Masculine scripting and the mythology of motorcycling

Participant observation and interviews with bikers on the Old Roadnorth of Sydney demonstrate that the performance of a motorcyclingidentity is related to naturalised discourses of masculinity. Themythological scripting of motorcycling masculinity is reinforcedthrough the motorcycling media and the socialisation and initiationof young riders. The myths that are enacted are essentially myths ofmastery, predominantly over self and machine, but by extension overnature, women and homosexual masculinities. We argue that thenon–conforming behaviour of motorcyclists reflects not class–basedalienation and resistance to authority but the performance of motorcyclingmythologies based on aggressive masculinity.