bikeforums vs midnight ridazz
Thread started by
ruinedbyidiots at 06.8.07 - 12:21 pm
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=297311
Midnight Ridazz are a group of urban riders that I will not ride with since some of their members drink and ride (as in alcohol and buzzed while doing it) as well as not wearing helmets, etc. However, SOME of their members are responsible, safe riders. I never know which will be arriving on their various rides, so I steer clear. However, it was nice of Kate to come in and share the article with the rest of us. It's always nice to know who are out riding, IMHO.
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bike forums is a forum.... MR is a ride.... it's all gravy. to each their own. I wonder who GG Allin is on that forum? RBI any clue??
Roadblock06.8.07 - 12:29 pm
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I dunno, I'm thinking about throwin' in the towel because someone on the internet disapproves of my idea of fun.
kyber06.8.07 - 12:35 pm
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Whatever.. someone's being really uppity.
I think we are pretty responsible regardless what we are doing. Yes, we need to avoid accidents and look out for each other. And we do that very well, don't we? People can do whatever they want. Adults are responsible for their own actions. The only negativity I sense is coming from snobs like them. We're riding bikes and having a good time. We don't have to wear any goddamn helmets if we don't want to!
Yeah whatever, I'm not giving a good argument blah blah blah. My comments might get deleted anyway. But I just want to say - We're all good folk, we don't litter, we ride bicycles, we support one another, we encourage bike safety, we are a community, we like to dress up and be silly and make lots of noise, so what! I agree that riding too "dirty" can be an issue if someone is not being responsible. That's why we look out for one another. We ride together. No one left behind. We're not elitist conservative snobs... are we? God I hope not.
I sure wish those people would just loosen up and learn to trust in the group! It's attitudes like that can make this whole thing fall apart.
Joe Borfo06.8.07 - 12:53 pm
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i have no idea who that ggallin character is, but he seems like a menace!
ruinedbyidiots06.8.07 - 1:22 pm
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"Like it or not, this is who I am. This is what the world has made of me, and we must all live with the consequences. I can’t feel or believe or act differently than I do, let alone change the decades of life behind me that have wrought this. I don’t want to compete with you for moral high ground or anything else. Unless you’re prepared to kill everyone who doesn’t line up with your standards, or to endure this impasse of animosity indefinitely, you’re going to have to accept me on my own terms, as I hope to do with you. You are as responsible as I am for making what goes on between us positive for us both—or for the world of strife we will live in otherwise."
420LaHaRR06.8.07 - 1:28 pm
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haters will hate.... Ridazz will ride!
ps anybody want to help with the spoke cards tonight? 5pm rollers pad?? anyone?! oh...
Roadblock06.8.07 - 1:48 pm
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oh Bike snobs...
So let's just ride and forget all their lameness.
YES!!
see you all tonight.
feelingrandy06.8.07 - 1:58 pm
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We drink beer...they drink--well
kyber06.8.07 - 2:02 pm
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Personally, I could do without the drunken, weaving hipshits. But what difference does it make to me whether some other guy is wearing a helmet?
PC06.8.07 - 2:38 pm
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I don't weave when drunk, but I have been known to heave when drunk.
kyber06.8.07 - 4:13 pm
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i have found some amazing, entertaining, responsible and wonderful friends doing this ride.
but i will admit that my recent experiences with the bicycle community have left me completely jaded.
as a "community" i think bicycle culture in LA is more like a collection of gangs, some rivals, some friendly... please don't send me any attacking comments about this. just take a minute and THINK about what community means to you first.
the beauty of ridazz, for me, is that *EVERYONE* and i mean *EVERYONE* can come out and ride and feel that sense of liberation, solidarity and friendship as they share in an act of radical protest to a car saturated culture.
and if they want, can celebrate that by being lushes!!
that's cool too!
but ultimately, we are not a cohesive supportive community.
i officially tender my resignation as "bicycle advocate" or "bike-activist" / "bike-tivist"
i may be called "bicycle enthusiast" or "bike lover" or simply, ingrid.
but fundamentally, i want to return to the reason i got into riding:
RIDING A BICYCLE IS FUN.
FUN. was the reason. connection, friendship, sharing, joy, FUN.
yeah, that was it. something about FUN and it being really good for my health and spirit.....
Also, riding a bicycle really is the best way to commute around a town. Perhaps City Officials in LA will make some accommodations for us cyclists, one day down the road.
here's to unicorn wishes and fairy tale dreams.
peace out! see you tonight and sunday!!!
UNICORNZZ!!!
SPREADING SOME LOVE ON THE STREETS.
ingipet06.8.07 - 5:22 pm
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ya all can say what you want.
But they got me pegged.
Guilty as Charged
throw me a beer
Yaa Hooow
watch out, I'm here I'm there, i'm down in the gutter.
damm spilt my beer, get me another. yee haw
sexy06.8.07 - 6:05 pm
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I think helmets are a good idea and wear one about 99% of the time I ride, but I'm not into enforcement. I've crashed twice in two years; on both of those occasions I had gone helmetless...
That's life in Hollywood.
PS. GG was a mad genius but for my money, I'll take Henry Rollins or Jello Biafra...
"Hellnation"
Hellnation's when they teach us
Profiting from greed
Hellnation's what they give us
Coke, heroin & speed
Hellnation's when they tell you
You gotta go clean up your act
You're the one who dragged me here
And now you drag me back
To this Hellnation
[Chorus]
Problem is, few care
About the people in despair
If you help no one
You're guilty in the Hellnation
Hellnation's when the president
Asks for four more fucking years
Hellnation's when he gets it
By conning poor people and peers
Hellnation-got no choice
What's the point of trying to vote?
When this country makes war
We all die in the same boat
In this Hellnation
[Chorus]
It's the only world we've got
Let's protect it while we can
It's all there is and there ain't no more
Hellnation-asking please
For a nuclear freeze
So the unborn kids
Get their chance to live and breathe
Hellnation asking aid
For the minimum wage
So the kids of tomorrow
Don't wind up slaves to their trade
In the Hellnation
Samhain06.8.07 - 6:19 pm
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sorry HobSmob
On a brighter note. I like the color of merider1's helmet.
After reading that thread of that forum, I now realize why I like this forum so much. Was that the dog "me" from meandmybluebike found the other night. That Dog is already down with us type of ROADIES
sexy06.8.07 - 6:23 pm
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Aye, I've stayed away from bikeforums for pretty much the reasons that thread shows, anyway, I really don't care what some uptight person thinks (roadie, mtn biker, fixie riding hipster, fixie riding other, car driver etc) I'm riding my bike, sometimes I wear a helmet, sometimes I don't, but you know what, I'm going to ride my bike, and ride it every day, and I'm going to make the damn most of it. See y'all in a couple hours.
FuzzBeast06.8.07 - 7:02 pm
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right on ingipet!
I also like to think of myself as a "bicycle enthusiast"
always have since I can remember
I love two wheels and love just being out there sharing it with like minded people.
cured106.8.07 - 7:10 pm
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you cant talk to someone rationally when you prove them wrong and they block you. it works backwards for everyone.
ruinedbyidiots06.8.07 - 8:30 pm
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That thread is funny over there. In fact, that whole forum is funny. I especially like how they call the Santa Ana River Bike Path "trail". This is the SART:
Jeronimo06.9.07 - 1:25 am
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You want to know the truth? I don't blame some people for staying away. Crashing because some shitbrick thinks that his drunkenness excuses him from the laws of physics is a drag.
I don't think it's so much to ask that motherfuckers at least hold their line while riding, no matter how much they've had to drink. If you can't ride in a straight line after a few drinks, you can't ride, junior. Maybe you should stay sober until you can.
I'm such an elitist prick. Somebody give me a beer.
PC06.9.07 - 3:53 am
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...which is not to say that it is unamusing to watch these dingleberries from Bikeforums reaching deep into their middle-American brains to try to come up with subcultural stereotypes that match their ideas of what Ridazz must look like. "Well...well, you guys are a bunch of...young emo guys, who are all...young, and stuff..."
PC06.9.07 - 4:16 am
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I posted this on bike forum. I am new to both this site and that site. I am also a bit objective about this debate.
"I have a sort of but not really mixed opinion.
I have been on a couple rides but am not in one of the cliques. So I am a Midnight Ridda outsider. I ride a steel road bike. Not a fixie. But it is what I need for how I ride. I live on a massive hill, thus a fixie is out. I also wanted a bike to do some light touring. I am a utilitarian, so I needed 1 bike, not 5.
The Midnight Riddaz are fun and most certainly harmless. I didn't see anyone offended by the rides. We even encountered the Long Beach police, and they were cool with it. I felt like the ride was safe, booze or not. Observers seemed to be elated by the sheer spectacle of the ride, thus it certainly inspired people.
I would say that it is not as much of an open community as they claim. Some of the Riddaz seemed to be a bit snobby. Not much different than their spandex wearing yuppie critics in a sense. The debate seems to be a bit silly because it seems that the spandex yuppies have their own set of codes and the urban riddaz have theirs, each thinking they are better.
As far as responsibility goes, I used to run up at on office park in North Long beach after work. It is about an .8 mile track. Perfect for jumping out and running 4 or 5 laps really quickly. A large group of spandex yuppie bikers would take the place over 2 nights a week. They pull up in luxury cars and big stupid trucks. They didn't own or rent the space. Unlike the Riddaz, the spandex yuppie gang was inconsiderate to me (a pedestrian) as well as cars. It was one of the largest group of rude jerks that I have ever encountered. It didn't seem like 1 of them was a respectful person. I can only imagine what they would have done if I showed up with my steel road bike and lack of tight fitting fashion to join in for the ride.
I have encountered spandex yuppies for years along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim as well. I have been running with a crew on Sunday mornings for the last couple of years. That spot is crawling with spandex yuppie bikers, and surprise surprise, they are total jerks. To the point that we now run on the streets of Anaheim near Disneyland. Not safe. But safer than being around spandex yuppies who cannot share public space. I nearly kicked the crap out of a number of them who were rude to some of the women I run with. They all seem to think that they are training for the Tour de France or something. It is just a hobby, thus they need to lighten up a bit.
The Riddaz snobbiness and "recklessness" pales to my experience with yuppie spandex cyclists. The snobbiness was not total amongst the Riddaz either. Some of them were really cool and friendly. Some of them think they are hot shit because they ride a fixie. (btw… even arguing about the type of bike you ride is so beyond retarded, but that would be another thread). The great majority seemed for real.
I basically stopped running at that spot and now wake up at 4:45am to run in the morning due to the yuppies. So the yuppies really changed my lifestyle kind of for the worse while the Riddaz get me out on weekend nights to have a couple of beers and ride around versus sitting around drinking beers in a bar. Urban bike culture in LA is great and the riddaz have worked hard to make it into something special.
The Riddaz could make an effort to be more welcoming to new faces. Other than that, they got a great thing going and I wish them the best. I will go on more Midnight Rides and CM rides as well. While I will most certainly go out on long rides for exercise, I would never go out with the yuppies at that spot. The vibe just stinks. It also seems to be a good thing to drink and exercise. Better than drinking and sitting around."
jimbobforskin06.9.07 - 10:59 am
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What is this? What's with the social dynamics 101? When people are passionate about things, they tend to feel better about themselves by putting down others. You learn this in elementary school.
I like riding bikes; drunk, helmetless, on city streets, and at night. So which folks should I ride with today? The guys doing 10 laps around the rosebowl? The dudes hitting the dirt at 630AM? Or that reckless night ride full of drunks? That's a hard choice.
the reverend dak06.9.07 - 12:30 pm
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I'm always bewildered by the people that say the ridazz are snobby or clique-ish or are not welcoming to new faces.... c'mon now! it's not like it's some club with members. it's a massive bicycle ride. you might as well show up to a rock concert and complain that the people in line at the concession stands arent trying to know you.
the perceived cliques are just people who happen to go so much they now know each other now. it's a process that can take 2-5 rides but you will meet new people if you are a friendly person... It's always intimidating to a single person to try to get to know a group of people...... the easiest way to overcome this problem is to bring friends with you! then after a while someone from your group will bum a cig or a light or a beer or a pump from that other group and sooner or later you'll run into that neighbor you never talked to..... and by and by you'll start making new friends and forming your own clique and here and again you'll see some new faces and maybe you'll talk to them or maybe you'll just be wrapped up in your own world of fun you wont be so concerned with the 382 other people having their own good time and eventually randomly you might meet new people.
Roadblock06.9.07 - 12:59 pm
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Team Bearclaw showed up in full spandex kits and skinsuits, and everyone was nice to us. I don't see how anyone could say that the members of MR are snobby, everyone seems more than inviting to us.
Maybe it's time for us to organize a race. Mightnight Ridazz best vs. Bikeforums best...
Team Bearclaw06.9.07 - 1:36 pm
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Give me a break.
Effin' Bikeforums is a Nationwide chat room for cyclist. There's a zillion different categories for dialogue. From over 50 cyclist to gonzo Framebuilders, there's no real "collective" voice for that internet chatroom.
Just like there's no real "collective" voice for Ridazz. People have the freedom to post up their ideas for rides.
This Friday's ride was the first ride I've done in months! And it was a lot of fun. I saw so many people out there, and it was a wonderful feeling seeing so many people ride bikes together.
I knew a good number of people on the rides, but for the most part, I rode solo. I can't speak for other folks on Ridazz, but to pigeonhole us as "fixie Hipsters" or "Spandex Roadies" is a very lazy way to describe a mass group ride.
I like Bikeforums, and I like this forum. Because there's different voices and opinions everywhere.
If some dude can't deal with mass mob behavior that his deal.
You gotta wonder how homey deals with traffic, or crowds of people though.
sleepy06.9.07 - 2:13 pm
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When I first came out to MR I was pretty F'n green. I knew exactly 1 person (brass knuckles) and i was riding on an a cheap, inefficient, undersized bike ... i was pretty slow, didn't really know the road rulez and sometimes I had trouble keeping up.
The only people who ever made fun of me or teased me were my pre-MR friends who i convinced to come out because MR was and is to date one of the funnest, most beautifully exhillerating urban experinces I have ever had.
Ridazz in general have been nothing but super welcoming and friendly. Seriously ... walk into any club in L.A. and see if you find a fucking minute fraction of the love that an unknown person with a bike problem gets on a MR ride.
We are not perfect, we are a random group of people on bikes, and certainly stupidy and jerkieness sometimes floats to the surface. But if you compare our vibe to any public gathering in the city, you will find, far and away i think, our group to be one of the most welcoming, supportive, and tolerant groups out there.
That is, as long as you have a fucking BIKE !!!
As so often is said to awestruck drivers and pedestrians with their mouths agape:
"get a bike! join us!"
trickmilla06.11.07 - 1:36 am
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trickmilla:
Ridazz in general have been nothing but super welcoming and friendly. Seriously ... walk into any club in L.A. and see if you find a fucking minute fraction of the love that an unknown person with a bike problem gets on a MR ride.
Exactly!
I first rode with Ridazz on the July In December ride. I went by myself because it was a great opportunity to meet people enthusiastic about riding and having fun. Take it for what it is and enjoy the hell out of it.
Jeronimo06.11.07 - 1:51 am
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It can only be your own fault for not meeting people..I have only met chill ridazz at these rides.If you're not willing to start a conversation the guy next to you wont be! So take the stick outta ur ass! and make freinda toy can skip, sing songs and ride with!
BicyclingAllMyCities06.11.07 - 3:35 am
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It can only be your own fault for not meeting people..I have only met chill ridazz at these rides.If you're not willing to start a conversation the guy next to you wont be! So take the stick outta ur ass! and make freinds to skip, sing songs and ride with!
BicyclingAllMyCities06.11.07 - 3:38 am
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i love the whole "true roadies" thing.
dave c06.12.07 - 12:23 pm
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We are the True Roadies.
Our helmets protect us from criticism and government mind rays.
Mere rules of logic do not apply to us.
My helmet is blue.
PC06.12.07 - 2:18 pm
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Aww, PC, man . . . I don't think I've ever seen you wearing a helmet (not that there's anything wrong with that); mine is silver . . .
mr rollers06.12.07 - 5:33 pm
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ey wait a minute... i don't start my trail ride at 630am?
zookeeper06.12.07 - 7:43 pm
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I Know how it feels to be a newcomer to the" Rides" The first time i went my friend told me your on your own,because he knew many people already, and wanted to ride and talk with them also. After one ride or two i got to know many people. And now after a few more rides i have made many new friends, who i even hang with outside the "Rides". They are the most friendly and funloving people i have met!!! <3 xo
bigsexxy06.12.07 - 11:52 pm
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the ride doesn't MAKE you!
YOU make the ride!
Seriously though, isn't that the cycle (get it?) of life? If you're friendly, people are friendly in return...
I've been on rides where I don't talk to a single person, but I've been on rides where I meet a bunch of people...it's all up to me...
There isn't a Midnight Ridazz hospitality crew and since we're all grownups here, WE can make conversation!
Have FUN everyone, that's the whole point!
adrian06.13.07 - 1:15 pm
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"Have FUN everyone, that's the whole point!"
Ride On!
Joe Borfo06.13.07 - 3:19 pm
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to each his/her own,
we're not going to convince people with pre-dispositions about MR to come out and ride so lets convince the other 99.9% that like to have fun. Always wear protection!
dannyzuko06.13.07 - 4:40 pm
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I don't like everybody, so I don't expect everybody to like me.
Although it's only Borfo and Dak-dak that I don't like.
spiraldemon06.13.07 - 4:46 pm
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(Rev. Dak chortles something at Fluffer Spiraldemon)
Borfo: (taps Fluffer on the shoulder) He doesn't like you
Fluffer: I'm sorry
Borfo: ( taps again) I don't like you either. You just watch yourself - we're wantedmen. I have the death sentence on 12 systems
Fluffer: I'll be more careful.
Borfo: (grabs Fluffer by the arm) You'll be dead!
Big Bike Dan: This little one's not worth the effort. Now let me get you something...
RAARRR... SWWOOSH.. VVVVFFTTT.. AAAAACCCK!!!!... GROAN..
Joe Borfo06.13.07 - 4:58 pm
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Haha, LOL Borfo!
And with a perfectly executed Star Wars scene, I would say this thread is done!
Eric Hair06.13.07 - 7:03 pm
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http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/bik/351706293.html
sexy06.13.07 - 10:50 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!
