Who is the slowest Slowbiker? This is the first year that
the Open Dutch Championships (NK) Slowbiking Battle is being held in a large
number of Dutch cities. Slowbiking is a contest to see who can cycle the
slowest. One of the qualifying rounds will be held on
Sunday 19th of April during the International Cargo Bike Festival in Nijmegen. The Open NK
tour will visit several other cities. The final takes place on Sunday 21st of
June in Utrecht, where the world’s fastest cycling contest, the Tour de France,
has its kick-off this summer.
In Nijmegen there will be a special
SlowCargobiking Contest too! Only for two wheel cargo bikes ofcourse.
It seems so easy, cycling as slow as possible on an
eleven-meter track. Without touching the lines with your bike or the ground
with your feet, it actually takes a lot of concentration, balance and cycling
technique. A slightly trained slowbiker takes about a minute to finish those
eleven meters, but the world record is set at an impressive two hours. A
slowbiking battle isn’t boring, far from it; it’s very entertaining. A
presenter is motivating both crowd and contestants with great enthusiasm and
musicians support the race with their improvised music.
The
NK Slowbiking Battle is not only for the trained
slowbikers, everyone is invited to join in the qualifying rounds. Registration
can be done on the spot. Taking part is a great way of testing your patience,
because in a time where everything is moving faster and faster, the art of
Slowbiking is not to rush. This is not only the case for the contestants; also
the crowd is forced to slow down, watching people doing something very slowly.
The first qualifying round on the 11th of January in Utrecht
was won by Sietse van Berkel (25) with a time of 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Van
Berkel, who works in education and is a professional BMX-rider, hopes to win
the final in June. “But I do expect a lot of great mountainbikers, racing
cyclists and bike messengers taking part. It is very possible that they are
slower than me, and will win the race.”
What’s the secret of a good slowbiker? “You need to try to
stand still and keep your balance without cramping up” Van Berkel says. He is
going to train more in the next few months, even when he is cycling on his city
bike. “At the traffic light I’ll try to stand still for as long as I can
without letting my feet touch the ground.”
Slowbiking has been developed by the Dutch artist Kaspar
König. He came up with the idea in 2006 when he was asked to compete in a race
to cycle slowly at an art academy in Beijing. He became runner-up and won a
milk carton. König developed the current, easy accessible concept with
improvising musicians and a presenter commentating.
A few years ago, König handed Slowbiking over to its current
contest organiser Paulien Willems, owner of Cycle Fun Productions. After a few
independent battles in The Netherlands and abroad, 2015 will have the first
Dutch Slowbiking Battle Championship.
“Everyone is welcome to join in, young or old”, Paulien
Willems says. “We are also scouting talents from different cycling cultures and
disciplines. The three best – so the three slowest – slowbikers from each
qualifying round will go through to the final on Sunday 21st of June. Not only
will they be able to show their slowbiking technique, they will also be able to
show their own cycling tricks during the Cycle Freestyle Battle.” The prize for
the winners is a bike, a beach cruiser.
Video Slowbiking Battle teaser
Calendar NK Slowbiking Battle 2015 events
11/01 KickOff NK Slowbiking Battle – Culturele Zondag
Utrecht
28/02&01/03 Nationale (E-)Bike testdagen – Expo
Haarlemmermeer
08/03 Culturele Zondag Kijken, Kijken, Kopen – Utrecht
Hoog Catharijne
18/04 Woonmarkt Dronten
19/04 International Cargo Bike Festival – Nijmegen
25/04 ElectrischeFietsen.com Event Breda
22/05 LuilakNACHTmarkt – Stadsplein Heerhugowaard
23/05 Centrum Veendam
24/05 Groene Boulevard Festival Amsterdam
21/06 Grand Final NK Slowbiking Battle – Culturele Zondag
The Battle Utrecht
