Popping wheelies and swerving cars in the parking lot are how these high school students from Bellflower choose to spend their Thanksgiving break, biking around the Liberal Arts Campus while others sat in their classroom receiving instruction.
The group who calls themselves “The B Town Hittas” said Long Beach sits at the top of cities where they ride due to the large amount of bike lanes and bike infrastructure in the city.
Adrian Monte, a Bellflower resident and high school student, brought his friends to the city and chose the area for the campus and airport parking lots.
He started biking because he saw his other friends on BMX bicycles and was inspired by the tricks and stunts they were performing in the street. Not long after he was on two wheels and learning how to perform those same tricks.
“Being on the bike provides a great exercise and it is very meditative,” Monte said, “when I get on the bike I feel peaceful and I get to get outside.”
He shortly after began gathering friends to go on rides and explore the surrounding areas on their bikes.
After spending close to a year and a half on bikes, Monte said he’s learned what to look for on others’ bikes to determine how they ride and what styles they like.
“Style is super important when it comes to a bike. You want your ride to look good and impress people you may come by,” Monte said, “if someone has their seat higher I can tell they are still learning how to wheelie and swerve. I never judge them though.”
“It’s great riding down in Long Beach because there’s so many spots to explore,” said Monte “we ride on the beach path, downtown and second street a lot, everything is close together too.”
As the group rode through streets and alleyways one cyclist, Jayden Rosas, led the group, lightly feathering his brakes as he rode one wheel off the ground ahead of the rest.
Rosas, like the rest, has a deep interest in bikes and wants to one day get a dirt bike when he has the money.
“Learning how to do tricks was the most fun part,” Rosas said, “you definitely fall a few times but that’s all in the process of learning.”
Jayden Rosas performs a wheelie on his electric bike on LAC on Nov. 26, 2024. The crew spent some time on campus before heading out to explore the surrounding areas. (Nick Eismann)
Eddie Gutierrez took full advantage of the break to spend all the time he could on his bike instead of staying inside like some of his classmates.
“When I’m at home I get bored,” Gutierrez said as the crew rode down the street, “this gives me something to do and I also get to spend time with my friends while doing it.”
Some in the group rode into oncoming traffic narrowly missing cars while performing a wheelie, a tactic known as swerving.
While some drivers and passers-by may have seen the actions as reckless, the crew of cyclists ensured safety of themselves and others, often warning other riders of traffic behind them and stopping at red lights.
They finished their ride at In N Out, parking their bikes outside and going in as a group to order food while they plan their next adventure.