Gay bicycle rider
A Sydney Spokes collective out on a ride in primary Sydney pause for a photo at a colourful identify in Prince Alfred Park! The 90m rainbow path was painted in 2017 to commemorate the November 2017 judgment to legalise queer marriage in Australia (Image: Sydney Spokes)
The history of Sydney Spokes
Sydney Spokes was founded in 1986 after Allan Hildon posted an ad in the local paper searching for people to cycle with. Out of the four people that went on the first sit on, three went on to formalise the group as a committee: Peter Wilson, Les Clements, and Allan himself.
The designate was chosen to be in line with a comparable cycling group that Allan had heard about. “Different Spokes” was founded in 1983 in Southern California to promote cycling activities among members and friends of the homosexual and lesbian communities. It offered a wide variety of road and mountain bike rides within the greater Los Angeles area, as well as social events and weekend trips.
Allan dreamed of riding with kindred spirits and wondered if a something similar would seize off in Sydney.
Sydney Spokes began with a schedule of rides each Sunday, mainly congregating around Centennial Park. Drive attendance v
Allan Shaw - Gay’s OKAY
If you don’t know Allan we definitely think you should. Once you start a conversation with him you will simply not get out of it anymore. The “Unicorn” as he is called by the community describes himself as a chatty man. I got to exposure this first hand, as I touch I have learned A LOT about Allan’s life during our short chats during this year's Silk Road Mountain race. Why act we think you need to absorb about him? Allan is one of the only openly gay male athletes in competitive bikepacking world. (Please communicate up if you are reading this and we missed you as another role model!) He also started the brand Gay’s Okay cycling from and for LGBTQ cyclists. The interview with Allan lasted a whole evening and could have easily lasted even longer. Allan is easily one of the most charming and funniest characters you can find in the world of cycling. We desire you enjoy the interview as much as we did.
Who is Allan Shaw? What are you doing in your life?
Who is Allan? That sure is a good interrogate. I would utter I’m a cyclist, a bike emissary, a photographer and definitely a traveller. In fact I've been doing this for over 10 years. I currently live in Mexico Cit