Jul 30 2008
Need I say more? Yes, I do. Critical Mass on the Westside has been amazing this summer. Check out these pics and these pics from the SMCM and Firewerckx rides on July 4th, or these pics from Venice Critical Mass. You should go.
Jul 30 2008
I was talking with Mike Feinstein (former mayor of Santa Monica) on Tuesday about a bike related project. We finished our plans and then we got off the phone and went about our business. Shortly afterward I miss a call from Mike, and when I listen to the voicemail I find out that he came upon the scene of an accident on Main St. in Santa Monica.
Right outside Bike Attack Mike found paramedics treating an injured spandex rider - he appeared to have a nasty leg break. Mike has reason to believe that the cyclist was hit by a car. Whatever the cause - be careful. Main St. might have a bike lane, but many cyclists have found it to be a dangerous street to ride on. Dave Benoff (Bikerowave OG), for example, was nearly right hooked and ended up hitting a parked car in order to avoid worse. In my experience motorists on the street will drift in and out of the bike lane, pull out suddenly, or just turn across your path.
Anyone know anything about the rider?
Jul 28 2008
Venice Critical Mass was wild. We had around 80 riders at the beginning. We finished it a 7-11 parking lot at Sepulveda and Sawtelle, at which point we declared that we were on a new ride - a ride that was something else. So from now on, the post VCM ride it the Something Else ride. Among the highlights of the two rides was rushing the CostCo parking lot, a soccer game in the park, and washing our bikes at a Santa Monica car wash. Photo set here!
Jul 23 2008
When I lived nearer the concrete canal, I ran there late at night. Training for a marathon meant running 80 miles each week along the uniform banks of Ballona Creek, and sometimes this became monotonous.
Some chill nights a magical event occurred. Flying and gliding silently on the flicking knotted wood legs of the long distance runner a companion joined me. Orange street light sprinkled across black water to reveal a long slender wave spanning the canal, and moving upstream.
Jul 22 2008
Thanks to CRANK MOB (photos) and life, I missed out on the Bicycle Film Festival this weekend. What I was most disappointed by was missing the artistic cycling demonstrations by Ines Brunn. Basically, artistic cycling (Wikipedia) is like fixed gear tricks on drugs. Go watch this video to see what I mean - I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.
Rossangeles just posted up this recap video of the Bicycle Film Festival Block Party, which I first saw on Mikey Wally’s blog. At 1:30 into the video you’ll see Brunn do some amazing things. Even more amazing - she does it on the absolutely horrendous cement on Heliotrope, which is kriss krossed with nasty grooves and cracks:
Email or feed readers who have trouble viewing this - follow this link:BFF Block Party LA 2008.
Jul 21 2008
The only ride organizing LOLcat, KNITTENS, sends along this flier for Venice Critical Mass:
by KNITTENS
Jul 21 2008
Two weeks ago myself, and seven other cyclists visited the Santa Monica City Council (Flickr set) to speak in favor of improving cycling conditions. Specifically we spoke in support of the recommendations contained within the draft Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE.) As I’ve written before, the LUCE will influence transportation policy, and therefore bike policy, for at least the next decade in Santa Monica (an overview of LUCE on the ibikeu Wiki.)
(Mihai stares at the ceiling in exasperation as we wait for our item to come up)
Jul 17 2008
Jon Anderson of Midnight Ridazz just released this amazing CRANK MOB video. Many videos have come out of C-MOB, but this one stands head and shoulders above the rest. That’s no offense to the other video producers, it’s just that Jon is in video production. Clearly the CRAKN GODs filled him with the CRANKY spirit and writ this mad awesome video. CRANK MOB is tomorrow - watch this five times to get in the spirit:
