Thread started by braydon at 07.14.09 - 10:22 am

Huge group rides are great, my first ride was LACM in 2006 (before it started making stops). It's great to see so many people out there riding. I used to ride everyday in rural areas of Washington State, however all mountain bike, and away from cars, so riding on the street with cars is a whole other world. A couple a years later, I've sold my car, and get around everywhere by bike. Which for my everyday getting around needs, I enjoy so much more than driving. Not having a car is great, there are so many things I don't need to worry about, that were just an annoyance before.

Just thought I would share that :)

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Rural Washington and all other parts around it seemed chill to me.



bentstrider
07.14.09 - 10:27 am

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Appropriate Post Titles :D



snowcone
07.14.09 - 12:18 pm

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Seems appropriate to me. The idea is to discuss these rides. I don't particular like these rides anymore, mainly because they come with a lot of bullshit (need I detail?) But I think there is a point to them.



braydon
responding to a comment by snowcone
07.14.09 - 12:38 pm

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+1

but I can't seem to stay away



dave
responding to a comment by braydon
07.14.09 - 1:19 pm

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Yeah, I just went on a LACM ride last month from not going after a year. It was a lot of fun, especially riding through areas where people on the street get super excited.

The last previous LACM ride I went on, we rode by some people having a service for on of their friends on the side of the street. We were much bigger than them, they got really offended, and they tried to start shit with us. One guy ended up double feet kicking a rider off his bike, it didn't really end up to being more than that because the rider didn't really want to make any more of it, thank goodness, a few of us stayed back with him to fix his bike, while the entire group rode off anyways.

With the shooting on the last MR ride, this is just insane.....



braydon
responding to a comment by dave
07.14.09 - 1:27 pm

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I just want to share this:

When I started riding on Midnight Ridazz rides, of course, I didn't know anyone. I was able to meet people while waiting before the start of the ride. People would pass around spoke cards. Some people would offer a beer to you - even if you were a stranger. After a while I'd recognize the same people on rides. Many connections were made after several rides. I'd start to remember some names with faces. I would look forward to the next opportunity to see those people again and meet new people as well. There were rides where I did not always have to engage in conversation with everyone, and I could still enjoy myself.

Everyone can relate to the euphoria of starting a ride with hundreds of Ridazz, screaming and yelling, and taking the street. I would recognize the good planning of the route stops to regroup with the thinned out crowd before starting out again. I realized there's got to be somewhat of a science to keeping the crowd together and not losing people. Of course people would drift or fall too far behind. Sometimes I was the one who was in the back lagging because of my bike's need of work or even my own fitness. I loved that people dressed up however they wanted or tried to relate to the rides idea or theme. I felt I had the opportunity to make an ass of myself without too much worry what the people around me thought of it. This whole idea was very fitting for me and so it has become a big part of my life.

It wasn't until Midnight Ridazz website began that I learned about other rides like spoke-n-art, ride arc, and other things. The site is a great place to post photos of the community. It's a great way to promote rides and let people know about upcoming rides. The forum has a lot of charm to it as well, and I am quite the forum whore - So sue me.

Then I decided, I want to organize a ride. It takes some guts to want to put on a 2nd Friday Ridazz ride. Fortunately I asked for help and permission for a date that nobody had claimed up yet. Roadblock, Brassknuckle, and others helped me learn out to make a route, make spoke cards, and helped me wrangle the group on the ride. Naturally it was the coldest night ever in the history of LA when the ride started. It was ultimately a disaster as far as coordination and my surprise UFO that didn't have any loft left in it when we arrived to to the frost on the balloons.

There is a certain element of danger and fear involved with Midnight Riding. There have been many close calls that have been avoided. I have broken many bones over the years due to not being alert enough. The fact that knowing that your fellow ridazz or even yourself could possibly risk death if not being careful enough. Nevertheless, it is something that makes you think for yourself and others. It challenges you to live to the fullest while using common sense at the same time.

Rides and the community are constantly evolving. There have been some bad things that have happened that we can learn from. Sometimes its a constant process of learning for people who are new that come to this. However, this learning process has to happen and is part of the experience that the more veteran ridazz need to try to put up with. We need to embrace new people, regardless of our differences and find a common ground through riding.

I am pretty optimistic about the future of MR, CM, and all future events that happen to the cycling community. The more people on bikes, the better. Constant re-education and safety awareness is tiresome but crucial. Inclusiveness and developing respect for others while on the road is all part of it.

In a nutshell, it's all about having fun. There's the power of the community. And the radical free self expression of the group that makes Midnight Ridazz amazing.

Ride On!



Joe Borfo
07.14.09 - 1:39 pm

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Sorry, I should have gone over that a bit before posting. Oh well.
You all get the point... I hope.



Joe Borfo
07.14.09 - 1:55 pm

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out of the blue

i like it

<3



snowcone
responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
07.14.09 - 2:13 pm

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hasta la victoria compadre.



tivu
responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
07.14.09 - 2:22 pm

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Si se puede!



Joe Borfo
responding to a comment by tivu
07.14.09 - 2:31 pm

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* never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Love you Midnight rides




Debut213
07.14.09 - 4:06 pm

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UFO ride! My first ride!!!

I rode home from that ride with a group of strangers I just met, and that was fun. and very cold. I think it was like 30 degrees that night.

Thanks Borfo.




sciencefriction
07.14.09 - 4:16 pm

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