What can one say about Slaughterama that hasn’t already been said? It’s loud, it’s rowdy, and most of the time, it’s the kind of muddy, beer-soaked fun that you can only have in Richmond, VA.
Slaughterama started seven years ago with 60 kids in an Oregon Hill cul-de-sac. It has grown into an epic three-day weekend of bike events whose main event is an all day get-together at Belle Isle. The events included are scavenger hunts, bike jousting, chicken fights, bike polo, races, jumps, and all kinds of two-wheeled madness whose official definition is stated as “a celebration of the pursuit of happiness via the bicycle.” Another event associated with Slaughterama is the Bike Porn film tour, which showcases short films that incorporate sex and bikes in ways both creative and provocative.
In it’s seventh and (reportedly) final year, the distinctly Richmond weekend event that brings together people from all over the country to celebrate bikes, beer, and friendship, seems to have passed its zenith. It appears that the hard work, creativity, and passion for everything bike-related that the Cutthroats, the bike club hosting the event, invest year after year has been overshadowed by the sheer volume of attendees (estimates are that close to 2,000 people were there at any given time) and the inevitability that somewhere along the line the message gets lost and things become more about getting fucked up and embarrassing yourself than anything else. But hey, every party’s got to end.
Even though this year got downright ridiculous at times, and not in the good way usually associated with Slaughterama, it was still fun, and I have nothing but admiration and respect for the Cutthroats in their ability to bring this many people in the community together. It’s inspiring to know that a group of people can have that kind of reach, and it shows a lot of potential for positive, constructive, activity in the future.
When it gets down to it, the Cutthroats are a group of people with a desire to improve their community through their passion, which happens to be riding, working on, and getting god-damned creative with bicycles. They pay dues and host events year-round, doing what they can to give back to the community. During Christmas time, they get involved with the Sergeant Santa program, donating bicycles to the less fortunate children in the area. In addition to this, any profits from Slaughterama are given back to the park.
Regardless of this year’s shortcomings, on account of the Cutthroats, the park was relatively spotless the next day, which given the scene 24 hours prior, says a whole hell of a lot. Between friends, family, and sweet bikes, there were plenty of good times to be had, and here are the pictures to prove it:
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Photos by Jon Headle and Jonny
Written by Jonny
