Spoke card
Encyclopedia
A spoke card is a card placed in the spokes of a bicycle wheel
. Most spoke cards are laminated.
One origin of the spoke card was laminate
d cards inserted in spokes with numbers used to identify competitors in Alleycat races
held between bicycle messenger
s. Another influence was the practice of placing playing card
s found on the street in bicycle spokes in a game known in 1990s San Francisco as Spokepoker. Tarot
cards were also used early on, with the race number written on them, but nowadays cards are often printed specially.
The spoke card is wedged between the spokes of the rear wheel at the point where they cross each other. Although the spoke card is hard to read while the bicycle is in motion, it provides a cheap way to label them in the absence of a proper race number plaque under the top tube, and is less likely to attract the attention of the authorities than a number on the rider's back. A spoke card can also be placed in such a way as to make a noise
as the card flaps against the spokes.
Many messengers retain spoke cards after the event, accumulating several on the wheel. Other city riders sometimes fix spoke cards to their wheels as an affectation of messenger culture. Many times participants of large group rides, such as those organized by groups like the Midnight Ridazz
or Critical Mass receive spoke cards and affix them to their spokes.
Spoke cards have evolved to serve such diverse functions as memorial
s for fallen messengers, as artwork
s, and as political placard
s in bike messenger association elections and even in the 2008 United States presidential election.
Bicycle wheel
A bicycle wheel is a wheel, most commonly a wire wheel, designed for bicycle. A pair is often called a wheelset, especially in the context of ready built "off the shelf" performance-oriented wheels....
. Most spoke cards are laminated.
One origin of the spoke card was laminate
Laminate
A laminate is a material that can be constructed by uniting two or more layers of material together. The process of creating a laminate is lamination, which in common parlance refers to the placing of something between layers of plastic and gluing them with heat and/or pressure, usually with an...
d cards inserted in spokes with numbers used to identify competitors in Alleycat races
Alleycat races
An Alley Cat race is an informal bicycle race. Alley Cats almost always take place in cities, and are often organized by bicycle messengers. The informality of the organization is matched by the emphasis on taking part, rather than simple competition...
held between bicycle messenger
Bicycle messenger
Bicycle messengers are people who work for courier companies carrying and delivering items by bicycle. Bicycle messengers are most often found in the central business districts of metropolitan areas...
s. Another influence was the practice of placing playing card
Playing card
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games...
s found on the street in bicycle spokes in a game known in 1990s San Francisco as Spokepoker. Tarot
Tarot
The tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...
cards were also used early on, with the race number written on them, but nowadays cards are often printed specially.
The spoke card is wedged between the spokes of the rear wheel at the point where they cross each other. Although the spoke card is hard to read while the bicycle is in motion, it provides a cheap way to label them in the absence of a proper race number plaque under the top tube, and is less likely to attract the attention of the authorities than a number on the rider's back. A spoke card can also be placed in such a way as to make a noise
Noise
In common use, the word noise means any unwanted sound. In both analog and digital electronics, noise is random unwanted perturbation to a wanted signal; it is called noise as a generalisation of the acoustic noise heard when listening to a weak radio transmission with significant electrical noise...
as the card flaps against the spokes.
Many messengers retain spoke cards after the event, accumulating several on the wheel. Other city riders sometimes fix spoke cards to their wheels as an affectation of messenger culture. Many times participants of large group rides, such as those organized by groups like the Midnight Ridazz
Midnight Ridazz
Midnight Ridazz is a late-night group bicycle ride that celebrates bicycle culture in Los Angeles, California. The ride takes place on city streets, has no sponsors, is not sanctioned by any government agency, and does not require registration or membership in a club. The ride follows different...
or Critical Mass receive spoke cards and affix them to their spokes.
Spoke cards have evolved to serve such diverse functions as memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
s for fallen messengers, as artwork
Work of art
A work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...
s, and as political placard
Placard
A placard is a notice installed in a public place, like a small card, sign, or plaque. It can be attached to or hung from a vehicle or building to indicate information about the vehicle operator or contents of a vehicle or building.- Buildings :...
s in bike messenger association elections and even in the 2008 United States presidential election.