Paul Freedman (also known as Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper) began Rock the Bike in Summer of 2004. The company was initially called "Fossil Fool", but that name now refers only to his bike rapping alter ego.
In addition to sending out the bike vibe through his rap, custom Soul Cycle party bikes, and the Down Low Glow bike lights, Paul also contributes to Worldbike.org, a nonprofit developing low cost cargo bikes for poor countries.
Previous to dedicating himself as a bike culture artist, musician, and social entrepreneur, Paul worked at Metazoa, a scientific software company making collaboration tools for research biologists. Paul graduated from Harvard with a degree in Computer Science. He hardly uses his formal education, except to communicate with coder Brandon Bergren. When it comes to product design, engineering, business, marketing, etc., he is self-taught.
Paul is a great believer in street performing and community participation. He grows orchids, shops at the Alemany Farmer's Market in San Francisco, and tries to call his mother at least once a week.
Common Ground writes up Bike Music Scene, puts Rock The Bike on cover
Originally appeared on Common Ground.Quotation:
"A fresh undercurrent of musical culture is reinventing what’s cool — and taking gasoline out of the equation."
Excerpt:
Bikes that Rock
Originally appeared on Sierra Club's Green Life blog.Quotation:
As emcee of the Pedal Powered Stage at the Maker Faire, Make magazine's annual event showcasing creative inventions, Freedman asked audience members to take turns riding specially modified "soul cycles," powering the microphones and speakers onstage.
Bicycle advocate and rapper Paul Freedman (a.k.a. Fossil Fool) gets his kicks by turning pedal power into sound waves. As emcee of the Pedal Powered Stage at the Maker Faire, Make magazine's annual event showcasing creative inventions, Freedman asked audience members to take turns riding specially modified "soul cycles," powering the microphones and speakers onstage.
Rock the Bike on home page of Lime.com
Originally appeared on Lime.com.Quotation:
"San Francisco's Fossil Fool, a.k.a. the Bike Rapper, brings the party to the people with his 'Choprical Fish' — a super cool, pedal-powered party bike."
(Online sustainable-living resource Lime.com picked up our piece about customizing human powered party bikes.)
Rock the Bike pedal powers Save the Redwoods' 90-year Anniversary
Originally appeared on TV 20 (Bay Area TV Station).Quotation:
The sound system for the birthday party is pedal powered by Paul Freedman's company, Rock the Bike.
The sound system for the birthday party is pedal powered by Paul Freedman's company, Rock the Bike.
"A lot of the music itself is talking about a progressive, green, or positive message. And so to really drive that home, if your audience is pedaling and that's how you get your power, it's a really nice way to complete the message."
See video of the pedal-power piece on TV20's site.
Above: Ranger Mia from Muir Woods pedal powers Save the Redwoods' Ruskin Hartley at the League's 90th birthday event.
Redefining Cool
By Bicycle Retailer Interbike Special (October 2007).Quotation:
Fossil Fool shows us signs of what's to come in the urban bike scene.
New Down Low Glow video set to "Boda Boda Rap" by Fossil Fool and Lawi One
Submitted by fossilfool on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 18:56.Here's a cool video compilation of the Down Low Glow shots we've posted to Flickr over the last two years.
The music in the video is a track called "Boda Boda Rap" I worked on when I was working in Kisumu, Kenya for Worldbike.org .
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Rock the Bike's connection to the Mundo Utility Bicycle
In January 2008 Rock The Bike stepped up to distribute the Mundo Utility Bicycle in the US. Aside from wanting to offer our customers a sturdy, affordable, and highly customizable way to carry their stuff on a bicycle, I also had a personal reason to carry the Mundo.
Recorded "I am a Fossil Fool" again
Submitted by fossilfool on Sat, 12/29/2007 - 03:05.I recorded "I am a Fossil Fool" again last night. Only Rock the Bike members can download it -- look for the "attachments" link below after you register or log in. My throat was pretty scratchy from the flu, so I'll have to redo the vocals again soon . But I wanted to get something out on Rock the Bike so you all can play it at your New Year's Eve rides and parties. I'll be performing this one live tomorrow at Bike Culture Night. Hope you can make it if you're local.
I spent most of the winter break learning Ableton Live and making music in the attic studio.
How to take part in a cruiser ride 300 miles away without burning any fossil fuels
Submitted by fossilfool on Sun, 12/02/2007 - 14:46.Kipchoge and Wild Johnny kept inviting me to the Pleasant Revolution tour stop in Redondo Beach.
I really wanted to cruise and perform with my friends, not to mention take part in a huge Xtracycle / Down Low Glow rally, but I didn't have a way to get there. I haven't had significant-other access to a vehicle since February, there wasn't a carpool option, and the idea of flying or renting an SUV to get to a bike ride didn't ziggle with my zooglea, as we say in the Kombucha business.
So ended I staying up all night Friday, making them a special Fossil Fool cruising mix in Ableton Live, complete with shoutouts, DJ beatmatching, and crossfades. We're talking crossfades, people! Apparently it went over really well. See google chat transcript below with Kipchoge.
LA Weekly piece on Santa Monica Critical Mass includes Fossil Fool's appearance
Originally appeared on LA Weekly.Quotation:
Fossil Fool, a rolling rapper from San Francisco who rides the college circuit preaching the benefits of peddling, grabs his microphone, cranks up the volume and starts to rap.
There are still some 200 bikers, and several are complaining about the crackdown in Santa Monica. The former mayor, Feinstein, suggests that the city spend some money on police services for the bicyclists, as is now routine in San Francisco. “This should be twice as big in sustainable Santa Monica — ‘bike-friendly’ Santa Monica,” the Green Party leader says.
Suddenly, a man in a vintage hat rides up, hip-hop blaring from a glowing Plexiglas container shaped like a tropical fish set above the back wheel of his bicycle, control lights flashing. Fossil Fool, a rolling rapper from San Francisco who rides the college circuit preaching the benefits of peddling, grabs his microphone, cranks up the volume and starts to rap. The riders bob in their seats as Fossil Fool raps about cabbies in east Africa — and his rides through the much friendlier streets of San Francisco.
