RIDE ARC 5/2/08
Thread started by
barleye at 04.30.08 - 1:25 pm
Ride-Arc for May 2nd, 2008. 9:30pm. Parking lot at Bali & Admiralty Way(s) in the Del Rey. Sea below!
Looking south from the splendor of wealth in the Beverly Hills, an actress sets aside her poorly written script and takes a drag of a cigarette. After a few seconds of personal internal struggle, she manages to look past her reflection in the glass, and - for the first time in a long time - look out upon the endless blanket of sprawl heading out into the horizon of the night sky.
Red lights flash above a darkened cut into the scene with two rivers flowing upwards and into the infinity of a midnight sky blinded away from the stars in its details.
'What is that thing?', she thinks. 'Why are there large gaps of nothingness out there?' 'Can I buy it?'
Suddenly, her Blackberry, iPhone, and Computer chirp in succession. Her agent is "twittering":
"RU ABL TO RED ENGLISH? AWL THS SHRTHAND TXT HAZ MDE ME FRGET C RIDEARC E-MAIL LOLZ"
and with that, she opened her RIDE-Arc e-mail, threw her script in the trash, vowed to quit the cancer sticks, pulled on a pair of Assos™ and hopped on her bicycle - hoping to explore her city with a greater depth than the tinted windows have ever offered her. Everything changed.
Welcome.
Join in on an exploration of land use, interpretation, marketing hype, money, power, toxicity, playgrounds, irony, and cinematic history.
This ride is the next chapter in thesis from last months' ride on Security, Public Space and Community - however you need not have attended that ride in order to interpret this one.
RIDE-Info: 20 miles Dynamic as they'll come. Flat miles, yes. Steep climbs, yes. Long climbs, yes. Darkness, yes. High-speed descents making you wonder if you're about to get run over? Yes.
***PS: if you've got a massively bright, blinding, traffic-stopping tail light, please consider bringing it. We will be needing it to save lives. If not, we're doing an extra 7 miles.**
Check weather conditions, subtract 5 degrees while riding the flats, add 10 degrees for the uphills.
**** THE MEETING PLACE FOR THIS RIDE IS AT THE PARKING LOT ON THE CORNER OF ADMIRALTY WAY and BALI WAY in Marina Del Rey****
**** MEET from 9:00 - RIDE by 9:30 ****
Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/6ghc6n
We chose this starting location because, well, we're hoping that if you are going to drive there you will find parking. If you aren't driving there, we love you that much more. Guess what? It's on a bike path. Oh, wait, there's more! Guess what?!
No, that's not it.
Nope, not that either.
Give up?
Well, you shouldn't. Don't ever give up in life.
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Sounds like a really cool ride. I can probably make it, and if so, that means I can bring two HID lights. They're really bright.
0gravity04.30.08 - 1:40 pm
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Everyone should buy one of these costumes. I heard they are cooler carbon.
mikeywally04.30.08 - 8:14 pm
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Okay, I think we've reached a consensus here. Everyone will do both Santa Monica Critical Mass and then head to Ride Arc. Capisci?
jericho1ne04.30.08 - 9:58 pm
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Everyone should buy one of these costumes. I heard they are cooler carbon.
why?
mk452404.30.08 - 10:26 pm
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HEY RIDE ARC.....Post the ride to the Calendar on the right-hand side.
0gravity05.1.08 - 5:29 pm
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Anyone know if a route is posted anywhere for this ride yet? I have a new friend who i want to bring out but she has a Beach Cruiser. Are we really hitting that many hills?
stevo405.2.08 - 7:59 am
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Stevo, RIDE-Arc has never posted their route ahead of time, but if they say there will be hills they are telling the truth.
mr rollers05.2.08 - 8:38 am
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the only hillz around there are kenneth hahn state park, speed bumps really, and santa monica to the north, since they asked for lights I think the ride will head south towards the new developments by the marshlands, but I could be wrong and no one ever believes a word I say...
dannyzuko05.2.08 - 8:56 am
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Stevo, I wouldn't recommend a beach cruiser for Ride Arc unless they are pretty strong. Just speaking from experience.
Joe Borfo05.2.08 - 9:09 am
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Would anyone like to ride out from the downtown la direction?
soso05.2.08 - 2:30 pm
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DannyZuko writes: "the only hillz around there are kenneth hahn state park, speed bumps really, and santa monica to the north."
I doubt (which means "hope not") the ride will be going into the Santa Monicas. In terms of other elevations in addition to the Baldwin Hills that DannyZ s focusing on and refers to so adorably as "speedbumps" (and by adorably I mean "gimme a break") there's the Mar Vista bluffs and the Palos Verdes highlands that are within range.
There are some good climbs and screamin' downhills in the unincorporated area of Park View adjacent to Baldwin Hills.
Anyone on a beach cruiser better be redonkulously strong or like walking up 'n down. I'll be surprised if I'm not hoofing my single-speeder on some of the upsides.
Agent Orange05.2.08 - 2:47 pm
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I'm in Silver Lake and would like to meet up with some folks to ride over to the start with.
seanbonner05.2.08 - 2:55 pm
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seanbonner:
i'm planning on taking venice all the way to lincoln at around 830pm.
soso05.2.08 - 3:43 pm
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Could I tag along for the ride down? I'm in Koreatown -- could meet up with y'all either downtown -- or preferably at Venice and Western (I'm punctual!).........
theroyalacademy05.2.08 - 4:29 pm
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The ride ends near Culver City about five miles away, I hope there will be other riders riding back to the start.
mk452405.2.08 - 6:42 pm
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@ seanbonner and soso
i'm near Venice and Fairfax. Mind if I tag along as well?
FMontanez197405.2.08 - 6:46 pm
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I'm also coming from K-town. Was going to scuttle over on 4th and down Cochran to Venice, but I'll meet up with a group wherever. Name a time and a place, and I'll be there, ready to roll...
nathansnider05.2.08 - 7:13 pm
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hey nathan
i was going to be out on Venice and Stanley around 8:45 and chill until the rest of the group that's riding from downtown passes that way
FMontanez197405.2.08 - 7:20 pm
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Nathan,
I was thinking I'd hit Western and Venice just after 8:30 and catch the group as they pass too.
theroyalacademy05.2.08 - 7:24 pm
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Decisions, decisions...
OK Felix, I'll meet you at Venice and Stanley around eight forty-five. Be there or be square.
nathansnider05.2.08 - 7:54 pm
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Soso/Seanbonner
If you see a tall, skinny white dude at Wilshire and Venice, invite him to join you.
Thanks.
theroyalacademy05.2.08 - 7:57 pm
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Fuuuuuck, I bent my rim but narrowly avoided wrecking into a bus at high speed today.
Alas, no ride arc for me. :(
fuckin bummed...
-J-
Justin05.2.08 - 8:13 pm
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Great Ride Arc this past weekend.
But I have to agree that Alex should re-consider using a megaphone. I get that it might smack of a protest, but whatever. Making sure everyone can hear is more important. If a megaphone has an adjustable volume, that would mellow it out and make it more appropriate for a tour like this....IMHO.
0gravity05.4.08 - 6:08 pm
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Do we know if Alex reads these threads? I have a megaphone that i would donate to Ride-Arc for free if he would use it. As these rides get bigger and bigger turnouts, and given some of the locations (like at Jefferson & Sepulveda) it could come in handy so everyone can get schooled.
stevo405.4.08 - 6:16 pm
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fuck megaphones on ridearc, megaphones are for awsome.
mikeywally05.5.08 - 2:19 pm
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Maybe mikeywalley could be gently reminded that bikes are for lovers. And that bike rides for people that love architecture and urban planning are still bike rides, which are for lovers, even if mikeywalley doesn't like those bike rides. If mikeywalley doesn't like RIDE-Arc, then he should just not go.
Finally, mikeywalley is a weirdo. He borrowed my bike pump and left part of his valve in it. Why, mikeywalley? Why.
katiepoche05.5.08 - 2:59 pm
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if everyone would just simply stfu at the stops and listen in, they'll hear just fine. do i sound angry? not intended...
barleye05.5.08 - 3:01 pm
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This is starting to sound like the CM debates. There's only minor difference between the two, the RideArc ride is run by one person! He can do what he wants since it's his ride. Take it or leave it is what I always tell people. Alex's has stated it before he doesn't want a ton of people on the ride. This is probably part of the method to keeping the population down. I think the last thing anyone wants is to have someone there that doesn't like the ride.
And yes I still love ponies and puppies!!!! My current biggest love is butterflies! If the world was run by butterflies, there would be no wars.
User105.5.08 - 3:13 pm
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Obviously Ride-Arc doesn't get posted on MR's calendar for a reason. They don't want our kind....take the hint, people.
hatehills05.5.08 - 3:28 pm
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They don't want our kind....take the hint, people.
I didn't know we had to swear allegiance to one organization or the other. What does "our kind" mean?
mk452405.5.08 - 3:36 pm
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Hey Allen, You gotta check out my pictures of my family trip to Butterfly World in Florida. You'd love it there. So peaceful and unhateful.
Butterfly World
stevo405.5.08 - 3:37 pm
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Hate Hills is in a funk today i think. I wish him well!!!
stevo405.5.08 - 3:37 pm
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I guess he must be in a funk. I didn't know that just because I really enjoy going on MR rides that now I'm suddenly a "kind of person". I was hoping these rides were more inclusive and more open so I didn't have to be cast as one "kind of person".
Gawd I hate being classified.
mk452405.5.08 - 3:42 pm
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this will solve all problems and maybe even create new ones..
khaos05.5.08 - 3:45 pm
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I'm not in a funk. I'm just pointing out that there's obviously a reason why Ride-Arc rides no longer get posted on MR's calendar.
hatehills05.5.08 - 3:48 pm
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I don't think the organizers themselves have really posted on the MR calendar. If they have, they were never consistent about it. Myself, I really object to being lumped as an MRT kind of person just because I happen to enjoy riding my bike with MR. I didn't know we all had to follow some sort of personality profile just because I'm in this discussion group.
I'm just curious what's the hang-up? Alex likes to do things his way so why not let him and just be grateful that he takes the time to organize it.
mk452405.5.08 - 4:03 pm
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Hatehills,
You don't want to mess with Mike. Have you seen how big he is? He must be 8 feet tall! He'll eat you up my friend, and that'll be just a snack for him!
mk4524
User105.5.08 - 4:24 pm
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sure allen, whatever you say.
mk452405.5.08 - 5:02 pm
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Without speaking for him, I reckon Alex gets irritated by the throngs of drunken cyclists who often show up and make loud noises throughout the entire ride.
He's told people on multiple occasions that he prefers that there NOT be music on his ride. And talking during a "lecture" is just straight up rude.
MR tends to be more of a party on wheels. And well-- it's not appropriate to bring a party to a seminar/lecture/whatever. I don't think it's anything personal, really.
kyber05.5.08 - 5:08 pm
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"Participants and contributors to RIDE-Arc are a wonderfully diverse group, ranging from architects to white collar executives, graduate students to retirees, social activists to messengers."
architects, white collar execs, grad students, and retirees, oh my!
mikeywally05.5.08 - 5:46 pm
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What's perhaps overlooked in this debate is that side conversation starts to bubble up when people on the periphery can't hear the lecture. Their attention wanes and conversations start up, further making it harder to hear for others. I saw this first-hand last weekend.
0gravity05.5.08 - 6:08 pm
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last Ride ARC i was on was the April ride. The only person who got loud while the lecture part was happening was this girl I have never seen before, and my sixth sense told me she hasn't been on many rides if any rides at all.
I would make the suggestion to everybody (take or leave it) to not go to every Ride Arc ride, i found they taste better if you go without every so often. That will keep the numbers down and it seems to be more special for me when I miss one and then go back.
sexy05.5.08 - 6:52 pm
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I totally disagree.....i still think you're an ok guy an' all....at least for me, i've been driving downtown and other parts of the city for almost 20 years just checking out places and how they change. my dad used to manage the united building (7th and broadway) and he's always shown me stuff and still does....the names of the buildings and what famous family built them......off track now..but anyhow, I personally love Ride Arc and the passion Alex has for it. If more ridazz gave a shit about what's around them once in a while, well...i don't wanna sound angry so i'll leave it at that.
barleye05.5.08 - 8:34 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!
0gravity...
ride arc = bourgie pink taco spandex
@mikeywalley