VENETIAN PACE LINE
Thread started by
jonnyboy at 08.11.08 - 11:17 am
ATTN ALL COMMUTERS ON THE WEST SIDE
Undercover Bob and I ran into eachother on the way to work this morning. We quickly realized that it would be easy to set up a ride for commuters spanning from the beach to DTLA along Venice blvd.
We are going to start a bikepool. I will start the ride at Abbot Kinney & Venice at ~8:30-8:40am every day and head east on Venice. Undercover Bob meets up at Lincoln and rides all the way downtown, currently. I drop off just before La Cienega.
Anyone else wanting to join the pace line just wait along Venice until we get there and pop in. Bob & I will be taking notes on time as far as when we hit the major intersections. It will be timed similarly to a bus route.
WHO ELSE WANTS TO GET THIS ROLLING?
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yeah! Get out of the car, get off the bus, and let the paceline pick you up! Anyone who needs to commute from west to east on a regular basis should be a part of this. What better way to cleanse the stress-palate before a long day at the grindstone than to whiz across town with the wind on your face and good company at your side? I got to work in record time this morning because it was so much easier to stay motivated when I was riding with someone else for a change.
I don't have to be downtown before 10 but if some people need to get across town earlier than I do, I'd get up early and ride with them anyway. I'll just use the extra time to sit down to cool off and maybe even indulge in a decent breakfast.
If we can coordinate a paceline across town every morning, we'll not just be getting to work on time and feeling pumped, but we'll be making a really positive and clear statement to motorists on the road as we glide along side them, looking a lot cheerier than they're probably feeling while they rot in rush-hour traffic. I can't think of a better way to increase motorist's awareness of cyclists on the road than to make an impression on the morning audience that usually doesn't have the opportunity to witness our late-night rides.
Let's make the work-week a little more FUN!
Undercover Bob08.11.08 - 7:57 pm
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Count me in! I've got to use my car at work out of necessity, but that doesn't mean that I can't double back up with my bike with my car parked at work! I start my day at work not a stone's throw away from jonnyboy so I'd be headin back in good company!
Jonnyboy's off tomorrow, I'd be glad to meet up with you guys on Thursday at McLaughlin and Venice. What time would you expect to be around there in the morning?
el zilcho08.12.08 - 1:38 am
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I'll figure on being there a bit after 9. We're still figuring out the timing. When do you have to get to work?
Am I correct in understanding that you'll leave your car at work and bike for the commute? There is some really awesome irony to that if it's the case!
Undercover Bob08.12.08 - 10:58 am
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I have to be at work by 8:30 so that means that I'd have to leave from McLaughlin, at latest, 8:15...
Yes, the irony awes...
el zilcho08.12.08 - 12:04 pm
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as I said before, I'm down to ride earlier and just catch breakfast when I get downtown. I'll try to get up early enough tomorrow but it might be a struggle depending on how late the taco tuesdays ride goes tonight.
Your commute irony kicks almost too much ass.
Undercover Bob08.12.08 - 2:13 pm
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I live on the eastside so its not real usefull to me but this is a great goddamned idea. strength in numbers and good times.
stillline08.12.08 - 2:16 pm
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Matt- 100% man! Imagine the good that would come of this if people set up daily commute rides all over the city. Strength in numbers indeed. Good times indeed.
The immediate best part of this plan is it seems to take no effort when you aren't biking by yourself and it is waaay more safe when you can get enough people to take over a full lane. The secondary benefit is the positive exposure and obvious feasability of using a bike to get to work in LA.
Yesterday on my way home from work I met this guy named Dylan who lives at Abbot Kinney & Venice. He's more the roadie type of rider but he was ecstatic hearing that there would be a group of riders that he could commute to DTLA every morning with.
If this gets popular enough it will start to run itself :)
jonnyboy08.12.08 - 2:29 pm
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I have no prejudice against spandex! BRING IT!
Worst case scenario: I get downtown a little faster because spandex man hammers harder than I usually do because I catch a nice draft.
It's a win win!
Undercover Bob08.12.08 - 3:23 pm
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LEAVING AT 9AM FROM ABBOT KINNEY & VENICE
FEEL FREE TO JOIN ALONG THE WAY
MOVING AT A RATE OF 4:13 PER MILE INCLUDING STOPLIGHTS
jonnyboy08.19.08 - 8:38 am
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hey - this would be awesome, i know UCB talked to me about it over the weekend.. but i have to at least leave by 7:40 (from Pacific and Venice) in the morning.. all you guaisszzz and your later times getting to work.. so jealous!
so if anyone wants to hit the paceline then (UCB, I would be picking you up at 7:45, 7:50) maybe i could be late.. it's not like i do anything, let's get this down - i want in!
jonnyboy, whadayathink?
bondink08.19.08 - 9:54 am
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I just got in & cooled down
Met a guy named Andrew on the way in, definitely a cool dude. He rides from Centinela/Venice to just before La Cienega/Venice. He said normally he would be leaving earlier, but was stoked about the idea of this ride as well.
I usually leave Abbot Kinney & Venice around 9, so I will volunteer to be the late crew.
I think we can just arrange rides at different times, people could jump on whatever ride suits their schedule best.
bondink, you could head up the early morning ride (7:30)
UCB, you leave at like 8:30 right?
I leave at 9.
Thoughts?
jonnyboy08.19.08 - 10:01 am
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Oh and by the way I got this application for my phone that logs the route / pace. They are adding more features soon so you can see more data... I've been tracking some of my commutes to get a feel of the pace.
I apparently did 4:32 / mile this morning
navigate to:
www.runkeeper.com
login with:
user: jonnyb0y@me.com (that is a numeral zero in b0y)
pass: crankmob
jonnyboy08.19.08 - 10:04 am
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yea.. i can do the 7:30am.. yes, the early morning crew.. is there anyone else that has to ride that early, ha!
i'll leave at Venice Blvd. North and Pacific a minute or two after 7:30am - and head east on Venice to la cienega then i go north on la cienga to melrose..
jonnyboy - how does that sound.. UCB, thoughts?
bondink08.19.08 - 12:35 pm
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and i am getting my rear wheel (spoke and trued) done this evening - so as long as all that goes well.. i am starting tomorrow morning..
bondink08.19.08 - 12:36 pm
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UCB and I are leaving Abbot Kinney at 9 for anyone that wants to stop in along the way. We are timing and taking note of the lights :)
jonnyboy08.25.08 - 1:56 am
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off tomorrow.. not venetian pace line.. resumes Tuesday for the early birds!
bondink08.25.08 - 2:08 am
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i will get in on this when school starts which is sep 3 i belive.
shiznitologist08.25.08 - 3:33 am
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Met a few other people this morning, starting to really wish that I had a little slip of paper to hand people. Time for me to get on that.
This post is really just a BUMP so said people will have an easier time finding the thread :)
Bondink / UCB- you guys had any opportunity to spread the word?
jonnyboy08.26.08 - 9:38 am
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@ jonnyboy:
we'll have to figure out a way to spread the word - we'll chat laterz. however, i do believe that i am the only insane one that rides east on venice so early in the morning.
we should also brainstorm about riding home, peeps going west - i'll email you.. jonnyboy, your email, pleaze..
bondink08.26.08 - 10:20 am
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what the hell? Let's do this monday morn... 9/8 peeps!!!
el zilcho09.8.08 - 3:01 am
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