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Julie Glassberg

BIKE KILL. Photographer: Julie Glassberg. -- I followed the Black Label Bike Club for over three years and my goal was to represent honestly their lifestyle and reduce the stereotypes society might have on this type of outcast community. The Black Label Bike Club is known as the first Òoutlaw bicycle club.Ó It was created in 1992 by Jacob Houle and Per Hanson in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has chapters nationwide. They are one of the main contributors to the rise of tall bike culture and organize jousting competitions. It is interesting to see this destructive, rebel culture revolving around such a non-threatening object: the bicycle. I consider them as a blend of punk, grunge and hippie culture. They are an independent community rebelling against the system. In a society that pushes us to consume, focus on money and overly use technology, it is interesting to see a group of young people resisting and fighting against it. Their community is mainly based on the bike culture, art and on the real value of relationships; the basic, simple values that seem to have disappeared. This particularly affected me when I was in NYC and everyone seemed to be living virtually on social networks and obsessed by success. These ÒkidsÓ felt real, speaking frankly and not afraid to take risks and hurt themselves (physically or with life decisions). They are living in the moment, in a risk-less society yearning for security. They are passionate, well-read, talented young people with real discussions.

BIKE KILL.
Photographer: Julie Glassberg. —
I followed the Black Label Bike Club for over three years and my goal was to represent honestly their lifestyle and reduce the stereotypes society might have on this type of outcast community.
The Black Label Bike Club is known as the first Òoutlaw bicycle club.Ó It was created in 1992 by Jacob Houle and Per Hanson in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has chapters nationwide. They are one of the main contributors to the rise of tall bike culture and organize jousting competitions. It is interesting to see this destructive, rebel culture revolving around such a non-threatening object: the bicycle.
I consider them as a blend of punk, grunge and hippie culture. They are an independent community rebelling against the system. In a society that pushes us to consume, focus on money and overly use technology, it is interesting to see a group of young people resisting and fighting against it. Their community is mainly based on the bike culture, art and on the real value of relationships; the basic, simple values that seem to have disappeared. This particularly affected me when I was in NYC and everyone seemed to be living virtually on social networks and obsessed by success. These ÒkidsÓ felt real, speaking frankly and not afraid to take risks and hurt themselves (physically or with life decisions). They are living in the moment, in a risk-less society yearning for security. They are passionate, well-read, talented young people with real discussions.

Bike Kill
France   www.julieglassberg.com

Glassberg followed the Black Label Bike Club, the first “outlaw bicycle club”, for over three years. Created in 1992 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it now has groups nationwide. It is interesting to see this destructive, rebel culture revolving around such a non-threatening object: the bicycle. Their community is mainly based on bike culture, art and on the real value of relationships; the basic, simple values that seem to have disappeared. These “kids” feel real, speaking frankly and not afraid to take risks and hurt themselves. They are living in the moment, in a risk-free society yearning for security. They are passionate, well-read, talented young people with real discussions.