| Lowriding began as a cultural element of Chicano | | | | though part of the joy of creation has always been |
| Americans, part of the street culture of the American | | | | parading them down the street when |
| barrio where Mexican immigrants maintained a lively | | | | completed--these are not pieces of art meant for life |
| urban culture. Lowrider bikes, one of the most splendid | | | | in dusty museums, for the most part. Each part is |
| and unique products of this culture, are a cross | | | | usually carefully selected for its utility as well as its |
| between the Harley and the cruiser bike, decorated | | | | beauty, with the resulting bike a breathtaking example |
| with paint and chrome and streamers, found in any | | | | of technical and artistic ingenuity. |
| all-American hometown parade. | | | | Lowrider bikes are becoming a presence in more and |
| As you might surmise, lowriding bikes hug the ground. | | | | more cities, perhaps made more "respectable" among |
| The highest points on a lowrider bike are almost | | | | the affluent bicyclists who drive the market by the |
| always its two hand grips, just like you might find on its | | | | increasing popularity of their cousin, the recumbent |
| motorized cousin, the Harley motorcycle. The seat of | | | | bicycle. As the baby boomer generation ages and |
| a lowrider bike is down at wheel level and its pedals | | | | feels increasing twinges of back pain riding on the |
| are sometimes higher than the seat! These bikes are | | | | dropped handlebars of road bikes, expect to see more |
| typically a highly individualized creation. Most of them | | | | and more lowrider and recumbent bikes alike. |
| are ridden with enormous pride by their creators, | | | | And once you get your first basic lowrider bike, don't |
| although you can buy some standard models and a | | | | be too surprised if you find yourself flipping through the |
| few elaborate models in a good bike store, especially | | | | real or online pages of a lowrider parts catalog musing, |
| in cities of the American West. | | | | "Hmm. I wonder how that golden sprocket would look |
| Despite the fact that these bikes originated within the | | | | on my bike?" Lowrider bikes have a tradition of |
| poverty of the barrio, lowrider bikes are anything but | | | | creative embellishment and technical improvisation that |
| cheap. Makers of these one-of-a-kind creations regard | | | | calls out the artist and the inventor in many of us. |
| their bicycles as much as an artwork and a | | | | What, really, could be better to evoke, especially if |
| mechanical marvel as a means of transportation, | | | | you're already a bike rider? |