Regroup Loops LACM?
Thread started by
trickmilla at 08.27.10 - 3:56 pm
by my count, last months LACM was about 40% fixies
and the pace was really fast.
The mass got really spread out, and there was lots of dangerous interactions with cars after about 8 miles as the ride had thinned out quite a bit and wait times for drivers went from 5 mins in the beginning to 15+ minutes later in the ride.
I propose that we do some regroup loops (NOT A C.O.D.)
like making 3 right turns to make a left, so that the back part of the ride has a chance to catch up to the front.
I know LACM is not a "no ridazz left behind" ride, but it with some many new ridazz coming out and so many jackrabbitz on fixies it wuld be nice to have a way to keep the ride moving but still accomidate slower ridazz.
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brank out a blunt that will slow them dowm
let me know were u b
fixie4life08.27.10 - 4:16 pm
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Making it sound like fixed-gears are being given away like candy, or there just happens to be less hoarding of old drop-bar equipped bikes.
Whatever happened to having a couple of dudes ride beyond the fixed-pricks and halt their bikes perpendicular to the direction of travel?
Or is that more risky than I think it is?
bentstrider08.27.10 - 4:19 pm
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Roadblock was up at the front pushing the pace last time - you might have a talk with your friend.
Alex Thompson08.27.10 - 4:21 pm
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Agreed that a fast pace=bad for LACM--and just unnecessary for this ride. You wanna mash and show off your skills, that's cool, but go to WPH or the Silverlake ride or any of the other offerings.
I like the somewhat quirky concept of these regroup loops--for the value in keeping a large group together and the general intermingling of cyclists. There used to be crazy U-turn things on rides on the street between Staples/Nokia, which was total mayham, but it probably worked to keep a group together.
The problem with putting into practice any suggestions about LACM routes/ride concepts is that, as we all know, it's pretty much anarchy (and that's the beauty of it all). We don't really do the xerocracy concept that other cities seem to have employed to foreshadow where things are going, and if you're up front, you're pretty much leading the ride. Thus, if you want to do something, you gotta be up front--and better if you're calling it out to get a consensus. Those on their keyboards discussing this right now will have little effect on who decides to make it to the front of the ride in about 2-3 hours. But I hope that whoever is, understands the nature of the ride, its philosophy, and the varying speed/skill levels of the 1000-odd of riders behind him/her.
Personally, I'm well sick of a Pan Pacific Park stop--after like 5 LACM's in a row it's old, uninspiring, prevents explorations of other areas of the city, and always seems to split the group between those that go down the park and those that stay up above. It's lame--but I'm not going to complain any further, because I'm having too much fun near the middle of the mass and/or too lazy to get up to the front and lead the ride somewhere else.
I hope someone with some knowledge of a nice and different first stop takes us somewhere cool--it's going to be a beautiful night--regardless of where we go.
dudeonabike08.27.10 - 4:48 pm
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What area park or public location can hold 1000 bicyclists. I am tired of Pan Pacific too. Where else can we go? Maybe DTLA? Pershing Square?
328rides4ever responding to a
comment by dudeonabike
08.27.10 - 5:14 pm
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When was the last time the ride headed to South LA?
Alex Thompson responding to a
comment by 328rides4ever
08.27.10 - 5:21 pm
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Ahhh, a ride to/through DTLA sounds so nice, doesn't it? There are so many areas to stop at around this city it boggles the mind--and there are many ridazz that know so many of these great stops that it's tragic we have to stop at PPP again and again.
Pershing Square sounds fun, so does the Rose Garden by the Nat Hist Museum, so does any of the big open areas outlying downtown. It also sounds nice to head west and hit the beach (although biking through SM doesn't sound so fun unless their police force has had a similar turnaround like LAPD is working on). I could go on and on....
dudeonabike responding to a
comment by 328rides4ever
08.27.10 - 5:23 pm
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I couldnt help it there was all that space in front of us created by the motorcade due to the route that was imposed.... :)
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Alex Thompson
08.27.10 - 5:27 pm
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GTEK1 AND CREW are having this show after LACM it gana be right on the corner of 6st bridge and mateo ill be riding back from critical mass to this show ill be wearing a mexican wresseler mask for who ever wants to joint me and ride back to DTLA
FRIDAY NITE @582 SOUTH MATEO LA CA 90013 DTLA BETWEEN 6ST BRIDGE AND 4ST BRIDGE-DTLA , Live Film Screening by Gtek1.blogspot.com come by check the art of, Marty cure, Jason Sandoval,and much more also phothography and much peace and have a great day!!!!!!!!!!
gosbud responding to a
comment by Alex Thompson
08.27.10 - 5:28 pm
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Oh man! CM to the beach would be a lot of fun, too bad the heat wave is over. Let's get to the front and do it!
SkeletonKey responding to a
comment by dudeonabike
08.27.10 - 5:29 pm
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in all seriousness... with no route and no destination, there is nothing to race towards... if the kids start going to fast, lobby for a "new front" turn in a differentt direction and let the kids get lost.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by dudeonabike
08.27.10 - 5:32 pm
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Lets go there today!!! I know some good spots. What about Exposition Park for a stop? It can hold as many people as the area we use at Pan Pacific. Pershing Square would be cool too.
Velocipede responding to a
comment by Alex Thompson
08.27.10 - 6:16 pm
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ps: Washington blvd. is freshly paved from Arlington for several blocks.
Velocipede08.27.10 - 6:19 pm
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This has to be the funniest thread.
Who are you addressing with these suggestions of a slower ride and different destination?
about 100 people who might look at this and about 10 who will take it seriously.
I like the jabs the best.
It's just a bike ride. Thats right we take this very seriously.
bah ha jajaajjajja
sexy08.27.10 - 6:27 pm
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JUST A BIKE!? JUSSSSST A BIKE RIDE?!?!?
this is an outrage!
godmode responding to a
comment by sexy
08.27.10 - 6:44 pm
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Sexy's off his rocker, the cabin fever is turning him rabid, much like the typical feeling of being cut-off from "bike-friendly land" has done to me at times.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by godmode
08.27.10 - 6:48 pm
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RT @LosAngelesCM: LAPD may have a higher estimate of the ride, they had a helicopter overhead. Possible 1700 riders
Joe Borfo08.27.10 - 11:19 pm
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"This has to be the funniest thread.
Who are you addressing with these suggestions of a slower ride and different destination? "
Well someone was obviously paying attention ... since we did end up going to Exposition Park after all.
Hallucin8 responding to a
comment by sexy
08.28.10 - 2:40 am
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Shit is getting bigger every time.
Wait if we did loops would that be Considered an extreme circle of death cityblock edition?
Roadblock08.28.10 - 10:39 am
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I was in the last group of people on both legs of the ride. It did get scary going up Vermont without the mass and the cars taking over again. By then I wasn't running reds anymore but people were trying to catch up and kept barreling past them. Saw at least 2 auto accidents caused this way. I doubt the hoking cars were honks of support by that time.
I think it would be helpful and safer if the large group stayed together for as long as it could. No doubt, people will get left behind dealing with flats and stuff. Not sure why the stops can't be communicated before hand. There are many different routes that can be taken to one place so people can go their own way if they are separated. Trying to call people or going off of rumors and speculation of where the ride went can be frustrating. Just my two cents.
graciela08.28.10 - 11:35 am
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I was surprised with the number of kids not wearing helmets.
Specially with the number of crashes i witnessed.
And Fuck those assholes in the downtown building throwing hot water
down on the riders!!
Other than that it was an Epic ride ;)
Ninja biker08.28.10 - 11:40 am
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I usually do that when I'm late for work up here, but SBSO has gotten on to me as of late and followed my ass all the way to work to chew me out for redlight running on a bike.
I just played dumb and nodded in agreement, then we all walked away with nothing lost or gained(no ticket).
I guess I miss the CM and drama of the MR rides so much now that I just pull off as many two-wheeled violations up here in the desert and see if anyone notices.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by graciela
08.28.10 - 3:07 pm
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P Milla thats a great idea...also having 10 mini-huge crit-mass all going on at the same time is awesome..
skano08.28.10 - 3:59 pm
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I completely agree with this statement. Also LACM needs a bigger support staff to cork. I corked a rode for close to 9 minutes and got stuck at the back. I'm not so fast So I had no real reason to cork other than that the drivers were trying to hit the riders....
After last night I have come to the conclusion that unless LACM can clean itself up. I am no longer riding...LACM.
DrMcFishy08.28.10 - 4:02 pm
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