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!
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.
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.
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)
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:
The Bicycle Film Festival is in LA through Sunday. Last year this event was off the chain (some photos of that) - the best event all year. The festival opened tonight, so already all your bike friends have probably been watching awesome flicks. Get your two wheels over to the Vine Theater at 6321 Hollywood Blvd and get your movie on. And don’t miss the livest party - the B.F.F Block Party at Melrose & Heliotrope on Sunday from 12pm-8pm. Last year it ended with dancing in the streets, CRANK MOBBERY before CRANK MOB existed.
Have you heard of the International Ride Hall of Fame? No? Well, they’re a completely fictional entity which I invented because the ROB0101110TZ ride (Sara Bond’s Flickr set) was such a success. We rode all over LA, and had an awesome time. What’s more, it was a totally unique experience.
