HATE it, insult it, ban it but it will still not keep cyclists from their controversial “basikal lajak”.

Several teens who spoke to The Malaysian Insight said the death of eight teenagers in Johor Baru two years ago made it even more popular despite all the angst among adults.

The public uproar over the hobby – among the authorities, politicians and adults come in seasons – and will pass, the cyclists said, and teens then quietly return to their modified bikes.

Basikal lajak enthusiasts are known by their modified bicycles, which have shorter handles, lower seats and no brakes. This form allows riders to lay on their stomachs, put their legs up and glide down roads in a “superman” pose.

“No matter how you pressure us, basikal lajak will live. The trend won’t die but will become bigger,” said Khairul, a 16-year-old from Subang.

Khairul, however, admits his parents do get upset with him but they continue to indulge him by buying bicycle parts.

“My parents make noise when the issue gets hot like right now. But they don’t make noise for long.

“When we see cops, we usually just ride away. Maybe things are slow right now but we’re still around,” said Khairul, who has been riding for four years.

Ironically, according to one rider named Lee from Johor Baru, the trend picked up after the tragedy of the eight teens two years ago.

Negative press coverage concerning a basikal lajak group called “tenteraflyjb” (JB flying army) also helped to spread the culture throughout the country.

“Ever since ‘tenteraflyjb’ became viral and since the accident, our group has expanded,” said Lee, one of tenteraflyjb’s founders.

The group now has hundreds of members and thousands of followers on its Instagram account and there similar groups in other states.

Where else to ride?

None of the youths interviewed knows the origins of the term “basikal lajak” but the activity itself is not new and has existed in the West since the 1980s.

A subset of BMX enthusiasts created the gravity bike – one optimised to allow a rider to glide down a hill as fast as possible by removing its brakes and shortening the handlebars.

Gravity propels the speed instead of a rider’s strength.

Local basikal lajak groups are often found on slopes doing the same thing.

But its attraction lies not so much in the adrenaline rush but the friendships formed among the teens.

“We’re not bad people. I got into this because I made lots of good friends through it,” said Lee.

“Our routine is that all of us from JB will gather at Jalan Lingkaran Dalam. There’re more people during a public holiday.”

Another rider named Saiful, from Puchong, said he also got into basikal lajak because all his friends are involved.

But the 11-year-old said his parents are aware bout his passion and still allow him to continue as long as he follows their rules.

“I can’t go out at night. I can’t get into road races and I can only play around my neighbourhood. And I need to return by a certain time.”

Lee, the JB cyclist, said if given a choice, many would rather ride on government-provided tracks rather than roads.

“Where else are we supposed to ride if not the road? If the government provides us with a track, we would use it.

“Or a special lane for us so that accidents don’t occur,” said Lee. – November 29, 2019.