This will probably be my last post on this blog. Like I said in the beginning, I starting this blog for my capstone class, Border Beat. It has been a good experience overall. I got to see a part of the Tucson community I might not have seen otherwise.
There are too many misconceptions about lowriders and those who build them. Next time you see one rolling down the street, take the time to look at the craftsmanship and detail that has gone into it. Try to see it as a functional piece of art making the roads a little more interesting.
Though I may not write about it, I want to remind everyone about the upcoming show at the Tucson Convention Center on Sunday, May 18. It promises to be a big show with lots of rides from the area.
Hope to see you there.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Barrio Hollywood
Sunday I went to the Barrio Hollywood Fiesta Grande held on North Grande Avenue between West St. Mary's Road and West Speedway Boulevard. The street festival featured vendors selling food, art, clothing, and all the other trinkets found at street fairs. Local mariachi bands performed and people enjoyed the sunny afternoon.
But the most exciting part of the fiesta for me was the car show, which took place in front of Pat's Drive In. The show featured about 30 cars, most of which were lowriders. Cars were parked on both sides of the street while owners and car clubs mingled in front of Pat's.
The sun set off the glossy paint jobs and polished chrome while I snapped photos and admired the cars. As the pictures show, the cars varied as much as the crowd in attendance. There were traditional lowriders without hydraulics and others that sat three-wheeling for everyone to see. It was a great afternoon and I highly recommend checking out the fiesta next year.
But the most exciting part of the fiesta for me was the car show, which took place in front of Pat's Drive In. The show featured about 30 cars, most of which were lowriders. Cars were parked on both sides of the street while owners and car clubs mingled in front of Pat's.
The sun set off the glossy paint jobs and polished chrome while I snapped photos and admired the cars. As the pictures show, the cars varied as much as the crowd in attendance. There were traditional lowriders without hydraulics and others that sat three-wheeling for everyone to see. It was a great afternoon and I highly recommend checking out the fiesta next year.
Monday, April 13, 2009
More Lowrider Bikes
Today I went down to Ajo Bikes at 1301 E. Ajo Way. Ajo Bikes is known for its selection of lowrider bike frames, parts and accessories. The shop did not disappoint.
I spoke with employee Brad Nutting who provided me with insight into Tucson's lowrider bike community and its history. Much of the history echoed my previous post about lowrider bikes (see March 9 post).
Nutting said people usually start with a frame a build their own bike from there using a mix of pre-fabricated parts and custom made ones. According to Nutting, the Schwinn Stringray frame is the traditional start for a lowrider bike, but original frames are increasingly hard to find. Modern manufacturers have responded by making similarly-styled frames to meet the demand.
Ajo Bikes sells about 30 complete lowrider bikes a year and many more parts and accessories. The shop offers chrome and gold-plated parts galore. From wheels and kickstands to headlights and spare tire holders, everything is customized.
Nutting said the shop gets calls from distant locations like Indiana and Louisiana asking about its stock and the bikes in general.
Enjoy the pictures of the bikes and parts and look for a more detailed story about Ajo Bikes on Borderbeat.net in the near future.
I spoke with employee Brad Nutting who provided me with insight into Tucson's lowrider bike community and its history. Much of the history echoed my previous post about lowrider bikes (see March 9 post).
Nutting said people usually start with a frame a build their own bike from there using a mix of pre-fabricated parts and custom made ones. According to Nutting, the Schwinn Stringray frame is the traditional start for a lowrider bike, but original frames are increasingly hard to find. Modern manufacturers have responded by making similarly-styled frames to meet the demand.
Ajo Bikes sells about 30 complete lowrider bikes a year and many more parts and accessories. The shop offers chrome and gold-plated parts galore. From wheels and kickstands to headlights and spare tire holders, everything is customized.
Nutting said the shop gets calls from distant locations like Indiana and Louisiana asking about its stock and the bikes in general.
Enjoy the pictures of the bikes and parts and look for a more detailed story about Ajo Bikes on Borderbeat.net in the near future.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Lowrider Wheels
It's arguably the most basic element of most vehicles-something so simple it frequently gets overlooked on most. I'm talking, of course, about the wheel. Even with the surge in popularity of custom wheels on everyday cars, I still find myself overlooking wheels on most cars.
But in lowriding, as I've said before, things are different. A lowrider's wheels are not just objects that allow it to roll down the street, the wheels are part of the car's soul.
According to lowrider Magazine, there were few choices when it came to custom wheels in the early days of lowriding. In the days before hydraulics allowed cars to raise and lower themselves, smaller wheels allowed cars to be closer to the ground. Lowrider Magzine describes the application of custom wheels: "Instead of a sport coupe that doubles as a family car, it's now a jewel-encrusted 'king' that dances through the streets and punishes its rivals in competitions of honor and prestige."
Modern lowriders have a variety of wheel styles in all shapes and sizes. Spokes, chrome "moons," and allow struts are common features, but each wheel adds to the individuality of the lowrider it supports.
But in lowriding, as I've said before, things are different. A lowrider's wheels are not just objects that allow it to roll down the street, the wheels are part of the car's soul.
According to lowrider Magazine, there were few choices when it came to custom wheels in the early days of lowriding. In the days before hydraulics allowed cars to raise and lower themselves, smaller wheels allowed cars to be closer to the ground. Lowrider Magzine describes the application of custom wheels: "Instead of a sport coupe that doubles as a family car, it's now a jewel-encrusted 'king' that dances through the streets and punishes its rivals in competitions of honor and prestige."
Modern lowriders have a variety of wheel styles in all shapes and sizes. Spokes, chrome "moons," and allow struts are common features, but each wheel adds to the individuality of the lowrider it supports.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lowrider Art
As some of my previous posts have described, lowrider culture encompasses more than just cars. The work and details that go into cars show up on the canvas. Lowrider art has become an integral part of the culture. Paintings, sketches, tattoos and other art forms are popular medias for displaying the lowrider lifestyle.
The magazine, Lowrider Arte, features contributions from around the globe.
The magazine, Lowrider Arte, features contributions from around the globe.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Metal Canvas
As I've discussed on this blog before, lowriding is all about the details. A car that runs well won't be respected if it doesn't have the right paint job to accent it. And paint jobs for lowriders are not limited to specially-mixed base coats, but instead include intricate murals and hand-drawn accents that make a car unique.
Here is a video that describes the importance of paint in the lowriding community:
Another video shows the difficulty of laying down pinstripes by hand:
Here is a video that describes the importance of paint in the lowriding community:
Another video shows the difficulty of laying down pinstripes by hand:
Monday, March 9, 2009
Lowrider Bikes
If you've ever seen a lowrider with its glistening chrome accents, meticulous paint job, hand-fabricated interior and other details, you know instinctively that lowriding is not an inexpensive hobby. Though lowriders range in price from modest customizations done at home on a tight budget to outrageous show-cars with thousands of dollars of work and accessories, they are functioning cars and intrinsically expensive. But for those seeking to enter the lowrider world without investing in a car (or for those who may still be too young to drive) there is another option. Lowrider bikes are a popular subculture within the community.
Instead of restoring and customizing a classic car, lowrider bike owners work on classic bicycles. Schwinn bikes from the 1970s are especially popular, as their smooth lines mimic those of the traditional lowrider cars.
In a 1998 article about lowrider bikes for The Christian Science Monitor, David Holmstrom interviewed Maribel Alvarez. Alvarez organized an exhibit of lowrider bikes for the San Jose Center for Latino Arts. In the article, Alvarez attributes the interest in bikes to watching older brothers and fathers working on cars.
Lowrider bikes incorporate the same elements that the full-size cars do; they have chrome (or even gold) plated pieces, a low-to-the-ground look and custom paint jobs. There are magazine, such as Lowrider Bicycle, that focus on the lifestyle.
But not everyone has the skills, tools and materials necessary to create a custom bike. The solution: lowrider bike shops. Just like custom car shops for their older brothers, custom bike shops cater to those who want to buy or build lowrider bikes. Ajo Bikes in Tucson is one such shop. The store offers ready-made custom bikes and parts to do your own work.
Instead of restoring and customizing a classic car, lowrider bike owners work on classic bicycles. Schwinn bikes from the 1970s are especially popular, as their smooth lines mimic those of the traditional lowrider cars.
In a 1998 article about lowrider bikes for The Christian Science Monitor, David Holmstrom interviewed Maribel Alvarez. Alvarez organized an exhibit of lowrider bikes for the San Jose Center for Latino Arts. In the article, Alvarez attributes the interest in bikes to watching older brothers and fathers working on cars.
Lowrider bikes incorporate the same elements that the full-size cars do; they have chrome (or even gold) plated pieces, a low-to-the-ground look and custom paint jobs. There are magazine, such as Lowrider Bicycle, that focus on the lifestyle.
But not everyone has the skills, tools and materials necessary to create a custom bike. The solution: lowrider bike shops. Just like custom car shops for their older brothers, custom bike shops cater to those who want to buy or build lowrider bikes. Ajo Bikes in Tucson is one such shop. The store offers ready-made custom bikes and parts to do your own work.
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