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whew! ok I got it all planned out.... The East Side STARTS at BIKETOWN by all our favorite shops..... Scoops, The bicycle Kitchen Orange 20 and PURE LUCK restaurant:
Fabulous, where did I see these route before. Do the valley folks want to do a ride also, (as per how this is suppose to work). Should we take the train the to scoops, or, Meet at the Red Line NOHO station, take Lankershim to Cauhenga, to Highland , now here is some more choices, From Highland, make a route Scoops, or Highland to 3rd, and meet with the swarm in route..........................?????
Come on Fluffers, VD's, RSR, generally hot ass people, what do you think?
being from out of town i'm a little confused. I guess there are two starting points? What one will be the closet to west hollywood (hollywood and western). I just need an address or cross streets..
Parking on Heliotrope and pretty much all the immediate surrounding streets is going to be limited at best. It might be a matter of parking several blocks away and rolling down to the start.
Even though most of the valley riders are pretty much regulars at most of the rides, I think we tend to be pretty individualistic about how we arrive and depart from rides.
I prefer parking at NoHo or Univ. station, take the metro, and ride the river trail back, which is what I did for the not-a-ridearc. But riding from Santa Monica to NoHo might be too much at that time of nite. Besides every one hangs out after the rides for different lengths of time.
The last time we tried the group grope ride out was the Toy Ride (which by the way, would be great to repeat this year again) and we screwed that up both coming and going.
Anyway, I'll keep my ear to the ground and see what happens.
...park a mile away and ride to the start...and just think how much cooler you'll look rolling up on your bike instead of parking your SUV right at the start point and unloading your stuff anyways...but who am I to be throwing stones?
>DAVE<
I'm on the border of Burbank and Glendale. I'm either gonna ride from home or head to NoHO or Lankershim metro. If anyone wants to group freom my area I'll ride all the way..
call or email hmurlowski@yahoo.com or 818 913 0316.
Harry
all of ya can just park in SilverLake its safe and pretty and only a few minutes from the startin point. goin east from Vermont on Sunset turn left on Silver lake blvd(nort of Sunset) and park anywhere, check it out..... see ya laterrrr....
@ Dave: True indeed regarding the driving into the city from the valley situation. I wouldn't mind it normally, but since we're going to Santa Monica and back and I'm leaving work after a ten hour day...I just feel better parking near the Eastside point.
I would like to meet more valley ridazz though...Introduce yourselvezz if you can.
@ All: I appreciate the suggestions regarding the parking situation...I'm sure I'll figure something out. Also, if I get there by 9:30 - 9:45, I'll be cool right?
in fact, I say show up early, grab a beer and a bite at PURE LUCK, have some SCOOPS from SCOOPS and then grab extra tools and tubes from Orange 20 so ya dont get left behind! but that's just me pumping up the underground local bike scene haha
there's basically three ways back to the valley. Cahuenga, Los Feliz to the river, or Spring st. to figueroa then to the river. I like spring st, but the suggested main ride back seems to be santa monica bl., so it'd be good to split off from the suggested ride path back a little early to hit spring, but then people wouldn't be able to end with the pack.
I ride home slow, in fact I ride slow in general. I've noticed that I seem to have a thing about keeping up with the jones' in anything so I think I intentionally lag back. I prefer to pedal at my own cadence, anyways, which can be a problem at times, besides I like to stop along the river, grab a smoke and smell the water lilies, among other things, I get there sooner or later, usually later.
I plan to park in Santa Monica, take the bus (I forget the #) to the kitchen, and ride back to the pier. But I'm open to suggestions.
The No. 4 MTA bus runs the entire length of Santa Monica Boulevard from Ocean Park to Sunset Junction and each have racks on the fronts that can carry two bikes. Load up your bike and ride to the stop at Vermont and Santa Monica and your only a couple blocks north of the start.
I'd also like to add a thank you to Roadblock for keeping the route offWilshire Boulevard this time around. The rancid bike-unfriendly condition of that stretch of it from Vermont to Highland sucking fucks.
yeah Wilshire is the one thing I remember from last time that was nasty nasty nasty.... NASTY! besides dude getting two tickets in one night... that was Nazzzzty.
another bus is the 704 that runs up the same rout however it is a rapid, which means it stops MUCH less and gets you there MUCH faster (starts at 2nd and santa monica), same for anyone needing to get home, 704 up Santa Monica, and the 720 goes up Wilshire through downtown (starts at the santa monica pier)
As most of you are aware, and may have already mentioned the SMPD are some of the least bike friendly cops in LA nowadays. I had my hands pinned behind my back, was threated with arrest, and recieved a ticket 2 minutes into the last SMCM. That brings my running total to 3 in the past 1.5 months.
good lookin out Franz. I'm sure there will be some issues.... Although We do have every right to be riding along the beach path in Santa Monica I'm sure the SMPD will be "in touch" and hovering around. Try not to get into it with them and just calmly absorb any harrassment if it gets ugly. Again, we have every right to be riding the beach path and the streets so long as we obey all traffic laws. None the less I made the route so that we wont be on the street in Santa Monica.... Last year they seemed irrate as well.... but it was still a good time regardless. They kind of added to the excitement of it all just by being there. made it more fun and enjoy-able! Like a game of who they talk to next?
I would encourage everyone to bring cameras and video recorders to document everything they do. They do seem to be overly aggressive at times. There are usually a few lawyers on hand as well who ride with us so hopefully they can step forward and mediate if something happens.
So, wait a second here...for those of us that are riding from the Eastside to the Westside...there are going to be some riding back right? Not everyone is going to take a bus I hope...
Also, I'll see if I can get a bag of kazoos for everyone...
Yeah, myself and any other participating members of the iaal/maf will be good to ride back to the Silver Lake area from the pier. Last time Mr. Rollers and I went up Ocean Avenue to San Vicente and through Brentwood then over the Wilshire corridor to Santa Monica Blvd. and across town on Melrose.
Hey,
I'm coming up from San Diego and am trying to make it car free if possible. I'm looking into taking the train then the red line. It's totally simple. There are also several Hostels near the root, so stayin isn't a problem. Anyone else from SD wanna roll up?
This ride is going to be so FUCKING LIVE! So awesome - so fucking awesome - you must use at least one fucking in each sentence to describe. Unnecessarily fucking profane!!
SWARM the (fucking) PIER!!!!
MEOW
Screw ride arrangement discussions - I wanna hear a Ridazz roll call!!
yo roadblock, heads up. i know it's probably too late to change it, but there's a section on Beverly westbound, west of vermont and east of larchmont, that I can only describe as completely fucked for cycling at night. at least this was the state of it 6 months ago, it's like fuckin baghdad man. keep yer eyes peeled humans. man if i could get over there between now and tomorrow night i'd be marking that shit with chalk, seriously.
then again it's probably not much worse than wilshire, but those invisible 6-inch-deep potholes are a bit more of a surprise at night.
oh man you're right. hmmmmmm. I think the route cards are already printed. I'll get out there and mark it if I can... good lookin out. we're gonna have to be vocal about those. forgot about that right there I know exactly the spot, west of Western. I will mark it on the google map.
If you are feeling crafty and have time before the ride:
http://tinyurl.com/yul8ek
(simple "bee buzzer" instructions @ end of page).
I am thinking I need to stop at the wife's favorite school supply store on the way home, and see if these work while simply attached to handlebars/helmet/etc.
It gets even worse between wilton and larchmont. That one little stretch has a clusterfuck of holes that are long, skinny, and deep. No good for bikes!
You can minimize the possibility of eating shit by riding as far to the left as possible in the right lane. But still be on the lookout, you don't want to hit these things.
will the Culver start point need spoke cards before meeting with the East Hollywood Ridazz?
do you think it'll be cool if I pass them out when I get to Culver City?
At the very worst spot we could have ppl ride ahead and park our firm tight sculptured bodies while the group goes by. I got a whistle and would do it as long as there's some mass there.
I will not be on the ride but I am riding back from Sa.Mo. to DTLA accompanying fattybombo who will be on the ride. I'm going to try to meet up w/ the ride at the pier. If I don't make it I'll be working at World Cafe on Main/ Ashland til about midnight or 1am.
well my Fluffums I'm not sure why the spoke cards managed to find their way out to the valley.... hmmm worst case scenario the West Sidazz will have to wait
"At the very worst spot we could have ppl ride ahead and park our firm tight sculptured bodies while the group goes by. I got a whistle and would do it as long as there's some mass there."
Not sure where you'll be but I'll be at the start early, 9-9:15 Big Bike Dan has my # if you need to get a hold of me. I know you got his # also I think Fuzz has my # too.
Ok, so far so good...Work is nuts, I am busting my ass, but I still think I can make. I'll be driving in from Burbank and parking near O20. Can I get someones number just so I can see if you are indeed leaving at ten if it gets close to ten? I should be there before ten.
I was eating ice cream at a gelato place and there were people talking about tonights ride, then I went to check out a store at silverlake and there were people talking about it, and earlier I was at a bike shop (where Brad Pit was buying stuff for his kids) and peeps were talking about it. The voices in my head toos.
Heh - best moment of the night was talking to 6 first time ridazz at Trader Joe's. With the long wait they were getting anxious, seemed unimpressed, and began to hint at other fun they could/should be seeking any minute now.
Then the pack arrived and I heard a lot of comments like "Oh, God. Oh, God!" and "They are *still* coming!"
I can't claim that my reassurances were what really stalled them long enough for the pack to arrive, but I was sure glad to see their expressions when it did.
Almost as good was the guy on the peer looking longingly at us and saying to his lady friend, "I have a bike at home..."
Thanks to the mini-pack I left with - 4 riders with as many destinations, the common portion was kick back way to end the night.
Sorry, Guy Who is Not Digable/OvertheHill, I lost your name, but at ~2:30am, did I beat you home?
>---THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER!!!!<---
I had the best time!!! Not too many accidents and a good pace. Can't wait for the next one.
Was dreading the ride back to the kitchen but it was cool. THe San DIego folks kept the pace up all the way back to the Kitchen, You guys have some fit women!!!
All around evening of awesome till the very end. SO very many bikes invading the West Side. Epic. Buzzzzzzzz!!!
For those who got food at Cinco de Mayo after, it's quite unfortunate we did not have a tape recorder. That conversation next to us was more entertaining then anything I have heard in a long time. Somehow, even if the topic drifted to the story of Jesus, it always came back to Cartman of Southpark...
fucking awesome ride! one of the best i've been on, and this time - no cops at all! the ride back to echo park was good, we got to ride through the city a bit, too.
Another suggestion to deal with the paint: Apply more paint and rub!!!
No really!!!! Stop laughing!!!! The solvents in the newly applied paint, before they evaporate, may dissolve the dried paint underneath.
that had to have been one of the calmest most incident free rides ever. we stopped for reds, we only missed one turn hahah
BIG THANKS to Trenway and BORFO for the spoke cards they came out great!
BIG THANKS to BIG BIKE DAN for providing the tunes
We got rolling about 20 minutes late over on the east side. apologies to the West Sidazz for taking so long
and a very special heart felt and warm thanyou to all those very special loving caring and generous people who handed me beers. I love you. We will cuddle.
There was an incident on the way home, after the ride. The fellow riding with me on Wilshire was hit by the side mirror of a car passing too damn close. This was around 2:10 or 2:15 AM. My companion was not taken down, thank Heavens , and continued to ride. The car, a dark blue or black car is all we could tell, turned off Wilshire at the next block.
We stopped for about 20 minutes, looked for the car and the mirror which might have broken off but could find neither. At my riding companion's suggestion, we went separate ways. He did not seem to be injured other than what I imagine would be a big bruise.
You misunderstood. The guy clipped by the mirror had been part of my mini-pack on the way back. When he heard I was driving part of the way, he said he'd be back in our neighborhood on his bike before me and the car. Friendly meaningless Car v. Bike wager, no yellow jerseys, nothing at stake but a joke.
My first ride (#47) had me adding a several extra miles and a lot of time rounding up strays taking wrong turns, etc. When I finally got back to the endpoint, some speedsters mocked how long it took us to get there. I knew then and there that social cruising trumps racing.
OTH... man... glad that guy was alright. Riding home on the streets after 2am always get me nervous w/ all the people getting out at bars. Glad you made it as well with all the miles you put on that day. It was good to find a group that was heading in my direction. By the way... I saw you running around and getting those shots. Great pics!!
Bellman... thanks for company on the way back when we broke away from OTH and the other dude.
Nice ride! Funniest moment was rolling down all three lanes down Venice Blvd and there was a cop standing next to his car while his partner was in the store. Someone said "howdie officer" and his reply was, "hi, you guys have nice ride." Seem like the SM cops handled our visit alot better this time too. They weren't all asshole-ish like this time around.
Bummer to hear about the incident on Wilshire going back. Wilshire is a road I hate being on between SM and LA, especially at that time. We ended up taking a sweet route back. I could have sworn that was also downhill!
Yes yes, I had a chat with the SMPD a few hours before the ride and I decided it would be best for the ride if I not join in. The Policia stated they would arrest every dirty bike hippy they could round up if I were in attendence, and although I would like to see many of you cuffed and thoroughly searched while in cuffs I decided it may be bad for the scene. I hope you all had fun.
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Ridazz Roulette!
start points are so overrated. 
I don't know, but I'm sure it will be announced pretty soon.
I added the addresses of both start points and I also made this map that shows the entire route. does that make it more understand-able? lemme know!
BETTER MAP
all of ya can just park in SilverLake its safe and pretty and only a few minutes from the startin point. goin east from Vermont on Sunset turn left on Silver lake blvd(nort of Sunset) and park anywhere, check it out..... see ya laterrrr....
I IZ BUGZ
dibs on potato bug!
Likewise, the newbies should be reminded not to be aggressive either.
Ay caramba
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