Wheelie
When riding a bicycle one must simply lean backwards whilst pulling upward on the handlebars to create the sensation of liftoff, and remain pedalling in order to keep balanced on the rear wheel. Once up on the one wheel, one can feel an odd concoction of two opposing feelings: flight and groundedness. Flight because one is elevated above the ground - hovering. Groundedness because one is pulling, with the body, backwards and downward at the same time. In this strange middle, in between the conflicting forces of up and down at the same time, it is easy to smile as the body is removed from both planes of existence simply by straddling them at the same time: neither up nor down, neither in nor out, simply wavering between the two on a fine-line of balance. It all remains within the body, too, and one instantly looses one's thoughts when concentrating so much so on the legs, arms, shoulders, hips, etc, of their humanness.
When riding a bicycle one must simply lean backwards whilst pulling upward on the handlebars to create the sensation of liftoff, and remain pedalling in order to keep balanced on the rear wheel. Once up on the one wheel, one can feel an odd concoction of two opposing feelings: flight and groundedness. Flight because one is elevated above the ground - hovering. Groundedness because one is pulling, with the body, backwards and downward at the same time. In this strange middle, in between the conflicting forces of up and down at the same time, it is easy to smile as the body is removed from both planes of existence simply by straddling them at the same time: neither up nor down, neither in nor out, simply wavering between the two on a fine-line of balance. It all remains within the body, too, and one instantly looses one's thoughts when concentrating so much so on the legs, arms, shoulders, hips, etc, of their humanness.
Kyle pops his front wheel up gracefully, the same way most of us wave 'hello' - without the tangles of concentration, it is simply a natural extention of his body's mechanics. Up he goes, instantly, as though he simply wills his bicycle from underneath him to jump upward. He can remain balanced, naturally, without any of the usual fidgetting that plagues most. From a one-wheeled position Kyle can then expand upon his positioning to perhaps ride in a backwards circle, or remove his hands from the bars and control the entire show from his legs and knees. His tire is a razor which firmly deepens itself into the concrete, sharp enough to carve with ease still despite the surfaces inherent hardness. Like this he swings himself up, and I am not quite sure if he ever comes down from up high. Kyle flies.
Puck's is a casual one as well, though he travels at a slower speed. Slower, not in a bad way but slower in that his movements are thoughtful, carefully plotted. His body on top of his bike: the commander of a teak paddle boat, dressed in a crisp white linen suit. There is nothing that is out of his control, at all times he pedals clear and free. I imagine his smile as he pulls upward on the bars and thus releasing his front wheel from the burden of gravity. It takes flight, soaring up, then pitching down a bit, then wobbling up again -- not uncontrolled but with just a touch of danger, Puck flies as well.
Justin rises over his bars and lifts, once with a clean jerk of his arms, and his immaculate machine is up and up and up higher still as he cleanly rides straight down the road. His wheelie is a surprise, a secret of sorts that most won't expect and it is just this every thing that makes it all the more exciting - like a signless storefront with boarded windows that happens to contain every record and book you had been waiting to find. His wheelie breaks forth out of this hidden area and gradually tears itself from the tethers of confinement: to see a 1984 Cinelli Super Corsa, the pinnacle of every collector's list, be treated to such a wreckless and youthful (daresay blasphemous) "trick" provides a wonderful contrast that is full of an odd type of fun that one never expects to find but always hopes for.
