Ride Arc 11/06/09
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barleye at 11.7.09 - 2:18 am
Had a great time. It took me back to how it was riding just a few years ago. No problems. Great group of riders. If you had a good time, Let Alex know. Send him suggestions, At the very least it should be a quarterly ride IMO...It's too great a ride to not have here in L.A.
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Agreed!
And uh, Brad, looks like you forgot to re-size your pics before uploading.
mr rollers11.7.09 - 3:03 am
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Still in the grip of a serious head cold this past week, missing Ride-ARC last night was a far far better thing I do, but I'm still pretty much inconsolable at not being able to be there for what I'm sure was a whole bunch of awesome. Sigh.
Agent Orange11.7.09 - 9:13 am
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My first ride was the 10 Bridges, AO. Many of us still reference Merrill Butler in our conversations. That says something about the job you did.
stevo4 responding to a
comment by Agent Orange
11.7.09 - 9:26 am
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It truly was a reminder of the fun rides of the past. No drama and a great ride. I feel lucky to have been there!
marleydog11.7.09 - 10:18 am
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i chatted with Alex right before I had to bail near the end....It sounded promising that we won't have to wait another year for another Ride Arc. He acknowledges there are a whole slew of new riders and that a possible "re-run" run isn't out of the question.
All of the early rides would be great as I missed all the 2006 rides...
A few I wouldn't mind doing over again are:
barleye
responding to a comment by marleydog
11.7.09 - 10:24 am
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Yeah Will, you would have dug it. Get well soon!
mr rollers responding to a
comment by Agent Orange
11.7.09 - 11:44 am
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Good times! The stretch on PCH was just fine...and a nice climb as well!
TheJen11.7.09 - 1:57 pm
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Barleye, I'd like to do that ride of the Port of Long Beach again. That ride was truly awesome. Maybe a little big in terms of size. Then there were those rides in the cemeteries at night.
I loved the way the SMPD saw us last night and just left us alone -- well except at the end where those kids in the car were hassling us. It was funny to see them hang that left turn and then have the SMPD flash on their lights and pull them over.
That was a fun ride.
mk4524 responding to a
comment by TheJen
11.8.09 - 12:28 am
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Ride Arc - dope and informative as usual.
"It took me back to how it was riding just a few years ago."
--I said the same thing to my girl during the beginning of the ride.
Ride Arc is a big deal in my mind. It has probably been the sharpest thematic ride. Alex is a smart dude, and its always nice to get some Arc info.
With that... haha
Im still left wondering what he was getting across overall. I took his message as a response to the gallery exhibit. Is it possible to for EVERYONE to convert to bicycles?
In short, Alex did to things:
1. Showed us how areas are developed around the car versus around humans. Included to this discussion are the problems that car-centric areas pose for humans to effectively walk or ride around town.
2. Because a number of areas are seemingly car-dependent, is it possible (practical) to expect, think, imagine... EVERYONE to ride a bike?
--at some points I wanted to say, "BULLSHIT". that was mainly reserved for his comments about rich people having to show up places all pretty. BULLSHIT... why? If these rich fuckers can carve their initials on an indoor pool, they can get around showing up to work a little sweaty. In fact, I think many of the rich will find the easiest solutions to having to ditch their car.
--I sort of felt like we working in two different frameworks.
a. world without cars utopia
b. counter (a) with reality.
What i though unfair to discussing (a), is that we forgot why (a) is not just strictly about bicycles, but about many of the other issues Alex brought up. Implicit to (a) is that the cities need to be re-designed so to speak. The point being, it is kind of unfair to say, can it happen as is, when the discussion is really about changing how it is, and thus converting to bicycles more and more.
For example, if the rich have to use a bicycle tomorrow, I will be more than happy to trade homes with them. I will endure the ride north of Sunset, so they can show to work so fresh and so clean-clean.
What did you think of his comments?
md211.9.09 - 1:52 pm
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If you took a look at Diane Meyer's show, you should also consider that:
a) Not everyone is a "Rick Fucker"
b) There are people who are disabled, in one way or another, and dependent on other forms of transportation to cover great distances. These people are unable to ride a bicycle. Are you suggesting that you cordon these people off to a certain part of town and not allow them to use buses, (the not-very-effective) Paratransit system, or getting rides from caretakers with automobiles? Are you implying that then someone should not be allowed their freedom of movement because of their inabilities to travel by bicycle or by walking?
c) There are people who do not have good health, yet need to travel distances that public transportation do not accommodate. Do you seriously want to get someone with poor health on a bicycle? I'd be more concerned about having streets filled with people suffering heart attacks and on the throngs of death than forcing them to be on a bicycle. Perhaps we need to find elegant solutions that can encourage better health for our population, educate drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians about living together harmoniously, and better urban planning.
Also, in terms of the common argument that "appearances don't matter," which is what you are somehow managing to lay claim to, the common fact is: they do. Period. Humans pay attention to appearances, all animals pay attention to appearances! This fact applies to every instance at any time: from judging which foods to eat to choosing a mate. If you're in a position of power and you need to convince someone of something, you will do what you can to look the part. Do you really need examples?
prendrefeu responding to a
comment by md2
11.9.09 - 2:26 pm
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correction, that was supposed to be "Rich Fucker" - not "Rick Fucker"
Although a Rick Fucker might be a pretty hilarious slip up.
prendrefeu11.9.09 - 2:27 pm
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i thought it would be easy to see that I was joking. Of course appearance matters. I was suggesting that if we HAD TO ride a bicycle, many things would change.
I'm not in the camp that thinks every person can/should be on a bike. Some dont even know how to ride, let alone can.
Im wondering if you attended the ride? Because my rich fucker comment had to do with the area we rode, and the people he tended to highlight -- the ricks of the world.
Anyhow... i agree, not everyone can ride a bike. And yes, some jobs/events require a pretty look. I dont think either justifies the NEED for all the car infrastructure.
"I'd be more concerned about having streets filled with people suffering heart attacks and on the throngs of death than forcing them to be on a bicycle"
--im not sure what you meant here. Did you mean, "by forcing them", not "than forcing them". Because if the streets are filled with heart attacks waiting to happen (i think they are)... we should encourage bicycling.
"Perhaps we need to find elegant solutions that can encourage better health for our population, educate drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians about living together harmoniously, and better urban planning. "
--I agree. What do you have in mind?
md2 responding to a
comment by prendrefeu
11.9.09 - 2:37 pm
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"Humans pay attention to appearances, all animals pay attention to appearances! This fact applies to every instance at any time: from judging which foods to eat to choosing a mate."
--By the way, I have plenty of friends who will gladly counter this point. Appearances sometimes do not matter, and i have some friends that will prove it to you when it gets closer to 2am.
Sometimes you have to slay a few dragons to get to the princess.
md2 responding to a
comment by prendrefeu
11.9.09 - 2:47 pm
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For what it's worth, I believe "prendrefeu " did attend the ride.
mr rollers responding to a
comment by md2
11.9.09 - 3:19 pm
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Kick ass ride!
Even though it was westside, I'm so glad I made it.
Welcome back Alex!!!!!
User111.10.09 - 11:45 pm
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I read it as RICK FUCKER and thought i was on the outside of an inside joke until you corrected it.
barleye responding to a
comment by prendrefeu
11.11.09 - 6:15 am
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Ridazz Roulette!