Cityphile: Jim Hoehnle

Welcome to Cityphiles, BR's periodic focus on some semi-public Vancouver notables. People who have opinions, have influence, make an impact, or are maybe just too hott to not be made a public spectacle. Which makes Jim Hoehnle (rhymes with 'only') the ideal kick off profile, since he embodies all the above. Jim's one of those dudes who seems to know everybody. I guess that's what happens when you're an active events promoter working your butt off to entertain your closest 1000 friends. This is the guy behind the Hot One Inch Action shows, the infamous Velomutations parties, and much more. He's also (shocker) a totally decent fellow. Check the interview after the jump.

You've been involved in a lot of art and bike culture promotions over the years, Jim. What have been some of the highlights for you?

There are so many highlights. Some favourites would be the first critical mass rides we really tried hard to promote, like the first 1000 wheel ride, where we aimed for five hundred bikers and got over a thousand; the East Van Chopper Fest at the Car Free Drive Festival; the MC3 performance ride last summer. I love seeing that particular gleam of joy in people's eyes and the affirmation of how freaking fun and transforming bikes are. Lately I have been enjoying performing with Brakes at the !!Bike!! party series I have been helping organize over the last few years with PedalPlay.

I've seen Brakes perform a couple times, and found it to be 100% entertaining and saucy. Can you describe Brakes to BR readers and tell us how it started up?

Brakes is an all boy bike inspired dance crew. We take elements of breakdance, flatland, burlesque, mix in some bike love, stir it up with some half ass choreography, strip down to our underpants and Bam it's a show. We aim to be ridiculous and sexy and to reflect and inspire our community of bikers. The Sprockettes from Portland were our original inspiration but now we will bite anyone who dances like the fifth grade talent show never ended.

How did you get into the bike scene here?

I bought a reconditioned Bianchi road bike from Our Community Bikes. It looked like a retro beater, covered in bike punk stickers, and it was super fast. I rode it everywhere so happy and proud. I just wanted to ride my bike so I ended up hanging out with other bikers who just really wanted to ride their bikes. We would do street art and promote Critical Mass, then we started building freak bikes... Hm? I guess my bike got me into the bike community.

I know you more through the bike scene than the art scene. Is either one of those more of a focus than the other?

One of the things that I have learned since art school is that as an artist you need to support a community of people and in turn be supported by that community of people. I have that relationship with the biking community. I am pretty lucky in that my life is all bike at the present moment.

I know you've been a part of the D.I.Y. Dharma group since its inception. What's your scoop there?

The DIY Dharma is a meditation group: we basically sit together and meditate. A few years back I realized that no matter what kind of progressive values I was preaching, if I was causing suffering in the world around me, I was doing more damage than good. Someone much smarter than me once said "if you are going to change the world, you are going to have to change yourself first". This is probably why so many community organizers sit with DIY Dharma. There is always room for more people in the circle so anyone who is interested should check us out.

What's the best thing going down in Vancouver in general?

Dude! 2010 and the booming speculation market in housing, a lot of people are making real money! I especially love the False Creek skyline, glass and steel design motif makes it look just like a shelf full of cd cases. The Olympics are gonna makes us really world class (schmucks when there ain't no everlovin' global warming snow).

What's the worst?

Okay maybe that's the worst and the gateway project is up there with pretty bad also but people are taking action. Check out GatewaySucks.

Got a favorite place to get legless (drunk)?
The steps I am taking require my legs under me but I won't spoil the fun for everyone. So, a couple of beers in the bag, friends on bikes, it's after midnite and all the cars are gone. The city, the beaches, the twisting roads, the long sweet downhills are ours, and all that is heard is the quiet hiss of rubber on asphalt, chains on cogs and our laughter. If you don't have a bike in the east van summertime, your friends have already been to the party and gone, while you are sweating in that cab or waiting for the bus.

Opinions on Vancouver's rainy days?

I am a bike messenger and I get asked that ten times a day in elevators; fuck off already. I mean, "hey it's not so bad, that's why I wear rain gear" or "they call it liquid sunshine" or "at least it isn't snow." Geez alright already.

Any upcoming projects/events we should keep an eye out for?

!!!Bikes Inside!!!, a winter indoor bike party I helped put together. It is on feb 3. We will be warm and dry in a warehouse dancing, performing, competing with each other in events of skill, daring and foolishness, there will be performances by Kablamo, Brakes, select B:C:Clettes and the Vancouver premier of Victoria's VeloVixens. DJs Micheal Red and Robin Banks will keep your booty shaking all night long. You should have an invite in your email inbox or my publicist hasn't been doing his/her job.