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RUB MY CRANK
03.5.10
RUB MY CRANK
What’s your name (optional) and/or your Midnight Ridazz log-in name?
Ian Robert Quayle. My MR log-in name is Rub_my_crank.
How did you first hear about Midnight Ridazz and what was your first group bike ride?
I first heard about Midnight Ridazz through a buddy of mine. "You should check out this bike site, they post mad rides and upcoming events." Jumped on that puppy the second he told me about it, acquired an account, and have been addicted to the site ever since! As for my first ride, it was actually polo. I saw a 310 posting that was just up the street from me, never played and thought I'd roll by and see what it was about.
Currently what rides do you attend regularly and what ride(s) would you like to see make a comeback?
You can usually catch me at Taco Tuesdays or 310 Polo. Rides that need to come back: Crank Mob. I was never lucky enough to attend one and heard such good things about it. That and 310 Polo since the turnout was always up and down, more 310 cats need to stop in, first-time polo players and experienced players. : )
What advice would you pass on to new ridazz?
Don't be intimidated by hearsay, or be nervous of being around new people. My first actual ride was a Taco Tuesday (local ride for me). I had a few homies that "said they would roll with me" but ended up flaking out; that kinda put me on edge and made me nervous. I had no idea what to expect, so I suited up and rolled out solo. Within five minutes of arriving I had people I had never met introducing themselves and welcoming me with open arms!
If you were leading a group ride, what would you do differently?
I'd buy a few two-way radios and hand them to three or four fellow ride leaders, spread them out through the ride - one in back, one in front and two on the sides. That would allow easier relay of info, rather than shouting out over people yelling, stereos, etc., to help control stragglers and people who feel the need to race ahead of group rides.
Do you prefer small rides (30 people or less) or larger rides, and why?
I honestly can’t say I like one more than the other. I love smashing out with a few homies, 5-10 people, that I don’t need to worry about keeping up, and on the other hand I love large group rides - allows me the chance to take in my surroundings, enjoy our city, and chat with friends while doing something I have a great passion for.
Tell us about the best and worst experience you’ve encountered on a group ride.
The best and most memorable would be the first time I played polo, hands down! I knew no one, nothing of the sport, or even how to play. When I showed up two fellow riders were the only ones in the parking lot. When I got up to them they broke it all down: the rules of the game, techniques I should try out with the mallet, do's and dont's ( PUT YOUR MALLET DOWN! HAHA, SORRY GUYS I GET EXCITED) and what to look for and expect from other players. I sucked everything up like a sponge, and played the night out. Now keep in mind I was riding the only bike I had at the time, a 58cm fixie with a pretty big ratio for polo; when the games were over, they suggested toning down my ratio, flipping to SS, dropping my seat, etc. They even hooked me up with corrugated plastic sheets so that I could make my own spoke covers. I'll forever remember that night. I have never been welcomed into such a life-changing experience EVER! THANK YOU GUYS!
As for my worst experience, that would have to be, well none, no matter how bad the problem, I feel that if you keep a positive attitude about what is happening, in the end, it will put a smile on your face, a chuckle in your belly, and a great story to tell friends and family. : )
What did you do for fun before you started “riding”?
Since I was 7 I've been aggressively competing in baseball. I've spent countless amounts of hours and money on training, traveling, and equipment. When I was in 8th grade, I was being scouted by UCLA, U of A and surrounding 5A high schools around the state of Utah. After high school I continued to pursue baseball by joining a Triple A team out of Southern California and ended up playing in the Triple A world series held in Arizona and took second; we ended up losing to Mexico 2-1 in extra innings. I played with the team up until 2007 when I threw my pitching arm out during training, still to this day I wish things would have went different but what can you do, haha.
What’s the best and worst thing group bike rides have done for cycling as a whole in Los Angeles?
I'll start with the bad, and I wouldn't even say it's bad for Los Angeles, I'd say makes other riders look bad, and that is all these random 15-18 year old kids who come to the rides to get wasted and endanger everyone around them, in the past year or two there have been more and more incidents of kids running into eachother head on or slamming into parked cars at 11:30 at night.
As for the good, there are just way too many things to even say. The Dumpster Ride, Toy Ride, local R.A.C rides I've been on, Bikerowave, the total acceptance and understanding that our generation needs to stand up and voice our rights as cyclist and let them know we have rights, that we will not stand for abuse in any way shape or form! Ok I'm just rambling now, haha.
If you can name one person who embodies the spirit of Midnight Ridazz, who would it be and why?
Brad Ellman for his countless attempts to keep 310 Polo alive, for explaining and showing me how to play polo, for being such a great ride-leader, for having patience with me attending on and off due to my pregnant fiancé, and last, but not least, for pushing me to actually get out there and make a difference in the biking community!
What do you think the public’s perception is of group bike rides?
This question is actually a toss-up. I've been stopped many times during rides by people asking, “What’s going on here? What are you guys doing?” I then in turn tell them and can’t count how many times I've seen a smile grow on their face with a simple reply: “Oh, I really would like to try that sometime.” On the other hand, I also can’t count how many times I've seen motorists try to run down bikers, [have] read countless articles online, just this year, about hit and runs, and assaults. Now I have truly sat and thought why someone would even contemplate doing such a thing and can’t come up with anything. So I'd have to say we are loved and hated, 50-50.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
RIDE ’TIL THE WHEELS FALL OFF … OR UNTIL MY LEGS BREAK DOWN!
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