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

Mass on leap day

So Critical Mass was fun as always. The ride was a little short, but it was still fun. I didn't go to the after party, because Jenn and I were going to go camping.

I will say that it has gotten alot better with people corking the intersections and waving at the cars as they pass them by, instead of flipping them off because they (drivers) are annoyed and honking.

What does bother me, is when people drink while they are riding, and then just throw their cans on the road as they are riding. Right on if you want to drink, hell I drink on a lot of rides...but I throw my cans away in my bag. Dispose of your cans properly. This is only making cyclist look bad and critical mass look bad as well. I know that sometimes a few bad apples are always bound to be around, but we should speak up when we see it happening.


On a different note, I got my new cranks today. All I need now is to get my chain and some new pedals, and "Betty" will be ready to roll once more.

I am pissed at bicycle sport shop. We bought a chain from them and had them put it on (that is the only thing I hate doing on a bike) and they said her bikes brakes were "unsafe". So I paid them more money to "fix them" properly. Well last night we were riding home and Jenn's chain broke and that bent one of the chain ring teeth. She took it back to them today and the guy basically told her that the chain ring is very old (which it isn't, I bought it three months ago) and that it was her fault for having it on the wrong part of the cassette ( I have it ghetto single speed for now, til I can get her another wheel). He said that was unsafe also. My thing is this. If it was unsafe, then how did the bike make it out of the shop if it was unsafe. Shouldn't one of the shop folks realized that the chain line wasn't straight? So now I have to go in and be a dick, because they don't want to put another chain ring on for free. If they don't do it...then I am never taking my business there again.

I'm done venting.

til next time


OLC

alley cat in march

First I would like to say sorry for not writing yesterday. I was out riding around and had work.


So some of you may know that I am planning a race in march. Well the first weekend, is no good because of time restraints. The next weekend is SXSW. The third weekend is Easter. So it has been pushed back to the last weekend of March (Saturday the 29th). I have the manifest printed out and ready along with all the pit stops. I am still working n getting some of the prizes lined up, but in my opinion the race isn't about the prizes. I am also working on having a bike in movie after the award ceremony. This is going to be a fucking rad race and I want a big turn out. The entry fee is going to be 5 bucks, and there will be cash prizes and other prizes that will be just as good as cash. As it gets closer to the week of the race I will remind all of you. Here is one of the flyers for the race.



Now onto other things.Yesterday in bike snob's blog, he wrote about bike messengers and them being an endangered species. I think his blogs are funny and he is saying what he wants, because it is his blog and not anyone else's. What pissed me off was the article that he had a link to. It wasn't the article that upset me....it was some of the comments about it that frustrated me.

This was one of them.

Posted by myopinion_matters at 2/26/08 5:55 a.m.

GOOD RIDDANCE, I've been struck twice by dangerous and inconsiderate messenger jerks while walking on the sidewalk. All the illegal stunts they pull on the streets endanger everyone. Won't miss the bums one bit!

My comment on this is that in Seattle they have the right to be on the sidewalk. If you were not so wrapped up on your cell phone drinking your five dollar starbucks coffee you might have seen them and not stepped into the path in which they were going.

This is another. Same guy, I guess he had to vent twice.

Posted by myopinion_matters at 2/26/08 7:27 a.m.

These messenger thugs should have been regulated out of existence long ago. With the love of regulation and licensing that the State has, they should have required these punks to have a $1 million liability bond before they ever could put a pedal to the road.

This could be said for all the drivers that are to busy eating, talking on the phone, sending text messages, putting on make up, and overall not paying attention.

This is one that I totally agree with.

Posted by Lookitsme at 2/26/08 8:49 a.m.

were some of the rudest, most self-righteous punks I'd ever seen;

Yes, almost as bad as the average red light running, latte swilling, cell phone yakking, self absorbed driver down town...

I mean Jesus fucking Christ. you act like bike messengers ruin your life, when in fact you (drivers) ruin their lives when you run a fucking red light and kill them, because you were not paying attention(this could have easily been a cyclist).



I think this is the best response.

Posted by Peter Whitney at 2/26/08 10:29 a.m.

Yeah, it sucks about the pregnant woman in DC, and sure there are some messengers with attitudes and blah blah blah. But seriously, you can't lump everyone together because of the actions of a few. I went to Whitman middle school where teachers molested students and had kiddie porn, doesn't mean all teachers are bad. I've been bit on the hand by a dog outside of Safeway, doesn't mean all dogs are bad.

Generalizing a group of people because of the actions of a few is very closeminded. And the one person killed by a bike messenger is a poor example.

Enough said.

I get tired of drivers blaming shit on cyclist. I have been hit by cars several times and none of them were my fault. It was the drivers fault and some of them didn't even stop to see if I was ok.

I know that when I do drive a car (very rarly because I don't own one) I pay attention to cyclist on the road and give them more than enough room when I am passing them. I think that every driver should have to ride a bike to work and deal with the same assholes that we cyclist deal with on a daily basis.


I am done venting for today. I will see you guys for MASS tomorrow and the pub crawl on sunday.

til next time

OLC

Bicycle Issues at CITY COUNCIL - 10am Febuary 28th ***Has been postponed***

I am just leaving the original message about this up and editing it, so everyone know that it has been postponed. This is the email I got this morning.

OLC

Greetings all!

In last month's newsletter, we announced that at the February 28th City Council meeting there would be on the agenda:

1) The presentation of the Street Smarts Task Force: The task force was created in response to the proposed helmet law in 2006 and is proposing comprehensive improvements in infrastructure, education, and enforcement efforts in Austin that IF approved by council will be a mandate to city government to bring about these changes that will benefit all cyclists. See http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/streetsmarts.htm for more info.
2) The Yellow Bike Project long term lease on City land: YBP has been working with the city for over a year to find a suitable home for our new shop once the current 51st street shop has been demolished. Our search has led us to a site at East 12th and Webberville for which we have been working with Public Works and Austin Energy towards a lease agreement. If the lease is secure YBP will build a 3000 sq ft facility on the site as its new headquarters. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AT CITY COUNCIL TO SHOW COUNCIL HOW IMPORTANT YBP IS TO AUSTIN BICYCLISTS!
It has come to our attention that BOTH of these items have been postponed. We expect these items to come to council in the next month, and we'll keep you posted with updates in the next newsletter.
Thanks for your suppport --

Jennifer Schaffer

Web Servant
Austin's Yellow Bike | www.austinyellowbike.org

"Be the change you would like to see in the world." - Gandhi
"Keep Cycling: it is Undoubtedly the Best form of Activism there is."






So this is a re-post if you will from the yellow bike project

"Two very important issues for bicyclists will be brought to City Council at this meeting. You can show up 3 days prior to the meeting and vote your position on the two issues using the computers in the lobby of City Hall or show up in person to the meeting and speak or just show your presence.

1) The Presentation of the Street Smarts Task Force: The task force is proposing comprehensive improvements in infrastructure, education, and enforcement efforts in Austin that IF approved by council will be a mandate to city government to bring about these changes that will benefit all cyclists.

2) The Yellow Bike Project long term lease on City land: YBP has been working with the city for over a year to find a suitable home for our new shop once the current 51st street shop has been demolished. Our search has led us to a site at 1200 Webberville where we have been working with Public Works and Austin Energy to work out a lease. If the lease is secure YBP will build a 3000 sq ft facility on the site since no building currently exists. "

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AT CITY COUNCIL TO SHOW COUNCIL HOW IMPORTANT THIS ORGANIZATION IS TO AUSTIN BICYCLISTS!

I think that if you can make it you should come out. If not go and vote on the position you stand on today or tomorrow.


Now onto other things. As I get older, I have started to realize that body needs a brake every now and then. I have been going none stop without a brake for about the past three weeks and my body, I think, is telling me to slow down. As you know just this past weekend, I put in a 26 mile ride just looking for houses. Not to mention all of my daily riding. So my guess is over the past three weeks, I have probably put in at least...200 miles of riding. Along with kickball going out of town. After kick ball last night, my body this morning is telling me NO. So I am going to listen. Today will be the first day that I have not rode my bike since breaking my hand. It isn't something that I want to do. It is something that I have to do. I feel like I am going to fall apart. I probably don't feel as bad as Jason, but I still feel like shit.

So with that being said, I am going to lounge around the house and do some laundry and clean the kitchen and my room. So I might not have to much to talk about tomorrow. Oh well, I am sure you will get over it.

til next time

OLC

weekend happenings

This weekend was filled with tons of riding and getting steals on a couple of things.

First things first. I received this update about Caden. He was the one who took the spill on the full moon cruise. There is also a different view of the events that happened. So read up, and I wish him well.

So I went to frankenbike on Saturday. I scored a couple of things that I wanted/needed. First I got a new stem for my surly steamroller. It is so freaking sweet!!! The drop on it is sick and I have to get this bike back on the road. The bike is out of commission right now, because I gave my old fuji, to Jenn and took the crankset off of the surly and put it on the fuji, so she could keep up with me. She is now running 47x14 single speed.

Next up, I scored a Brooks B-17 champion saddle. It is a little worn, but nothing a little treatment won't fix. There wasn't anything wrong with the saddle I had. Everyone did always ask me "if it was uncomfortable" which it wasn't. I mean it was an old plastic BMX style seat. I've just been wanting a Brooks for awhile.




I also picked up Jenn some gloves, because she has white bar tape on the fuji, just to try and help not letting it get dirty so fast.

Now onto the riding. Jenn and I are looking to get into another house when the lease is up, or maybe even a little sooner than that. Some of our friends want to lease the extra room and we don't want to have to share a bathroom with anyone else so, we went looking. We rode all around the east side and up north around 51st. We went through all the neighbor hoods and found a few house that might work. When we got home I used the Gmap pedometer and mapped out where we went. We ended up riding about 26 miles and it was great. i think that was Jenn's longest ride and I was proud of her.

worst of ATX craigslist ads #2

Now I know that some people just need to sell a bike for whatever reason. Again, the money that they ask for one is just baffling. What is also funny to me is when a hipster/scenester is getting rid of a bike to start a new project. Take this guy.


road bike/fixie/ss for sale - $700
Reply to: sale-582278536@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-21, 7:23PM CST




When taking this picture, he had to just wear his orange nike's to show what a true hipster he is, not to mention the graffiti wall in the background. He is obviously done with this and is maybe starting to think about going back to his BMX. I mean, he must be having trouble pulling some of the fixie tricks.

Then there is this.


70s Huffy Sweepstake 3-speed - $120
Reply to: sale-581828351@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-21, 12:48PM CST






Now don't get me wrong....everyone loves them some Huffy.....when they were 5. What we have here is someone cleaning out their garage and trying to get what they paid for it in 1985. You can go to yellow bike project, and donate 12 hours of your time, and end up building a bike like this. What does it cost you? NOTHING, just your time. Not to mention, you might actually learn how to work on the bike yourself.


I am just saying if you are going to rip someone off, you might as well do it right and stick it in their butt too.

til next time

OLC

The carnage of a downhill

So last night was the Full moon cruise. I got to the bridge around 15 after 11. I had bought a couple of beers and was enjoying watching everyone get to the starting point. I talked with a few folks we exchanged bike stories. I couldn't help but to notice the usual hipster fixed gear riders showing up. Some of us almost took bets of who would bail on the ride before it was finished. Now before anyone starts to jump on me about the hipsters...yes I do ride a fixed gear. No, I don't go around doing tricks or skidding (unless I need to for stopping reasons). I like riding fixed because of how I feel with the bike, not because it is the new BMX, and all the hip kids are doing it.

The reason for the bets, was because of the rides route had the infamous Mt Bunell.

So everyone finally shows up and we took off. As soon as we got down the spiral walk way someone ate it right away because of the sharp turn. Maybe a preview of what was to come. The group started off strong, we had maybe 25-75 riders. As the night progressed and the hills started coming we started losing people. One was to the fact that some folks didn't keep up and didn't know where we were going and some because the hills did have a sting in them. We stopped several times along the way, drinking beers talking and then we would start up again. When we were about half way on the ride we already had lost quite a few people, about half of them were no where to be seen. Everyone else is still going, so it was off to the hardest part of the ride. Mt. Bunell.

Now I personally have not ridden this before and wasn't quite sure what to expect.I knew the hill was brutal. I also knew that I wasn't familiar with the roads, so I took my time when we would have a downhill before an uphill. I was always at the back of the pack, because I ride fixed and I have no front brake or rear brake, except for my legs. The hills were quite fun to go down and a bitch to go up. I run 52x14 so the hills were a bitch. I made it up all of them with out getting off my bike, except once. That was in part because when I was almost at the top of the hill everyone was stopping and getting off of their bikes and starting to walk the hill, and that cause me to almost run into the back of someone else. So I walked the last 20 yards or so.

When we got to the top, one of the first things I did was catch my breath and looked for the hipsters....only a couple to be seen. Once we reached the top, there was a stair case that we all went up to take our final break of the evening. Bob gets my vote for biker of the night for carrying his heavy ass stereo up all the hills and then up the stairs. He did end up up chucking a little.

Everyone was ready to ride again, so we started the descent. I was told that at the bottom of the hill was a 90 degree turn, so I already knew I might be in trouble depending on the hill. WE got down the first of two big hills and I came up on the second one. Man that thing was steep as hell and I ended up getting off of my bike and walking down the hill. Call me a pussy if you want, but I ended up jogging down the hill because it was so steep.

As I approached the bottom , I was informed that two people busted ass on the hill and that an ambulance had already been called. I was so glad at that point because 1. I didn't want to wreck, and 2. One of the guys that wrecked was riding fixed and with no brakes. "He's still in ICU he has a broken collar bone, fractured skull, and he has some brain bleeding. He doesn't remember a thing!! I think we should have a new rule all you trendy fixed gears need helmets!!!" Now I hate to see anyone go down on a bike and I wish him a speedy recovery. He was also one of two people I saw with a fixed gear at that point besides me. That just goes to show that the hipsters are about tricks and not just the ride. Otherwise they would have climbed those hills with us 3 fixie riders and the rest of the geared riders.

So I guess this is my official vote of, lets not take the Mt. Bunell route again. Two riders down in one night and the last time that route was taken a rider went down.

This is just my two cents.

Overall the evening was a blast, except for when I got rained on coming home, but that wasn't that bad. I just didn't want to wreck and have no one around.

til next time

OLC

critical mass december

I finally put the video together of the december critical mass...here you go

borfo ride and full moon ride

So last night was the "Joe Borfo" ride and it was fun as hell. Joe always dresses up in a bunny costume so that was the theme of the Midnight Ridazz ride last night.


We started the night out at Donn's Depot and then cruised over to Beso's. We had a jager bomb and a couple of beers and then headed to "showdown". Jenny and I are poor, so we snuck a few beers in and filled the pitcher a couple of times. We were going to go to flying saucer, but some of the riders we're not down with going up the hills. I don't blame them sometimes running the 52x14.

After that we started to go to shoal creek, but they were closed. I was hungry because I had only eaten once yesterday and so we went over to little woodrows for some beer and torchys tacos. Again, torchys was closed, but by this time it was already like 1 am so we hung out and took some pics and drank some more.







After everything was said and done, we left to come back home. The night was quite a blast.


Now onto tonight. It is the full moon ride. There is supposed to be a lunar eclpise tonight also. This ride should be fucking bad ass. It starts at midnight, but I will be on the bridge around 11. So come and have a blast tonight.

til next time

OLC