The founder of a cycling drum and bass event coming to Dublin this weekend believes the event has helped those suffering depression and others hit by inflation.
Dom Whiting, 26, from Buckinghamshire in England, started Drum and Bass on The Bike, in 2021 during lockdown. The performance artist said that as well as the free event being good for physical and mental health, he feels the “collective” gathering is the perfect fun for anyone hit by inflation.
He said: “What motivates me is people turning up to be part of something together. It’s a breakaway from daily life. People are living through a financial crisis and they come to this to have fun and it’s free.
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“We have a lot of repeat riders and some are coming to escape inflation. While thousands of people have been in touch with me to say the rides have helped them get out of really dark places.
“We have people who were really depressed, who said they started to improve after coming on the rides. I end up meeting some of those people at events and often sit for hours until it goes dark, talking to people after the ride has finished.
“The ride is about being together, enjoying, getting exercise - it’s something different and fun. I don’t charge because I’m not interested in taking money from people and the minute it becomes about money, it will fall flat on its face. I’m only interested in making the ride as fun as it can be.”
The cycling rave - which also includes runners and walkers - will see Dom ride across Dublin city on Sunday, as he plays drum and bass on DJ decks, fitted to a specially adapted bicycle. The event has exploded across Britain and Europe but this is the first time it will take place in Ireland.
The event is due to set off at 2pm from the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin city and travel across O’Connell Street, Temple Bar, Dame Street, Christchurch and Grand Canal. Dom said he hasn’t contacted gardai to arrange the route but added that he’s never had to contact the local police force on any group ride.
“We haven't spoken to the gardai yet but there's a group that does their own little rides through Dublin, and we’ve been talking to them,” Dom said.
“At the end of the day, we’re just on bikes going on a ride across the city. The gardai might be there but that’s fine, of course. In the UK it’s been fine, in Germany we did actually get a police escort, which was good but there were 2,000 people on that ride in Berlin.
“If it’s a few hundred people, I wouldn't say that’s necessary at all but every city handles it differently.”
The former car servicing and repairs businessman said he believed the event will be “great” for the Irish cycling community and to encourage even more people to ride bikes.
“It’s also really good for anyone into music and who wants to have some fun,” he added.
“People turning up is the reason I do this. Recently a 70-year-old man took part and he just walked the whole seven miles with us.
“To see things like that makes me happy. He was happy that day and I enjoyed being a part of that and everyone being together.”
However, there’s a “lot of work” that goes into the rides and Dom has already recently visited Dublin to plan the route. He said the rides actually “end up costing me money.”
This means when he isn’t out on the roads playing dance music for crowds, he’s raising funds through promotions he takes part in. However, he would like to see someone sponsor the event to help him fund it.
“What really puts a smile on my face, is the age range that turns up and the families on the ride,” Dom said.
“This is a movement anyone can come to, we are not in a club, you can bring anything and anyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are and it doesn’t matter if you have a bike, just come along and join in.”
Last month, 1,000 people took part in the mass cycle in Sheffield and a similar number also turned out to Manchester. Dom said it is “rare” that motorists are annoyed at the site of the cycling rave. He stated that most drivers smile as the musical cavalcade passes by.
For more information on the cycle visit Dom's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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