CYCLISTS' BILL OF RIGHTS

WHEREAS, cyclists have the right to ride the streets of our communities and this right is formally articulated in the California Vehicle Code; and

WHEREAS, cyclists are considered to be the “indicator species” of a healthy community; and

WHEREAS, cyclists are both environmental and traffic congestion solutions; and

WHEREAS, cyclists are, first and foremost, people - with all of the rights and privileges that come from being members of this great society; and

NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE CYCLING COMMUNITY, do hereby claim the following rights:

1) Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear.

2) Cyclists have the right to equal access to our public streets and to sufficient and significant road space.

3) Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement.

4) Cyclists have the right to the full support of our judicial system and the right to expect that those who endanger, injure or kill cyclists be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

5) Cyclists have the right to routine accommodations in all roadway projects and improvements.

6) Cyclists have the right to urban and roadway planning, development and design that enable and support safe cycling.

7) Cyclists have the right to traffic signals, signage and maintenance standards that enable and support safe cycling.

8) Cyclists have the right to be actively engaged as a constituent group in the organization and administration of our communities.

9) Cyclists have the right to full access for themselves and their bicycles on all mass transit with no limitations.

10) Cyclists have the right to end-of-trip amenities that include safe and secure opportunities to park their bicycles.

11) Cyclists have the right to be secure in their persons and property, and be free from unreasonable search and seizure, as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment.

12) Cyclists have the right to peaceably assemble in the public space, as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.

And further, we claim and assert these rights by taking to the streets and riding our bicycles, all in an expression of our inalienable right to ride!

Rambling on and on

So yesterday I rode up north, around the parmer area. The ride was a good one, but the whole ride up there (up hill the whole way) there was a head wind. It was blowing about 10-20 miles an hour. No sooner than I start to ride back downtown, the fucking wind changes direction on me. I REALLY HATE the wind. This isn't what this blog is about though.

I was just reminding everyone that the Drop Dead Alleycat is this coming Saturday. There will be prizes for girls guys and out of first place out of towner. Before the race starts is Frankenbike is doing the ultimate bike swap meet. This is from noon til four. After the race will be a prize ceremony and bike in movie. I haven't decided what movie I will be showing, but if you have any suggestions then let me know. Remeber all the happenings this weekend. The swap meet and race are in the same place(how convenient) 1705 E 5th street at Cafe'Mundi.

See ya all there.

It is a beautiful day out there so get off your ass and go ride somewhere...I am.


til next time


OLC

Arch Enemies

So this posting is coming a little late, but whatever. So lately when I ride, it doesn't mind where or what direction I am riding, it is windy as fuck.I know that when I ride through downtown, all the buildings cause a wind tunnel effect, but shit man. I was riding to work the other day and I was going down the southbound access road, down hill, and it felt like I was riding up hill. Then when I got into downtown I was blown every which direction. I know that I am retarded and ride a gear that most people don't, but normally I don't have any issues, like when the wind isn't blowing 15 to 30 miles an hour. I have been riding the "Black Betty" lately and her ratio is 48x14, and I am actually going to drop it down to 42x14. My other bike is 52x14 and it doesn't give me as much hell as most think. I just have been getting sick of how windy it has been as of recent. Last year this time it was no where as windy as it has been this year.

So with that being said, the wind is one of my arch enemies.


The other is the rain. Now I have a fender and some rain gear, but I still hate riding in the rain sometimes. There are times when it is hot as fuck and some rain will come and cool me off while I am riding, and that is a-ok. I usually enjoy the rain when it is just a pleasure ride, in which I have no where that I am going....just riding. However when I am going to work, and I have to bring an extra set of clothes just so I don't look like I am a homeless person that has been standing in the rain all day and night, it sucks. I know that I am bitching about "mother nature" and I am, but sometimes I just wish shit would let up. I also know that it hasn't been raining as much as normal, but I still don't like it.


I can deal with all the elements that I am given, some of them I just don't really care for. I guess I don't always prepare for them correctly. I guess I can also say FUCK TEXAS WEATHER because it changes so much all the time. When I say change, just give it a few hours and it will be different again. I guess that can be good some times, but fuck the weather here.


til next time


OLC

oh me oh my..... fucking south by

Man alive. I am so exhausted from SXSW. Just a disclaimer also. I was very drunk during this past week/weekend so the days may get a little confused and jumbled together.

Wednesday Day One: I got up and went to work early got off around two and the debauchery started. Jenn and I went over the to the Fuck by Fuck Y'all party at the typewriter museum. They had free beer and free shows. We watched a couple of bands and hopped over to the Scoot Inn, where they had free shows and free Live Oak beer. We saw a band named Blanco I think. We then headed over to Mrs. Bea's and saw this guy named Hawnay Troof. This guy was crazy. He was in a suit made out polyester and bouncing all around, jumping and trees, and off of tables. We tried to go and see the Islands at Cedar Street Courtyard, but needed a badge. So we went back to the typewriter and drank some more before heading to the house.

Thursday Day Two: Jenny had to open, and I was off, so I started my day over at the typewriter. I was waiting for some bands to start and I was drinking some coffee and heard someone over at Scoot Inn and it was this band called Nico Vega they are from LA and I dug on them a lot. Good sound. They also had free breakfast taco's and vitamin water and energy, along with the glacier water also. I hadn't had beer yet so I ate a taco and drank three bottles of water (since I was still hungover) and a couple of energy ones too. After that I went back to the typewriter and started drinking and waiting for Jenn to get off. Saw a couple more bands (can't remember their names) and then Jenny showed up. We took off to Mrs. Bea's again and brought our own beer (theirs wasn't free) and watched a band or two and then went back to the Scoot Inn. We bounced around to a few more spots and then headed home.


Friday Day Three: Again this day started at typewriter. I mean it is hard to pass up a good thing of free beer. I did always tip them very well and bought t-shirts and poster and what not. Jenn had to open this day also, so I had to wait for her to get off before we could meet up and see shows. I saw a band called The Music Box. They were really good, they had a mini banjo player, washboard,up right bass trumpet and acoustic guitar players. I think my favorite song by them was fucking on the freight train. We did the normal rounds of seeing bands that were free and and free booze. We also made an appearance at the jackalope and then went to Mohawk to actually see the islands. That show was really good and I believe that Saul Williams mad a guest appearance... I could be wrong though. Either way it was really good and the show was good. We also got to see Nada Surf at the Beauty Bar, which they had an open bar also. Jenn went home during the show to take a nap from being exhausted, and meet back up with me at the typewriter. We then popped over to the Scoot Inn again and tried to get into the Del the funky homo sapien show, but couldn't. So we sat and listened to the show. After that we went over to Andy Anderson's house and drank more free beer and heard Nick Kraus and his Austin Torpedo's The Dirty Sound and The Come Lately's. We left there and didn't get home til about five in the morning.

Saturday Day Four: Holy Fuck, by this time I haven't had much sleep and been drunk the entire time. Jenn didn't have to work and we took it easy for the most part. We saw some shows, drank some beer and kind of called it an early night around eleven or twelve. I can't even remember who or what we saw and did.

Sunday Day Five: I wasn't going to race in the Skull by Skull Now race, but changed my mind and did it anyways. The race was fun and here is a link to what the race looked like and about how far it was. I ended up getting forth and there was a party thrown by the SkidMarxxx crew, after the race. I got a little drunk and then eventually made it home.

I am probably getting my days mixed up, but most all of this is what I can remember. You can also check out a couple of the pictures I took during SXSW here, I will post some more up later.

My legs are sore as fuck from all of the riding that I did this weekend, but I am sure that I will have something more "bike" for you later.

til next time


OLC

Worst of Craiglist ATX #3

Since I have written anything, but that is not the case anymore. So since this is my first blog back from hurting my wrist, I figured I would start it back up with the worst of craigslist.

Pink Peugeot! You'll LOVE IT!!!!!! - $250
Reply to: sale-601534049@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-03-10, 11:30AM CDT



I have this bike, it is beautiful. people will stop you to tell you how beautiful it. they will also leave notes on your bike to tell you how beautiful it is. i know, because this has been my bike for some time.

Oh really?? Just how many people told you that your bike was beautiful?

you can even put a crate on the back for your groceries, i did!

Well good for you!!! Is that what they use those milk crates for? I thought it was for putting you dead baby back there.



So what we have here...again is someone trying to sell a very old POS for a hefty price tag of $250. I would much rather take the 250 dollars and buy this bike.

50's Model Western Flyer - $700
Reply to: sale-601019858@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-03-09, 8:46PM CDT



WOW!!! $700!!! What a steal. I mean I can actually buy this bike for seven hundred dollars? I would much rather purchase this old western flyer and pay the shipping cost then buy this one.


VOLLUME "BLACK SHEEP" European bottom bracket complete bike worth over - $7
Reply to: sale-601696450@craigslist.org





Paid well over 7 bills... will sacrafice for $250 freestyle BMX

DK grips white spokes this bike is fully loaded

e-mail me if interested very nice but dusty from the trails

Now I don't doubt that this person put some money into this bike. I would never "sacrifice" $450 dollars.... on a bike that I had invested so much in. Also how long does it take to wipe down the bike to make it look better? I also would want to know more about the bike other than the " DK grips" and "white spokes". What kind of hubs, wheels,seat post, etc.

Some people....


OLC

ride last night

I messed up my left wrist....so it is a pain in the ass to type with one hand. So it might be a few days before I write something new.

Sorry

OLC

Pub Crawl

Last night was the Cemetery Cats pub crawl. A1 is back in town and this was his first pub crawl back, we all welcomed him with open arms. The ride started at the Jackalope an then we headed to Mean Eyed Cat, and then to Dog and Duck for pitchers of lonestar for 5 bucks and some damn good burgers and fries. After this we started to head up to draught house. We were on medical parkway and Casey was jumping over curbs on the way, and landed his forth jump just a little wrong. He face planted into the ground and knocked out three of his teeth and cut his jaw. They gave him seven stitches in his mouth and he is going back today to get an x-ray to make sure that he didn't mess anything else up. The pub crawl pretty much ended after that because we all headed over the hospital (which was right there thank god) to get Casey taken care of.

So this brings me to get on my soap box. All the rides that we all go on are supposed to be fun and bring people together. Now on critical mass everyone has been doing a good job of keeping the group together and corking intersections so that everyone stays together. Same thing with the pub crawls. What I would like to see is just that. What I don't want to see is a rider go down. I don't want to sound like a parental figure or anything to that nature, but if we are drinking on a pub crawl or any other group ride, lets not do tricks of any kind.No skidding, no jumping gaps, no dangerous riding of any sort. Which means no swerving between riders or around cars. I just don't want riders to go down. So I think that it is best that if we lay down some rules so that we can prevent accidents happening in the future.

Now onto something else. I would like to ride down to San Marcos this weekend. If anyone would like to join me...lets do it!!! I will be riding fixed the entire way and a stupid gear ratio at that. So if it takes me a minute to get up the hill just wait for me a second, I'll eventually make it up.

Also, the Drop Dead Alley cat is in full swing. I have a couple of shops that are hooking me up with some goods. So make sure all y'all funky people get off Saturday March 29th to come and race, or just have fun watching all the crazy cyclist. The entry fee is five dollars and starts at Cafe' Mundi. There will be cash prizes, prizes for the ladies that race and for first out of towner. If you want to volunteer to be one of the check points please send me an email to les@sbsetup.com or spoonfucrew@yahoo.com. I need a few more folks to volunteer. Also afterwards there will be the award ceremony and bike in movie at Treasure City Thrift.

til next time


OLC