2010 Wrap Up: Ridazz Stories
Thread started by
md2 at 09.23.10 - 1:37 pm
There's enough tension on our streets, with authorities, about some rides, etc., so let's get back to what we're all experiencing and why we love our generally two-wheeled machine.
Let's hear about your 2010 bicycle stories as the year comes near to a close.
Did you finally win a race?
Ride more than last year?
Buy/acquire a new bike?
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
Find biker boy/girl love?
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
etc, etc, etc....
Let's brighten up this forum with some good bike talk stuff. Be as cheesey as you want to be...
peace
reply
Did you finally win a race? I won every race I didn't enter.
Ride more than last year? I stopped riding and started walking on January 1, 2010. Walking is the new fixie.
Buy/acquire a new bike? No, I sold them all.
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
What is love
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me no more
Oh, baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me no more
Find biker boy/girl love? I found biker girl love in 2009.
Finally beat your nemesis at the track? I beat Borfo at peeing on Cheffigy's head the longest.
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends? Yes.
toweliesbong09.23.10 - 1:45 pm
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I purified myself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
bentstrider09.23.10 - 1:48 pm
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I would say 2010 was the year of daytime ridazz for me. I was able to build fun rides off of all the cool places I have seen on rides like RWNN and 2nd Friday rides. I rode a lot by myself to explore and take pictures of this beautiful city we live in.
Being on a bike is truely a religious experience and I am enjoying it more each day.
Thanks MR for getting me back on the bike and showing me our great city.
Foldie09.23.10 - 1:50 pm
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Did you finally win a race?
No
Ride more than last year?
Definitely not
Buy/acquire a new bike?
Kind of...
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
No
Find biker boy/girl love?
More like a sandwich
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
No
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
Yeah, get back in shape and fall in love with my bike again before I decide to abandon it all together
imachynna09.23.10 - 1:52 pm
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New Orleans on new years made me fall in love with my Ridazz family... Salton Sea.... Poster missions, the marathon race, hunting down 2 hit and run drivers, my hit and run driver getting prosecuted, bike town beta, crankmob, Los Angelopes journey to the center of the earth, the Wolfpack all city team race 3 video finally getting produced, countless miles across the city every Monday, give me 3 poster, making new friends, the blood in protest finally happening (orignally I wanted to do it at city hall last year after a rash of hit and runs), to live and ride in LA trailer pissing all the haters off..... What a bike year and it ain't over yet!
Roadblock09.23.10 - 1:54 pm
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hey, they had stir fry at the commissary today.
KiMS1 responding to a
comment by toweliesbong
09.23.10 - 1:54 pm
reply
Did you finally win a race?
i won a race to the fridge
Ride more than last year?
kinda
Buy/acquire a new bike?
two new bikes!
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
MR and i broke up but i occasionally stalk her and corner her and fondle her naughty parts.
Find biker boy/girl love?
fuck no and i don't want to.
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
what? all those orange 20 goofballs. nigga please.
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
try to prove that smoking more weed helps you climb more. get high and climb higher bitchez
KiMS109.23.10 - 1:57 pm
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Hahaha, me and my biker girl had veggie burgers at Bob's Big Boy today.
You heard we're moving to the lot in 2012, right? Much better food over there.
toweliesbong responding to a
comment by KiMS1
09.23.10 - 2:00 pm
reply
niceee
yeah, but i think i might be here longer than that. i have to stay and make sure all the deconstruction and cleaning gets handled correctly.
that upper lot eatery is pretty rad. its like the commissary but way cheaper!
2012= year of cholesterol.
KiMS1 responding to a
comment by toweliesbong
09.23.10 - 2:04 pm
reply
Did you finally win a race? -
I lost it so badlee
Ride more than last year? -
Nope
Buy/acquire a new bike? -
Yes. Stoked.
Did you just find MR and fall in love? -
Yes.
Find biker boy/girl love?
A little boy. He's my son.
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
Damn you, Dingo!
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
etc, etc, etc.... -
Um, I hope to keep getting out on rides, but I doubt will very much anymore. Thanks for all the good times. Keep Ridazz alive and always evolving.
Joe Borfo09.23.10 - 2:10 pm
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you the questions were just examples, damn it! ok here's my try:
If you ask Dingo, I beat him at recent cyclocross practice race. Dingo needs to train though, man. I came in 3rd, he was like 7th or last or something like that. I beat a bunch of Cat 2/3 bad ass dudes too. So that was cool, but Dingo tells the story better (ahem.. more accurately). But the internet results don't lie, right?
I finally made time to do Wolfpack this past Monday; that was really fun.
Hoping to be car-free by the end of the year (fingers crossed). Seriously, all I need to do is sell my damn car; it just sits. but I'm looking for a tandem (mtb preferred, in a small size, so I can roll with the lil homie).
Got my first stop sign camera ticket at Coaster Brake Challenge/ reseda ride. Realized even more how out of hand our authorities are getting with this camera/video stuff.
Met more cool, sometimes really weird, but nonetheless interesting people from MR this year.
Let's see... looking forward to CicLAvia, MidDay Ridazz, and some other projects before the year ends.
2011: Jesus still won't return, and we'll have another year to bomb the city with bike madness. I'm hoping for a regular CicLAvia more than all else.
this is post is too serious, huh?
md209.23.10 - 2:17 pm
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"Got my first stop sign camera ticket at Coaster Brake Challenge/ reseda ride. Realized even more how out of hand our authorities are getting with this camera/video stuff. "
HUH!? explain.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by md2
09.23.10 - 2:21 pm
reply
well, this will definitely high-jack the thread.
Lets hope not.
The MRCA has installed various stop sign cameras/video recorders at various mounatin recreation & conservatory authority locations. They do not capture the drivers face, and they illegally track the drivers speed.
Moreover like all cameras operated in the city, they are operated by a third party called photonotice out of AZ. Which begs the question of whether these camera are calibrated to capture infractions, since the third party has a vested interest in acquiring a portion of the citation fees. I'm not sure if the city is allowed to contract with a company based on tickets generated.
Theres more to it, but basically I tried to fight the ticket, only to be told I would first have to meet with an MRCA official who will 100% confirm the ticket is valid. After that you can request a hearing before a judge. I believe there is a lawsuit against the MRCA for various other reason, so i resigned myself to wait.
Get this. The ticket does not affect your driving record nor your insurance (hmmm). Not only that but the ticket had no record of the drivers face, so they just send it to the registered owner. You have to prove that either your car was stolen or not in your possession at the time.
So much for innocent until proven guilty, right (ahem, all infractions...ahem, ahem, ahem..LACM..ahem, ahem ahem)?
Yeah... so let's all just follow these laws and signage around the city just because they propose it's just and they have the power to enforce, right?
Thanks Roadblock; im upset again.
md2 responding to a
comment by Roadblock
09.23.10 - 2:37 pm
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ha. I thought you got the ticket riding a bike. was quite concerned for a minute... it does sound wrong to issue tickets from private companies. I hate that about our state. dummies. it's not that big of a deal to manage these systems and employ more workers in the govt. it also is wrong to issue a ticket without facial confirmation. BUT I do like that this will keep drivers honest. I don't believe in stop signs as a traffic control device for pedestrians or cyclists but I do believe in them for engine powered vehicles. stop signs were invented to regulate automobile traffic.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by md2
09.23.10 - 2:43 pm
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If the ticket does not impact your driving record or insurance, just don't pay it. It seems like these are illegal anyway. Am I right?
When I saw this on the news I was thinking we should have a massive ride roll through to clog up their video for awhile and protest.
Foldie responding to a
comment by md2
09.23.10 - 2:47 pm
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trust me, don't exchange your freedom to be video tapped to push for vehicle compliance. Not a fair exchange.
They do not keep drivers honest. Its all about ONE THING: REVENUE.
actually two things: MORE REVENUE.
@foldie, its not that smart of a more, considering it can go on your credit. They hope people like me will just pay and move on. Thats what i needed to do. They were sending it the wrong person, and its a scam to pressure you to just pay. I would have been unfair to let another person get affected.
So what other stories do we have for 2010?
md2 responding to a
comment by Roadblock
09.23.10 - 2:56 pm
reply
Did you finally win a race? nope, i dont race
Ride more than last year? definately, 100x more
Buy/acquire a new bike? more like 3 new bikes and a bunch of spare parts
Did you just find MR and fall in love? with the rides, yea
Find biker boy/girl love? we need more chick riders out there!
Finally beat your nemesis at the track? haha yea my cousin in 2nd street tunnel
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends? paint my bike, get in shape, ride on...
In the year 2010 i ...
- got 3 tickets
- fell 1123231 times
- learned to ride fixed
- went to more rides
- made new rider homies
- encouraged friends to get a bike and ride
- won bike lights, reflector jacket, lock, and water bottle at the eastside bike ride raffle
- got 1 bike stolen (bmx)
- spent more in a bike than i have ever done before
- rode the farthest i have ever done beofore
- 1st year to attend critical mass
ans so on............
cyclepaths09.23.10 - 2:57 pm
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in my mind the city needs more revenue.... I'm conflicted because I dont like being "watched" but if you think stop sign cameras are any where near as intrusive a sight into your private life than your cell phone or the internet you are tripping. your texts, your facebook, your google searches (your thoughts) your exact position on the earth is recorded oractically everyday via cell tower triangulation, GPS data your IP address... you just dont think about it much...
Roadblock responding to a
comment by md2
09.23.10 - 3:17 pm
reply
I hear you on the cell and internet stuff. But I totally disagree with you on your position about stop sign cameras. There are too many conflicts of interest here for the vendor.
toweliesbong responding to a
comment by Roadblock
09.23.10 - 3:21 pm
reply
well I also stated that I dont like the fact that a private company is making money off this in a previous post. but to the extent that it makes drivers of automobiles actually stop? I'm fine with that. but the revenue should go to the city and create more quality govt jobs.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by toweliesbong
09.23.10 - 3:27 pm
reply
but at least i can choose to log into facebook, post on MR, use a cell phone, etc...
The freedom of choice, without getting philosophical about it, is pretty valuable.
What some search engine is doing that I'm really not aware of, is probably illegal anyway. Cameras are so apparent, they just dont give a fuck anymore about being discreet about it. Once you become accustomed, you fight less (hence traffic laws and the proliferation of car love). Just make it normal and convince them they need it or its good for them -- then they'll shut up, and we'll handle the few that wont concede.
Of course the city needs more revenue, because they dont know how to spend their money. It's all over our heads. best to just comply and try to find happiness. All this tension in Los Angeles isn't healthy, no wonder most just work and play family.
Any other stories for 2010?
md2 responding to a
comment by Roadblock
09.23.10 - 3:27 pm
reply
Ok, time to be more serious.
Since moving downtown this year I've stopped using my car except for roadtrips and an occasional errand to pick up heavy stuff. I've ridden my bike more but I also use the Red Line and the bus a lot now. It's always great to run into Ridazz on the Red Line.
I haven't been doing many large rides but I have been bonding heavily with my inconclusive cult. One of my highlights this year was ROBOTZ because it was my first ride through LAX and one of the few times I got home after dawn this year. I also met a nice cop, not LAPD but an airport cop, who didn't write me up for running a red light at LAX.
I got to know some more awesome Ridazz at Burning Man and I got to hate secretragingcow more than ever up there. I don't know why I gave that fucker a ride home, I should have left him in Reno! Fuck that fucker in the fuck and fuck Frank Sinatra!!!
And, I just have to say, I love my biker girl and the biker sect we drink koolaid with.
I want to race at least one 'cross race this season. And I'm looking forward to the Toy Ride.
The end.
toweliesbong responding to a
comment by md2
09.23.10 - 4:08 pm
reply
oh yeah. i'm totally looking forward to the noche ride and the toy ride.
imachynna09.23.10 - 4:17 pm
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I forgot to mention Funderstorm. That is always the top story for any year...
Roadblock responding to a
comment by md2
09.23.10 - 4:37 pm
reply
Did you finally win a race?
Nope.
Ride more than last year?
Same, more or less, depends on whether I have anywhere to ride to.
Buy/acquire a new bike?
Bought a used V-Rex recumbent last month, that's it.
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
I've been here a little while, the love's still there, but the hate nips me in the ass all the time.
Find biker boy/girl love?
What's that?
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
No racey.
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
Nothing that demands immediate care at this time.
bentstrider09.23.10 - 4:44 pm
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Did I won a race?? Yeah when I need to use the restroom
Ride more than last year? Not really since I got a new job and I start @3 am
Buy a new bike?? Nop but I got my tall bmx bike from 2 frames. I had
Did I fall in love with MR?? 3 years ago and deeply in love
Find love?? Nop but I made more friends
Do I have plans?? Get all my friends to ride, I got some but still want more and more to ride and see what's MR all about!!!!
And am glad I found MR I just wish I can have more time to ride with gruops than just my self....
gosbud09.23.10 - 4:59 pm
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In that case, it's time to pull a Machiavelli and use pigeons to send messages.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by Roadblock
09.23.10 - 6:23 pm
reply
Did you finally win a race?
No but I made it up halfway to griffith observatory :D
Ride more than last year?
Hell yes!
Buy/acquire a new bike?
2 actually
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
Yes
Find biker boy/girl love?
Not looking
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
No nemesis yet to challenge.
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
Make it all the way to the top of the observatory without walking :D
Ninja biker09.23.10 - 6:24 pm
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Did you finally win a race?
I dont see a point in racing
Ride more than last year?
I actually did less rides
Buy/acquire a new bike?
I got a 2010 Windsor The Hour Track Bicycle. my road bike got stolen :,(
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
No
Find biker boy/girl love?
No
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
I dont have a nemesis (NO BITCHASSNESS)
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
Help out with ACTR and have a wonderful new years
palucha6609.23.10 - 7:09 pm
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Did you finally win a race?
No but at least I participated.
Ride more than last year?
No riding less this yr.I have a kid now.
Buy/acquire a new bike?
No same one,but I bought 2 old junk project bike that need some fixing,but Im lagging on it.I bought one to play polo.
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
It took me a minute to start talking to the MR community.I would attend rides but would be the shy one.Now i know alot of peeps and yes I guess you can say I fell in love with the biking community in general,enough to cheat on my other love basketball.I bike more now than play ball.
Find biker boy/girl love?
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
etc, etc, etc....
Huey55509.24.10 - 2:34 am
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ooops//forgot the rest
Find biker boy/girl love?
not really looking for it since Im married..lol
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
I am my own nemesis.lol
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
I want to plan a Night Owl Century and bring back "the rookie ride" I love it when a new rida comes to a ride and tells me that this is there first ride.
etc etc,
I would have to say that this yr was pretty awesome and a pretty busy one.I made a ride called the Night Owl ride for those that work,study all day and dont have time to join the earlier rides,or people that just love the night.So for me this yr was the when the night owl ride was born,so special yr for me.
Huey55509.24.10 - 2:47 am
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here you go you smelly hippies...
Did you finally win a race?
a few.when rich wasnt around
Ride more than last year?
yep.a little more
Buy/acquire a new bike?
got me a cross bike.a gettho YETI
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
actually fell a little bit out of love with it.ill never deny being part of it ,but its getting harder and hader to bring it up around other non riding people
Find biker boy/girl love?
nope.
Finally beat your nemesis?
not yet!
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?puttting black betty back together, actually practicing and playing a showwith the MR hardcore band, finally doing a cyclocross race,beating my nemesis .and getting the word out about md2s 3rd palce
while im at this,im gonna do my ridazz spotlight right here and now.you can copy and paste if youd like barley.
What’s your name (optional) and/or your Midnight Ridazz log-in name? mandingo.used to be mandigo.i also go by dio but my real name is dionicio
How did you first hear about Midnight Ridazz and what was your first group bike ride?
first group ride was a nela critical mass.about 6 people were there.nelson and joseph were there.this was some time in 05.we ended the ride at sandpaper books .i think thats what it was at the time.its now the bike oven.from there i found out about MR.dont remember my first actuall MR ride.
Currently what rides do you attend regularly and what ride(s) would you like to see make a comeback?
dont ride any of the party rides any more cause i found out i was an alcoholic, and realized i wasnt riding for the sake of riding but because i loved drinking and getting fucked up.i really liked sins and sprockets though.i remember the first time i brought nela CM to their ride.it blew up after that so i pretty much take credit for making S N S what it became .i also created the rubiks cube
What advice would you pass on to new ridazz?
enjoy it while the feeling is still new.that awesome feeling that you get in your belly when youre riding amongst hundreds of riders will never be the same after a few rides.
If you were leading a group ride, what would you do differently?
i would accept the fact that theres no way to control any group over 20 people and accept the fact that if im willing to put on a ride im willing to accept the 10 percent that are gonna fuck shit up and not make a big deal out of it.
Do you prefer small rides (30 or less people) or larger rides and why?
at first i loved big rides .but now i think i would prefer a small intimate gathering of good friends because they would be small intimate gatherings among friends.
Tell us about the best and worst experience you’ve encountered on a group ride.
they were all pretty good.i made the rides whatever i wanted to make them.i guess the only bad experience was that time when that guy almost chopped off my head with a shovel and then his friends proceeded to take my bike.nothing too bad i guess
What did you do for fun before you started “riding”?
i always rode on and off sice i was about 14.im now 36.but in my 20s and early 30s i did a lot of sports and was also playing in punk bands .i also used to be i a running group that were called the valley hashers which was just like MR only running intead of biking.ieverything i did before MR involved drinking.once i found MR my drinking just got a little more dangerous in some ways and a little less in others
What’s the best and worst thing group bike rides have done for cycling as a whole in Los Angeles? it got kids riding bikes to school again but its also created a bunch of ignorant little fucking biking people that havent got the slightest idea why theyre even riding a bike.
If you can name 1 person who embodies the spirit of “Midnight Ridazz”, Who would it be and Why?
i would honestly have to say me,dingo.mostly because everytime i read this ? on everyone elses spotlight ,im hoping to see my name, but ....NOOOOO...!noone even knows who the fuck i am anymore!
What do you think the public’s perception is of group bike rides?
i think 80 % of the people driving really get annoyed by it and most of the time i think they have good reason to despise group rides.but i think about 80% of people that see a ride goin by while out of their car find it really different and refreshing.like a parade of sorts
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
for picures of me go to dingos gallery in the photo gallery section of this here website.feel free to add to the gallery if you have any flattering pics of me.im sure youll do the opposite.
last but not least....
i coast when riding through an intersection so people know im not riding fixed..and tren way sucks balls!
mandingo09.24.10 - 3:49 am
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hello future neighbors (if i don't escape from this shitbox before then).
Did you finally win a race?
-only when it involved chugging booze.
Ride more than last year?
-probably. goddamn westside.
Buy/acquire a new bike?
-yes, my beast of a raleigh for screwing around with and will probably be getting some sort of bastardized cross bike in november.
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
-nah, i've been milking this cow for a while now.
Find biker boy/girl love?
-a hundred times over
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
-i beat my nemesis rambod, but it was more of a physical beating/naked playa drag than a track race.
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
-accomplishments just lead to expectations.
slowrighthand responding to a
comment by toweliesbong
09.24.10 - 1:14 pm
reply
thanks dingo for making the SINS and SPROCKETS ride what it became. couldn't have done it without you. though i always thought it was nelson started bringing nela critical mass to our ride?
oh, and a big thanks for the rubics cube!!
Charlie responding to a
comment by mandingo
11.3.10 - 3:14 pm
reply
i finally woke up and stopped riding my bike.
_iJunes11.3.10 - 7:40 pm
reply
Haha, _iJunes is gonna get fat again.
md2 responding to a
comment by _iJunes
11.4.10 - 7:42 am
reply
Did you finally win a race?
No, but I got a couple of 3rd place finished in the CBC and you know that's hard as hell. I guess Iwin races by setting them up? Don't know.
Ride more than last year?
Yes I have, it's cheaper and better for you than thearpy.
Buy/acquire a new bike?
My bike collection has gone out of control, more onthe way!
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
no. At first I was really excited but by ride #18 all I saw was eliteist attitiude, I've never beeen back since. I'm not one of the cool kids.
Find biker boy/girl love?
That's a bad idea, failed in practice and poor in judgment.
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
None of these fixed tards ride in the track where they belong. I have kept the torch of fixie hate alive for years now and nothing has changed, fixed gear bikes are what the pacifier was to the rave scene in the 90's. Lame.
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
etc, etc, etc....
Oh yes....I can always do more...
Let's brighten up this forum with some good bike talk stuff. Be as cheesey as you want to be...
I'd say that we're on our 4th generation of LA cyclists, so much has changed. I'd say that things are worse now then they were a few years ago and it's up to us to make it better, I'll do my part, will you?
Ijunes is the unitmate hipster, he won't be missed.
Met a lot of great people through bikes and I want to continue that bond.
Roadblock and Dingo...we need to jam....call me.
rev10611.4.10 - 9:33 am
reply
in my mind the city needs more revenue
Then the city should be honest about it, and levy some taxes rather than (further) pervert the justice system to extract this revenue from supposed traffic offenders without due process or accountability.
PC responding to a
comment by Roadblock
12.1.10 - 12:05 am
reply
Did you finally win a race?
A what?
Ride more than last year?
No. About the same. Fewer group rides this year.
Buy/acquire a new bike?
No. In fact, I lost one--my little sparkly mini bike that I used for the one and only session of Midnight Ridazz Bomb Squad in 2007. I had it sitting in front of my place unprotected for three years, and the lazyass thieves in my neighborhood FINALLY got around to stealing it about a month ago.
Did you just find MR and fall in love?
2005, man.
Find biker boy/girl love?
2009, man.
Finally beat your nemesis at the track?
The what?
Do you have plans to accomplish something before the year ends?
I'm going to reestablish my presence on this forum and singlehandedly bring the post count back to what it was in 2008. Yes, by the end of the year.
etc, etc, etc....
No thanks...just the check, when you get a chance. Thanks!
PC12.1.10 - 12:10 am
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NOLA 2010, PEDALPALOOZA 2010, BURNINGMAN 2010
a good year, indeed.
Coe coe buttaa12.1.10 - 12:19 am
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after driving the 25 miles and who knows how much elevation to school for a year and a half and not riding hardly at all, in january i moved out of my dads house and closer to school so i could ride my bike again and ditch the coffin. i thought i'd go on more rides, too, but that didn't really happen. i rode my bike nearly every day of 2010, though, and that makes me pretty happy.
dont race. got a new cheap ten speed when my last one got stolen. fell in love at the dead theatre ride and stalking MR ever since. one day i'll make my feelings known.
lackflag12.2.10 - 1:34 am
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