, and visual design.
BIKE SHOW AWARDS;
At the discretion of the judges, First, Second, and Third prizes may be awarded in each class. The viewing public may mark a provided ballot to vote for the People's Choice Award, which may be any bike in anyclass in the show.
THE DRAG RACES:
After judging is complete, the racing event starts. As in the beginning of hot-rod car competition, BikeRod competition is based upon elapsed time over a measured straight-line distance. If the distance is short (1/4 mile for cars) it is called drag racing. A BikeRod drag strip is shorter-330 feet (1/16 mile) between the starting line and the finishing line or time trap. A strip for a single vehicle is marked to a 4 foot width. Any vehicle crossing outside the marked strip is disqualified. An unobstructed distance of an additional 100 feet beyond the finish line will be provided for deceleration and stopping, Failure to stop within this distance is also grounds for disqualification of a bike. If space permits, a second strip may be laid out parallel to the first, separated from it by 3 feet. This would allow for simultaneous racing of two bikes in the same class, which the viewing public would find more interesting to watch, to be sure.
BIKEROD RACER CLASSES:
The first two classes are based upon the commonest and most easily acquired bicycles there are.
SINGLE-SPEED BMX-STYLE: 20" STEEL FRAME:
Modifications are permitted to handlebar configuration (drop-bars permitted), wheel width and tire size, drive-train (fixed-gear may be fitted. Drive ratios are at the discretion of the builder.
26" LIGHTWEIGHT STEEL FRAME:
These are based upon Schwinn VARSITY and similar common "10-speed" frames, Modifications are permitted to handlebars, wheel width and tire size, drive-train (fixed-gear may be fitted). Drive ratios are at the discretion of the builder.
20" TANDEM BMX DRAGSTER:
These bikes are based upon custom frames made by combining sections of two or more of the ubiquitous 20" BMX-style frames. Handlebar configuration, wheel width and tire size, drive-train are all at the discretion of the builders. The braking system should be adequate to handle the stopping needs of a heavier, higher-powered vehicle.
These are based upon custom-built frames using reworked stock frame sections or totally scratch-built.
The seating position is recumbent. Elements which are at the discretion of the builder are:
number of wheels (2 or more), wheel diameter and width, tire size, steering mechanism, drive-train.
Single rider only, no streamline fairing, no mechanical energy storage, no trigger jacking.
These are based upon custom-built frames. Aside from mandatory recumbent seating and other safety considerations, there are no prohibitions. These vehicles may have more than one rider, streamline fairing, flywheel mechanical energy storage, and trigger jacking are all permitted. A trigger jack is a spring-loaded kickstand-type mechanism, which is released by a trigger cable or lever. Until released, it keeps the driven wheel(s) off the traction surface while a flywheel mechanism is spun up to speed by cranking. At the start signal, the driver triggers the jack which allows the driven wheel(s) to come in contact with the surface, resulting in a sudden burst of acceleration, maintained until the finish by rider cranking.
RACER DESIGN AWARDS:
The Judges also score the racing bikes for workmanship, finish quality, and design. Scoring will determine the awarding of first, second, and third place design awards. These may be awarded by class, or overall field at the judges' discretion. Racers are also eligible for the People's Choice Award.
SAFETY GEAR REQUIREMENTS:
BikeRod Drag Racing is done at high speed on hard pavement. As the occasional spill is possible, safety gear requirements are more stringent than for casual cycling. IBRKA safety gear requirements are as follows: Helmet, of the rigid-shell-over-foam type. Cycling gloves, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads, of the types used by wise roller-bladers and skateboarders. It is hoped that the use of this type of safety gear by sanctioned racers will tend to make its use more popular among young recreational riders.
IBRKA RESOURCES:
The following resource materials will be available for free download through the IBRKA website:
IBRKA Member's Manual, contains illustrated examples of all Show and Racing class types, tech hints for bike builders, forming an IBRKA Chapter, becoming an Individual IBRKA member, tips for recruiting local sponsors, organizing an IBRKA local event, etc.
IBRKA Instructor's Manual, contains information on setting up a bike workshop, class organizational plans, sample lesson plans, shop safety guidelines, show and racing class design specifications and examples, obtaining free raw materials, recruiting local sponsorship, finding a facility, organizing an IBRKA Event, raising Chapter funds through Event ancillaries, etc.
IBRKA Phantom Restoration Manual, researching the vintage and style of your project bike, restoration and painting techniques, examples of make and model markings from various periods, design notes: the art of pastiche, how to make inexpensive decals and transfers from your designs, making your own head-badge, period accessorization, etc
IBRKA Street Kustom Manual, contains information and examples to do with styling and construction. preparation and painting techniques, graphics and their application.
IBRKA Faired Kustom Manual, contains information and examples to do with styling and construction, composite construction methods, designing a full-frame fairing, graphics and application.
IBRKA 20" BMX Dragster Manual, design tips, individual ergonomics, drive-train design and tuning, training
methods etc.
IBRKA 26" Lightweight Dragster Manual, design tips, individual ergonomics, drive-train design and tuning, training methods etc.
IBRKA Recumbent Dragster Manual, theory of recumbent bike design, examples of types, construction
basics, individual ergonomics, drive-train design and tuning, training methods.
IBRKA Unlimited Dragster Manual, tandem power-plant considerations-mass V. energy, flywheel designs for bicycle applications, trigger-jack design and construction, etc.
On-line IBRKA Manuals will be freely-downloadable in Adobe Acrobat printable .PDF format. If sufficient demand is shown, individual manuals may be produced in paper editions, available for nominal sums.
The IBRKA WebZine, BR&K: Some organizations gradually work their way up to the point of having their own
slick publication. In this case, the slick publication came first. BikeRod&Kustom WebZine was started to lead up to the creation of the IBRK. It's Editorial goal since inception has been the raising of consciousness about this aspect of bicycle culture, and advancing its progress. With the formation of the IBRKA, BR&K will add an IBRKA Local Chapter Index Page, linked to all Chapter websites. With each issue, BR&K will feature the activities of a given Local Chapter. We will also have an Individual Member Index Page, linked to Individual Member's sites. Each issue will feature an individual IBRKA IM. BR&K will institute the setting-up and operation of a dedicated discussion list. This will enable IMs and Chapter Members to maintain contact, share ideas, swap parts and hints, obtain creative input, and share expertise.
IBRKA Chapter Website Manual, setting up a free Chapter website, with hints for contents and organization, digital imaging essentials, and using the IBRKA discussion list.
IBRKA TEAMWEAR:
Any office supply or Radio Shack store sells thermal-transfer material which allows the output of T-shirt iron-on transfers from ink-jet printers. BR&K will have free downloadable, kustomizable Official T-shirt graphics available for Individuals and Chapters who want to make their own. A CafePress store site will have the same graphics available on finished shirts, which may be ordered on-line at nominal cost.
OTHER BENEFITS:
Any specialty merchant grants discounts to members of organizations whose members buy the sort of goods purveyed by that sort of merchant. Art students get discounts at art supply stores, IBRKA members will get discounts at local or national bike shops. BR&K will have free-downloadable, ink-jet printable membership cards.
NO IBRKA DUES:
Membership in IBRKA is absolutely free. Local Chapters would probably wish to have dues to cover Chapter expenses, but BR&K does not wish to share in them. BR&K is in it purely pro-bono, as a service, through the advancement of bike culture, to humanity.
I N C O N C L U S I O N :
This is merely a proposal for an organization. It reflects the thinking of a single person. Those in agreement that such an
organization would be a good thing, but who have a difference of opinion regarding the details, are invited to share their
thinking in a forum devoted to the subject in BR&K. Please send input to IBRKA Think Tank. also if you would be interested in being a founding member of the IBRKA.
