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Thread started by OsnapsonJC at 01.20.12 - 10:21 am
Im curious of what people think of themed rides and what leads to a successful turnout of people actually dressed up? I have personally never done a themed ride and Im kinda looking forward to doing the June MR ride this year. Just thinking of the endless spokecard possibilities... man. Well back on topic... I was looking through the photo gallery because I don't want to repeat a theme and noticed in the older rides people had fun with the themes and dressed up more. I started to wonder why is that? Is it because people don't have enough notice on the theme so they cant get a good look together? They just don't want to do it? a mix of the 2?
I think it had a lot to do with size of the ride. The early rides that skull and muffmaster planned were smaller and more manageable so it was logistically possible to create really elaborate themes. There was a period in which the rides got so huge that themes became harder to plan.
Nice. Depends on the theme tho. Brian's Beach Party ride a few summers ago was huge and had a great turnout of outfitted revelers. Love that this question is being posed. LA Bike Scene always stepping it up.
I'd say I've put on a lot of themed rides and the ones that people can cobble an easy costume for (silly hats) gets a better costumed attendee ratio than one that is more difficult to make (viking ride) for example. People want to have fun but being that we as a species are intrinsically lazy, getting a complicated costume together may be hard to do.
As to the other question I'd say that the older rides were often peopled with riders that were more proactive bike people than fixie riding trendsters. Many "scene" people from a scant few years ago have fallen completely off the map. Many of these people came more from a cycling advocate stance then in the last few years where you see a prevalence of party rides and riders. As an example, notice that all the 3 major bike co-ops all sprang up in a year or so of each other and are often still ran by riders from this first big surge in LA cycling popularity. Not sure on exact dates, but I'm not writing a school paper or anything so it does not matter that much.
A third point would be that the novelty of the whole thing has worn off and not everyone can have Borfoesque enthusiasm all the time.
Yes, I just made up the word "Borfoesque".
rev106 responding to a comment by OsnapsonJC
01.20.12 - 11:49 pm
party rides got me hooked. group riding, at least did. but i love the distance rides...
anyway. in my short time here. i have been to (or at least invited to) a couple theme rides. if i went, it was usually w/out participating in the theme part. i think these three are major factors:
1. time - how much notice in advance you had for the ride, maybe you heard about it last minute? and how much time you had to prepare for the theme (even though had all week to get ready, maybe never had time to get to the proper store?)
2. money - although might have a couple dollars for beer and food, might not have more than $10 bux for a santa suit, a disney hat, a cool "dress"... etc
3. how many people you know at the ride - maybe new ridazz don't know many people, so it's harder to fit into the crowd. don't know enough people going, and don't have enough time/money for the theme part, may not go at all?
for instance, the snuggie ride. i have no snuggie or small blanket to use, and didn't have time or money to go and get one that week. so, not wanting to be the one rida w/out participating properly, i just didn't go to that ride. i wanted to go, but wouldn't feel right not participating properly, being that was the whole point of the ride...
Redline responding to a comment by Roadblock
01.25.12 - 3:10 am
Theme rides are for everyone costumes or not.Not showing up for a ride and blaming the theme is laime come up with a better exxcuse.I been riding with M.R .for a while now and the one thing I have learned is not everyone shows up in costume for the theme.And all are welcome I have never been made to feel unwelcome for not being in costume......Themes add fun to the ride
A ride theme isn't always about dressing up. It can be an idea that can lend itself towards those who want to get creative without enforcing it.
Satellite rides are awesome, but 2nd Fridays have been traditionally the main ride for MR to me. It is like the monthly ride to get excited about. I understand that things change. I think some people still agree with me though.
The things that I have learned are - It doesn't have to be a huge turn out to be a successful ride. And, the amount of effort you put into a ride can effect the amount of enthusiasm others put into it with you, if you allow them to.
User A is "curious of what people think of themed rides" and starts a thread on the topic.
User B is planning a ride and posts "could i get some feed back" (apparently feedback in regards to 'what people think of themed rides' for the purposes of planning their ride) to this thread.
Subsequently both users no longer address themed rides in the "themed rides" thread and instead go off on a tangent of petty bickering with each other.
dancro responding to a comment by OsnapsonJC
01.25.12 - 9:06 am
I love themed rides, it adds to the totality of the experience. I can ride any day of the week but can I ride with 50 other people dressed up as giant chickens everyday? No, I can't.
As with all things in life the more you put into them, the more you can expect to get out of them.
rev106 responding to a comment by dancro
01.25.12 - 9:43 am
My favorite theme rides are related to the route and destinations. Dead Theatre ride, downtown fountain tour, tons of the passage of a few people through a rather brief moment in time rides, and the snuggie ride.
I'm leading the 2nd Friday ride this month which you can find HERE. It's the Pumps & Spokes (Pimps & Hoes) Playa Hatazz Ball aka the Ugly Suit Ride. Go to a goodwill and I promise you can find probably all you'll need for about $5.
When I throw themed rides I really take the time to make the stops really accentuate the theme and not just have them be about drinking and smoking. I want the ride to be remembered as more than just a ride through town. Personally, I always have giveaways as I've seen this motivates people (some more than others) and they come in many forms, even old spoke cards that people may have wanted but never got a chance to get.
Yup thats what Im trying to shoot for.. something with the theme, spoke card and route all match. Im not saying I want 100 people all dressed up because being realistic thats just not going to happen.
Also themes dont need to be just for the Ridazz, I remember there was the 'Take your bike on a date' ride, or something like that. Everybody dolled up their rides to look special, that was a fun one.
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