Alley Cat
A type of race that
bike messengers partake in for fun that simulates the average messenger's
work day.
Most often, alley cat races are designed as a "checkpoint" race, meaning that racers must pass through certain points on the pre-defined route in succession before completing the race. Some
check points require actually dropping off/picking up items or even completely
silly games (like spinning around in circles and pinning a tail on a
donkey) before receiving clearance to proceed to the next checkpoint.
Some races mimic "sprints" or "time trials" like those commonly found in professional bicycle races.
Cheating, taking alternative routes, or otherwise "breaking the rules" are generally acceptable as that bike messenger culture can be highly competitive and require messengers to "do what it takes" to get the job
done.
Awards are generally bragging rights in the forms of spoke cards. Before spoke cards were fashionable, these cards tended to be regular playing cards from a
deck. The
winner (first place) usually receives an Ace of Spades and can proudly wear it in the rear wheel. Instead of wearing numbers on their shirts or bags, spoke cards can be used to identify competitors at the finish line and
check points.
