Migration from Yucatán to the United States has led to a melting pot of cultures that is especially evident in the municipalities in the south of the state. This phenomenon has brought with it expressions from the neighboring country, such as the case of lowrider culture, a movement that according to its members is distinguished by respect and love.
More than half a million Yucatecans live in American cities like San Francisco and Portland, according to figures from the Institute for the Development of Mayan Culture (Indemaya), so it is not surprising that, when many of them return, they bring with them related clothing and expressions with Chicano culture.
It is noon in the main square of Ticul, and a group of people is somewhat out of harmony with the Sunday postcard. They dress in baggy pants, snapback caps, and baseball team jerseys. There are around a dozen lowrider bicycles. It is the first event they have organized.
Among them is the blacksmith Pedro López Villanueva, a member of the Familow collective, one of those dedicated to this hobby in Yucatán. For him, who is one of the organizers of the cycling meeting, the idea is that the lowrider culture remains and grows in the entity.
He regretted that on many occasions society tends to associate these types of vehicles with thugs and gang members. However, he clarified, that the people in his group do not practice any of that, but quite the opposite:
“The lowrider is love, respect, and brotherhood. Many see cycling as a hobby, but for those who love lowrider culture, it is a lifestyle. If you see someone, whether on a bicycle, car, or motorcycle, you can give them a hand. That is always our mission, to help.”
In the case of the movement in Yucatán, Pedro López regretted that over the years it has gone down, which he attributes to the fact that it is a very expensive hobby: “They ask you how much you have already invested, and the most basic is 10 thousand pesos. So with that, they prefer to buy a motorcycle or a Nissan Tsuru.”
Over 12 years of representing lowrider culture, blacksmith López Villanueva has used his knowledge to modify hundreds of bicycles, some of which have even traveled to California and other states of the republic.
“But they are embarrassed to say that a Yucatecan did it since it is a movement with greater popularity in other latitudes. In cities like Guadalajara or Mexicali it has more prestige,” he criticized.
Pedro López shared that the main characteristics of lowrider bicycles are that they are “squat” and have different accessories that can cost up to 11,000 dollars. For people interested in this movement he makes his Facebook profile available.
TYT Newsroom
