This is it!

First of all, a big big thank you to all our friends and fans and participants 

and just curious for making this time in Latvia so memorable. We will 

never be the same again! Following is Sam's conclusion and observations 

throughout the whole project. Enjoy!

***

It's been two weeks living away from my family home in Tartu with more
than half a dozen roommates, and so far, nobody's been murdered yet.
With this many people, it's easy to find someone who fits almost any
personality label. Geek to hipster, vegitarian or superchef. We've
been collected from four different countries across Europe to work
together on a massive two month project in which we'll be attempting
to raise awareness and participation in Latvia's biking culture by
giving new life to dead bikes.
 
With the help of several Latvian native mentors, broken bikes will be
repaired, or when that isn't possible, multiple bikes will be merged
in artistic ways into eye catching art, colloquially termed as freak
bikes.
 
It's been a bit of a rocky start as we all try to find our place in
the city, as well as figure out exactly where we belong and how to fit
in with a dozen new strangers in unfamiliar surroundings. All of the
eight volenteers are lodged in a century old house with furnaces in
every room, where it's common to wake up to frigid air even during
spring. That may be partly due to the weather still not quite leaving
winter behind yet, it even snowed on Easter!
 
While we have had plenty of setbacks, finantial, chronological, and
culinary, we already know our goal, so it's only a matter of figuring
out how to get there. Without a map, our attempts at getting to it
have been slow, but as we get comfortable with the place, tools and
supplies finally arrive, the workshop is finally coming to life. With
seven weeks on the clock, some feel we'll be out of time all too soon,
while others feel like we have plenty of time to run the gamut of
projects. Maybe both sides are right.
 
***
 
After a month living in close quarters, things are settling in fairly
well. Most of the major issues have been resolved, or have at least
faded in importance as we became aclimatized to the difference from
our respective norms.
 
Nearly all the old bikes from past years' workshops have been given
the love and attention that any bike needs after a year in the garage
and then some. With them fixed up for action the project's
participants now have transportation of a sort, just casual usage of
one can turn as many heads as a full parade does.
 
***
 
With the Angar (warehouse) opened and cleaned out as best as the old
place can be, the events designed to attract the public started.
 
The Build-a-bike workshop was a success of sorts, attracting more than
a dozen Latvian participants to come and try to make a new freak bike.
Only 3 or 4 managed to be completed this year, less than half of
2011's event had, but no disasters marred the event, and most had a
great time.
 
Following this, each weekend there was an exhibition, each varying in
execution but not in content. Immediately following the Build-a-bike
workshop there was a freak bike parade, where all the functional freak
bikes travelled around Liepaja to get everyone's attention, followed
by an evening concert in the Angar with the bikes on display.
 
The next Saturday, there was a related event of a costumed bike parade
known as The Tweed Run, where people dressed up like classical British
people did. This parade ended near the Angar with many pub tents along
set up along the canal, and the freak bikes got to be ridden by anyone
brave enough to try them out while we shared the Angar's space with
museum pieces of antique sailing equipment and a real old fashioned
Penny-Farthing Bicycle.
 
On the Last weekend of May, the canal promanade hosted a local tent
market where hundreds of people came to browse the stalls of locally
produced products and food. Freakbikes ridden around the crowd
most of the afternoon, advertising the exhibit with freak bike rental.
 
It has been a unique experience for me to live for these two months in
Liepaja and while it wasn't all I hoped, it was an unexpected
experience which surpassed any other way I could have spent the last
months of Spring. After being here for this long, I'll be glad to go
home, but also I'll be more willing to leave the house again than I
was before.

Tvīda Brauciens Liepājā 2012

The Tweed Run is a new event from England, First held in 2009 in
London. Like its older cousin Critical Mass, it is a communal event
involving a large group of bike riders. Unlike Critical Mass, which
aims purely to have as many people riding their bikes, The Tweed run
aims to raise interest with the gimmick of having participants dress
up in costumes imitating the style of the 1900s British and nearby
eras. While the eponymous tweed jacket is the headliner and most
common garb, alongside it many other classic garments are presented,
with deerstalker caps topping classical Sherlock Holmes impersonators.
Additionally, many collectors use the oppurtunity to show off restored
bikes from the time, or strange bikes that just add to the quirkyness
of the event.

To encourage participation, several awards are on offer to attract
costumed bike riders. The most vaunted awards up for grabs are for the
best costume for each gender and most interesting bike, but several
others are on offer, like most impressive mustache!

The 2012 Liepaia Tweed Run is open to the public, and all it takes to
join is a bike, so dress up fancy, hop on your penny-farthing, and
join the crowd on Rožu laukums on Saturday, 19th of May, at 16.30.

More information(in Latvian)

In the classic sci-fi movie, "Mad Max", gangs of people fight in a

post-nuclear wasteland over dwindling supplies. Above food, water, and

shelter, only one resource had higher value. Gasoline, a now truely

non-renewable resource, represented power to run the vehicles for one

more battle.

In its time, it was heralded as a masterpiece with multiple

environmental messages, even though one aspect was never really

addressed. What about alternative forms of transportation? Once all

the gasoline is gone, the junkyard gangs' war machines will grind to a

halt, never to awaken again. What would the dark heroes of the

wasteland rely on to help defend their pockets of civilization?

In the wasteland, dead ground as far as the eye can see, flattened by

a doom long enough past to be misremembered by the survivors, the

obvious answer was on the tongue of all the viewers of the film, even

though the characters never considered the possibility.

Bicycles. With a suite of tools a fraction of the size of a

functioning autobody shop, every bike can live again, in some form.

Every modern bike follows the same basic design, and uses parts with

industry standard sizes. Every bicycle chain is compatable with every

bicycle gear, and the same wrench will attach any pedal to any

sprocket.

When I first saw the Freak Bike workshop in Riga, Latvia, my mind

drifted back to that classic film. Each bike I saw was like a refugee

of a time that has never happened. In a world where the last modern

factory is collapsed and lost under radioactive sands and gasoline is

only a distant legend, the only readily available transportation will

be the bicycle. But no bicycle you have ever ridden.

They will be created out of the corpses of dead bicycles, refitted

into three meter tall mobile crow's nests, or welded to a partner

alongside to offer a platform to transport anything that the situation

requires. And being human, the decorative touches will be added by the

crafters to show pride in their work, creating something new and

functional out of the old and dead.

The entire concept of the freak bike speaks to a part of me which is

rarely stirred, sharing a hint of an unpleasant world where they are

not art, but a way of life, and the easiest way to help avoid such a

future is identical to what the people in the freak bike parade did:

Ride a bike.

Sam Piip

We have opened the Angara finally!

Look closely: have you seen those signs around the town? If not, open your eyes, there are three to find:)

For us, volunteers, the main job is to go in the morning, make a big fire, cut a lot of carrots, to make a big soup, in the big pot, on the big fire, for the big soup. Seriously.
Yesterday was still spent preparing - chopping wood, transporting bikes from the last year, arranging the tools, carring water, greeting the participants etc.

But it's not only bikeparts one will stumble upon in the workplace. Young movimakers, tourists from Singapore, local youngsters, sun, loud music, sea, art, photography, going against the mainstream are just few of the keywords.

Those who wondered around the dock in the dark probably couldn't look past the jam session and a tiny girl playing with fire. 

Making of the soup: four guys, forgotten salt, big fire, beer water, huge pot, lot of smoke - DISASTER!?!!!
Who would have guessed we had to bring our own bowls and spoons.

And you know, one of the participants is about to finish his bike already!

3rd Tweed Parade in Riga

We have been so lucky lately to make it to so many interesting events in Latvia. From Stipro Skrējiens 4(Spirit Race 4) to Freakbike Parade and Tweed Drive in Riga. Some of our volunteers participated in the Spirit Race while others were cruising through Riga on freakbikes but unfortunately for Tweed Drive we were all just an audience. It was still great, though. And you know, there will be one in Liepāja also. And very soon, this one. On the 19th of May. Starting place is the Rose Square where participants can gather from 16.30. The route:  maršrutā: Rožu laukums - Lielā iela – Graudu iela – Kūrmājas prospekts – Vites iela (Vites ielā paredzēts īpašs brauciena jubilejai veltīts izbrauciens) – Peldu iela – Liepu iela – Kr. Barona iela – Dzintara iela – Rožu iela – Ūliha iela – Jūrmalas iela – Ezera iela – Ganību iela – Kungu iela – Bāriņu iela – K. Zāles laukums – Jūras iela – Promenāde. 

 

But about the drive in Riga. There were participants of every age - from babies to senior citizens.

Finishing touches before the drive.

 

Favourite cyclist for sure!

This is it

We are starting... parmparamparmaparamparmapapaaa TODAY!

 

Yes, today we are opening the Angara for everyone. If you still don't know where and what is the Angara, then this might get you there: Liepājas promenāde, Vecā ostmala 55, Liepāja. 

7 Maijs Pirmdien 20:00
-Atklāšana (opening)
-Uguns žonglēšana (fire show)
-Parkour Performance

Tomorrow we start with the workshops for the registred participants. The Angara is open for all the curious from 10-22.00 every day, so if you want to see old bikes being choped up and built up into new freaky ones, then come and check it out! 

The programme for the following evenings:

  
8 Maijs Otrdien 20.30
- Bike on the big screen

9 Maijs Trešdien 21:00
- Mahi Bukimi [live experimental electronica]
www.myspace.com/mahibukimi

10 Maijs Ceturtdien 20.30
- Balkan ZOO [gypsy balkan acoustic disco party]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ4sp3D_118
www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150546491037509&set=t.100000950164899&type=3&theater
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6SooI5oCpw
- Uguns žonglēšana [ Kristaps Krolls]
www.firespirit.lv/en/about/kristapskrolls/

11 Maijs Piektdien 20.30
- Eņģelis www.engelisengelis.com
- Baiba Dēķena & Friends
- Fanatic [jet-operation]www.soundcloud.com/jet-operation
- Nerone [polarities] www.soundcloud.com/nerone

12 Maijs Sestdien 20:00
- SSNESNON [concert of electronic music ensemble] www.draugiem.lv/ssnesnon/
- Kaktiņš un Stūrītis
- NONSENSS www.vimeo.com/30047162

Trip on the map

View After you left the house pretty much died in a larger map

Better than Disneyland

Recently, some of the volunteers took a study visit to Riga, Andrejsalas to see how work is done and freakbikes are built by one of the most experienced freakbike constructor in Europe – Gatis Kreicbergs.

The journey took a little detour though... Through Tartu, Estonia!

„After you left the house pretty much died“

...or crazy volunteers on crazy hitchhiking trip. Liepaja-Riga-Tartu-Valka-Riga-Skrunda-Liepaja.
 

Two Italian guys with Greek and Estonian girls decide to explore more on their own and experience the Baltics like the locals.

FREAKSHOW STARTS

„Hitchhiking in Latvia is easy!“
That’s what everybody says. According to the stories I get the idea it’s like a national sport in Latvia or something. Waiting in one place for 40 minutes, another for 1,5 hours, getting completely wet for three times a day. Easy? Not a good day for hitchhiking.

Same time, half of our little group manage to do it just like THAT. What do you mean you found a car straight to Tartu?!  It’s crazy! We arrive some sooner, some later. Later meaning 2:30 in the night to be exact.

Tartu welcomes us with friendly locals, heavy rain, streets filled with singing young people, nice bars, student days and oh-so-warm sunshine.

Vacation.

Crazy people, again! Crazy Tartu this time! While getting lunch locals, who look like having a rough night the day before, appear. You are from Italy? Sicily? Mafia? Stereotypes much? They ask for three beers for a pile of garbage jewellry. Seriously?! These men are not so easy to get rid of, especially since one guy keeps appearing and appearing all over the streets and I keep on running from him.

Overall Tartu is a very green city with lots of people on the streets and in the big parks, river flowing through the city, longboards and of course lots and LOTS of bicycles!

The volunteer life is always full of adventures. For exapmple getting robbed in my own little Tartu just before leaving. Seriously?! So, no money, no ID-s. But no worries, it’s going to be allright! There’s something good in everything.

After dealing with the Estonian police for hours, we’re finally back on the roadside. This time trying to get to Riga. Not such an easy task for two Italian men but it takes us, the girls, ten minutes and a truck stops. Taking us both!

Definately not safe, definately not legal, but fun! And straight to Riga from Tartu. Great! At the same time the two Italian guys received a friendly welcome from the Latvian police.

Our driver doesn’t speak any language understandable to us, unfortunately. And he checks his jacket just before we leave the truck on the edge of the city of Riga. Smart guy. Smarter than me, who’s still hurting from being robbed in the morning.

RIGA!

We are very pleased to finally arrive in this beautiful city for the weekend. Although hungry and tired from the bumpy ride as well as dealing with the police.

One can find all the best places with the warmest atmosphere by following bicycles, of course.

There’s bicycle week in Riga – Rīgas velo nedēļa 2012. The city is full of bicyles. Each one crazier/flashier/freakier than the other. And we love bikes! Every one of us in our own way.

Sunday morning we head to Andrejsalas to participate in the freakbike workshop there. The quarter is still very sleepy. There are some locals sitting by the pier and recovering from last night, few Russians setting up a flea market, some guys waiting for the workshop to start and a guy called Arturs who announces with a big smile that they basically just drink beer and do nothing all day. (Later we are happy to find evidence that he’s exaggerating a bit of course.) And this is actually supposed to be the cleaning and arranging day. Not so punk, we think? The locals sitting by the pier are curious about us lurking around there and try to make friends by offering us wine. And it’s not even 13:00 yet.

Guys hanging out in front of the garage suggest coming back later and I manage to get a tambourine for free from the Russian men having a flea market. We’re a bit sad that nothing special was happening and decide to head to the city center to play tourists for a while.

It’s early evening when we finally meet another volunteer from Liepaja, Nikola, who is here to film shots for the documentary about freakbikes and head back to Andrejsala.

SPACE GARAGE

This is as punk as it gets.

I want to see some sparks flying!

Back in the garage, beer everywhere, loud music, a lot of freakbikes everywhere, sparks are flying, bikes are being built, cut apart and put back together forming monstreous pieces of art. It has kind of an industrially romantic feeling to it.

No one buys new parts in here, everything is second hand, recycling, freak. Every bike has a story.

About riding freak bikes, the thing is that the police often won’t stop the rider because they think that they can’t stop!

The environment might seem a bit threathening for some in the beginning but actually everybody is very welcoming and open, just a bit reserved, need to be aproached.

„We have been playing with this old videogame, drinking and doing nothing since yesterday.“

It’s better then Disneyland.

Crazy Riga, sexy bikes, Andrejsalas Garāžās, beautiful city, friendly locals and the sun loves us!

There’s building bicycles all day, seemingly creating an even bigger mess in an already big mess. By the evening it smoothly transforms into a party by the sea with bonfires in old trashcans, self-appointed DJ, a striptease pole, more beer and people enjoying themselves and most of all, of course, bikes.

Next day we are supposed to head back to Liepaja, to our reality. We make a last attempt to find a market with old bike parts but fail, sadly.

Hitchhiking this time with the three of us, one guy, two girls. Sound kind of impossible at first. Well, it takes time but we can do it! The first driver is a crazy old man and we are kind of afraid for our lives. Finally, we manage to get to Skrunda alive.                

ALMOST IN LIEPAJA

Two girls, one boy hitchhiking in a small town, sounds impossible, again. But a good old trick helps - girls hitchhike, guy hides. "But hey! Have you got room for three?" Nice! The driver is even crazier this time. Going with 120km/h, talking with a phone and passing the car in front – all at the same time!

By the evening we are back to reality, happy, alive, survived the adventures with rain, sun, crazy people, being robbed, more crazy people, Estonian police, Latvian police, even more crazy people, almost getting fined because of a missing ticket in public transport, crazy drivers, a lot of luck and new experiences, of course.

Pictures by Georgia Aliferi & Francesco Garello
Text by Keiu Meesak