Bikes and David Byrne are the two things in my life that seem to have been ubiquitous since the late 1970's.
As a musician, his work with Talking Heads and as a solo artist was a favourite of my then step father and the albums were bought on the day of release and then played on heavy repeat, much to the delight of my mother. Much to the delight of my wife and the boy, I have now managed to find the majority of those albums on vinyl and while the rotation is slightly less ferocious, I still rattle the house with them on the rare moments that I am alone, usually whilst cleaning my bike.
As a cyclist, David Byrne is an impassioned, articulate and socially aware ambassador for the cultural necessity of the bicycle in the modern cityscape and, moreover, the simple joy of experiencing the world by bike.
Depending on your view of cycling, the mileage you get from his book Bicycle Diaries may vary. However, as someone with a love of not only the sport/past time but also the cultural history and social impact of the bike, I loved it.
Part anecdote regarding travelling the world with a bike, part essay on how the bike is fundamental in preserving a sense of belonging in the modern urban environment, it was a personable, relatable and thought provoking read. As a cyclist who grew up using my bike to commute around what was then a notoriously dangerous city, it was interesting to note the parallels between Byrne's relationship with New York and mine with London, especially in terms of the very tactile relationship you develop with the architecture around you.
As a middle aged man who finds himself slightly concerned by the social detachment created by modern city planning, it was heartening to hear someone echo my own innate belief that bikes are increasingly vital in a world designed for motorists to get from door to door with the minimum of exposure to the world around them. As the relationship between cyclists and motorists appears to be more volatile and dangerous then ever, it was reassuring to hear someone discuss, in rational terms, how the bike can and should be integrated into the modern world in order to improve not only congestion but also the quality of life.
Sometimes as a cyclist, it is important to be reminded of the joy that brought you to your bike to begin with and David Byrne embodies and communicates that in a way that invites you to reevaluate your relationship with both cycling itself and your physical environment. He is a unique voice and a keen observer of a culture that merits such exploration and a world that increasingly needs people to embrace cycling in all of its forms.
He also looks pretty sharp on a bike, something I think we can all aspire to.
