Some people get off to porn, other people get down to BDSM role play. And then there are those people who are turned on by bicycles. Bike Smut is a collection of short erotic films that have everything to do with bikes. This DIY bicycle-themed festival has been traveling across the country for eight years now, showcasing the sexual fetishes of cyclists. Bike SMut pedals through Colorado November 8-12, with stops in Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.
Westword recently caught up with Reverend Phil Sano, founder of Bike Smut and an ordained minister with the Seattle Dead Baby Bike Club's Church of Bicycle Jesus, to talk more about those who get on their bikes to get off.
See also: Photos: Bike Porn Party at Open Media, 12/4/10
Westword: Bike porn isn't something I'm too familiar with. What's the history behind it?
Reverend Phil: There has never been a time in human history where our sexuality wasn't connected to mobility. Think centuries ago: the more mobile you were, the more desirable you were for a mate. It's also important to understand the history of liberation for women. For example, are you wearing pants? I'm assuming you are, and you would be owing that directly to the bicycle. So it's not too strange that people think bikes are sexy.
How did you manage to find so many people that share this "bikes are sexy" mentality?
Well, as you might have seen, this is our eighth year of this festival, and there are different people from around the world that find joy and sexual liberation in bikes. It's a really unique event, and given its uniqueness and rarity, the demand for events like this within this bike culture is increasing.
I know this is a traveling film series, but do you also make these films available for purchase?
We only offer clips on our website. If we offered the program for public sale, our cyclists and bike enthusiasts would be porn stars for the rest of their lives. This way it keeps people engaged in looking for us. For eight years we've never had a leak, which is impressive. I travel with our film crew by bike.
What's the mission behind these bike smut screenings?
We're making good sex and transportation a quality of life issue. I know watching bike porn might sound like a weird way to spend your Saturday night, but it's strangely the most political thing you can do. Because we're bringing topics worthy of contemplation.
Continue reading for more bike porn abd sexy political topics.
Can you elaborate on these worthy topics?
Well, how do we as a community decide what's decent? Is bike porn decent to show in public? Who gets to decide that? If you don't give yourself the opportunity to define what decency is, then you're allowing someone else to. We're supposed to be adults and be able to decide for ourselves what is right and what is wrong.
What's something specific that you think should be contemplated?
The stigma of porn. Think about it. We tend to watch porn in private, isolated from others and we give it no public context. We never watch it with someone and give ourselves the opportunity to say, 'Hey, what do you think about this?' And this would be a generally awkward question to ask the next day by the water cooler.
Is public porn consumption something you aim for with Bike Smut?
When you don't talk about it, it's a recipe for disaster. Watching this bike porn together as a community gives us a chance to decide in a safe, public setting what is 'appropriate' in a healthier way. Come to Bike Smut to activate your brain and your junk.
A screening of Bike Smut 8: Come Again takes place this Saturday, November 8, from 8 p.m. to midnight at Velowood Cyclery, 2526 East Colfax Avenue, right next to Tattered Cover. For a full list of Colorado Bike Smut showings or to purchase tickets, which are $8, visit the Bike Smut website.
Start the porn convo with Lauren on Twitter at @laureneverytime
