News: Blue, Yellow, Orange Wit Bling, Scraper Bikes is on the Scene

So says the Original Scraper Bike Team, founded by Tyrone Stevenson (aka Baybe Champ, the Scraper Bike King).

The Oakland, California based team is quite an amazing collective. The group achieves a great deal with cheap materials, an abundance of style, and most importantly: community warmth and spirit.

Make interviews the Scraper Bike King:

"The Scraper Bike Project captures the creativity of youth living within dangerous communities. This project teaches youth bicycles safety rules, bicycle repair tips, and how to create what we call a Scraper Bike. We want to engage up to 250 youth, between the ages of 12 and 24, with a positive outlet that's fun, educational, and promotes healthy lifestyles. Scraper Bikes have gotten three national press mentions: NPR, Current TV, and The Christan Science Monitor. We want to expand and enlighten young peoples' perspectives on life through fixing and riding bicycles. We set up a lot of events over the past few years to bring awareness to this grassroots movement. We plan on creating a sustainable, positive, educational, and green way of life in inner city neighborhoods."

California is a place's video piece on the group:

What's most interesting to me is the Scraper Bike King's initiation qualifications. (Other than their mad style, of course. AH. I am hardcore digging the sequin caps).

In order to become a member of the Original Scraper Bike Team, you must:

• Be a resident of Oakland, CA. Be at least 7y/o or older.
• Retain A 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).
• Create your own Scraper Bike…(It Has To Be Amazing, Or Else You Can't Ride.)
• A single-file line when riding.
• After 10 rides The Scraper Bike King and his Captains will decide if your bike is up to standards and if you can follow simple guidelines.
• After your evaluation we will consider you a member and honor you with an Original Scraper Bike Team Shirt. Can only worn when Mobbin'.

Love how serious these rules are. Just great. Scraper Bike Team, your bikes are lookin' hot.

Click through to Instructables for some HowTo tips on making your own Scraper wheels.

• Previously, Pimp Your Bike.