Unofficial Victor Valley Critical Mass
Thread started by
bentstrider at 04.30.08 - 9:25 am
That's basically what this ride kind of sound like.
Essentially, I went into Victorville Bicycles to get a couple of Presta tubes for my Hummer.
As I was making my purchase, one of the shop guys(who looks like a lame-ass variant of skano) handed me a flier in regards to the event I posted on the ride calendar.
It didn't say a word about "Critical Mass", but included things like; "Awareness", "Public officials of the Victor Valley", and "Concern for bicyclists".
With all those phrases being part of the flier's content, I couldn't help, but wonder; "Why didn't these people just use Critical Mass?"
So, this ride happens on Monday at 6PM, in front of the Lowes at the corner of Mariposa/Bear Valley near the 15 freeway.
As stated in the ride-posting, the furrow-brows of the VVBC might be present, so act wild.
I don't expect alot of y'all to show, but I figured somethings at least happening up here.
I'll post a route map when I'm able to bring up Google Maps, my AirCard is being a bit, restrictive right now.
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In that case, they probably knew what it was, but were too chickenshit to use that name.
That goes to show the number of wannabe, BlueBloods that inhabit this area.
I wonder how bad of a shit attack they'll have when a stereo-trailer shows up.
bentstrider04.30.08 - 9:36 am
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yeah, i agree. call it something else so people might actually show up rather than scare them off with the real name, or whatever.
ruinedbyidiots04.30.08 - 9:38 am
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Don't follow the Wikipedia definition of Critical Mass. You have got to make Critical Mass work for your city or community. The confrontational, conflict-ridden CM's in New York and San Francisco have yielded no results. The police crack down harder, the riders break more laws and aggravate drivers. No one is winning....everyone is losing.
Many of us in Los Angeles want a different type of critical mass, that is not so much about fighting, conflict and confrontation and more about fun, inclusion and mutual respect between law enforcement and the riders.
Change the definition of Critical Mass, make it fun, inclusive and maybe you should stop for some red lights....it helps to keep the group together.
Don't let the militants dictate what Critical Mass should be, make it your own.
skd04.30.08 - 10:18 am
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that's a good definition.
But there are those want war....and they must not be allowed to rule Critical Mass.
skd04.30.08 - 10:49 am
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change it then...do something instead of complaining about it.
skd04.30.08 - 10:53 am
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Stewart,
What definition might you you be advocating others not to follow? Wiki states in part,
* In fact, the purpose of Critical Mass is not formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city or town streets.
* Critical Mass rides are self-organized, non-commercial and non-competitive, and they operate with diffused and informal decision-making, independent of leaders.
* However, Critical Mass participants have insisted that these events should be viewed as "celebrations" and spontaneous gatherings, and not as protests or organized demonstrations.
* Critical Mass is sometimes called an "organized coincidence", with no leadership or membership.
Me -
Many of us want to keep that style of ride. We don't want any leaders or route slips. We hope that the bicycle community in LA will some day be as strong as that in SF. SF bike community is taken seriously and is considered in traffic planning. This is due in large part to the CM ride.
Don't let some wienies try to turn it into just another ride. Fight the ones that think it needs a leader and a route. You do that and you'll have a fun ride that spontaneous, distinct from all the others and FUN.
User104.30.08 - 10:57 am
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Fight the ones that think it needs a leader and a route. You do that and you'll have a fun ride that spontaneous, distinct from all the others and FUN.
User1
04.30.08 - 1:57 pm
User1, I thought you where a proponent of a route on CM?
sexy04.30.08 - 11:04 am
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(who looks like a lame-ass variant of skano)
I think the above statement alone will get a few people from here out to Victor Valley, just to see what that looks like.
sexy
04.30.08 - 11:08 am
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Allan,
I am against this: "Critical Mass rides have been perceived as protest activities. A 2006 New Yorker magazine article described Critical Mass' activity in New York City as "monthly political-protest rides", and characterized Critical Mass as a part of a social movement;[4] and the UK e-zine Urban75, which advertises as well as publishes photographs of the Critical Mass event in London, describes this as "the monthly protest by cyclists reclaiming the streets of London" and this "Critics have claimed that Critical Mass is a deliberate attempt to obstruct automotive traffic and cause a disruption of normal city functions, asserting that individuals taking part in Critical Mass refuse to obey the vehicular traffic laws that apply to cyclists the same as they do to drivers of other vehicles.[21]"
I am for celebration, fun, inclusiveness and maintaining the safety of the riding group.
skd04.30.08 - 11:15 am
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Seems like the only one telling people what to do is User1.
Joe Borfo04.30.08 - 11:18 am
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if i tell you guys that if you must abolish critical mass in order to garner respect for riding a bike in the big city, would you do it?
ruinedbyidiots04.30.08 - 11:21 am
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Well, that one de-evolved quite quickly.
Anywho, since C-Mob is at the end of the given week, I could use it as an opportunity to pass around leaflets.
bentstrider04.30.08 - 11:24 am
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"if i tell you guys that if you must abolish critical mass in order to garner respect for riding a bike in the big city, would you do it?"
so says someone who lives in a veritable paradise.
fuck respect. how many people respected GG? should society have abolished GG?
toweliesbong04.30.08 - 11:28 am
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Borfo, what took you so long to respond? I thought for sure you'd be the first.
Stewart,
You can't really control what the critics want to think. Shit a great example is some of the critics we have in this forum. Two has never been on a LACM ride and another has been one three plus years ago. Yet they seem to have a pulse on the ride, or claim to anyways.
So Stewart, LACM should have leaders and route slips?
User104.30.08 - 11:28 am
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rbi,
if you want respect,
get a haircut, hippie!
spiraldemon04.30.08 - 11:29 am
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"User1, I thought you where a proponent of a route on CM? "
Bike routes on the CM is lame. It takes away from the beauty of the ride. It's not even a CM ride anymore in my book.
User104.30.08 - 11:34 am
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if i tell you guys that if you must abolish crank mob in order to garner respect for riding a bike in the big city, would you do it?
sexy04.30.08 - 11:36 am
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Allan,
I have been clear in my previous posts. A collective, not a leadership, guides the Critical Mass rides. A route discussed beforehand, by a collective of riders, then used as a basis for the Critical Mass ride. Slight variations and deviations can and will occur, but if we are going from Wilshire and Western to the Nokia Concert Hall, it doesn't matter whether we take Wilshire or Olympic...we arrive at that destination regardless. Lost and left behind riders can count on meeting the group at that location.
skd04.30.08 - 11:42 am
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I agree with you whole heartedly about not having a route USER1.
It is not a CM ride with a route. It takes away from the spontaneity, which is it charm.
I thought a couple of months back that you where the one who wanted
a route on the LACM ride. I must have been mistaken.
sexy04.30.08 - 11:42 am
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Protest is not a dirty word.
Everytime someone in this city gets on a bike to go from place A to place B they are protesting the dominant modes of transportation.
It's no big deal.
Don't worry about it. The commies aren't taking over.
Midnight Ridazz too is a protest ride. Why?
Because it rebels against the dominant modes of entertainment.
You don't need to buy new shoes, new clothes, new haircut, stay in line, buy a ticket and get entertained by a professional entertainer (movie, concert, whatever)
Self produced fun is revolutionary.
It's contrary to what the system is designed to do and wants us to do.
There. As for safety...
Now that's a dirty word. Prisons are built out of it.
"Keep Critical Mass safe." Let's make helmets mandatory and require everyone to carry insurance.
Let the flame wars begin!
:-)
marino04.30.08 - 11:46 am
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Damn, this spiraled totally out of control, quicker than a foam-airplane being shot out of the sky with a paintball gun.
bentstrider04.30.08 - 11:49 am
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bentstrider,
Getting back to your original post, I don't really think this is being billed as a CM ride really. It doesn't state things like leaderless, spontaneous, or wondering around aimlessly in it. There's lots of rides that state wanting to bring awareness for the rida without being a CM ride. OK so the hipster maybe have made you lean more towards a CM ride, I can see that.
Good luck and have fun.
User104.30.08 - 12:04 pm
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@user1
-Since this ride's a little, later in the day, it will give me an opportunity to find out just who this is representing.
If they all appear to be mostly, common rida's, then cool.
If they're all going to be kitted out and led by DaveN, then I'll still ride and just stay away from that guy.
bentstrider04.30.08 - 12:08 pm
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bent met you at the blues brothers ride...we talked about Malaysia and Mag Lev trains.
Anyway, Critical mass is a contentious issue on this side of the San Bernandino Mountains. But that's ok, we this needed to happen.
Change can only occur through struggle and discussion. Many of us see the San Fran and New York City Critical Mass rides as a war against the cars, the authorities and everyone not riding a bike.
That is not how it will be in LA. If we have to discuss it ad nauseum, it will not be like that here.
Have fun with yours out in Victor Valley though.
skd04.30.08 - 12:11 pm
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"Many of us see the San Fran and New York City Critical Mass rides as a war against the cars, the authorities and everyone not riding a bike.
That is not how it will be in LA. If we have to discuss it ad nauseum, it will not be like that here."
Well... it will not be like that here simply because 95% of the people who participate in rides here including myself own and drive cars. You can't get worked up about the "evil" drivers if you are one of them yourself. SF & NY are denser cities with far better public transportation and many of the CM participants there don't own or never owned a car.
I went to the 15th anniversary CM in SF and I didn't appreciate the hostility against all the drivers or being surrounded by police the entire time. I found the whole experience aggravating for everyone involved. I like the way the rides are here.
But please don't scrub the word protest out of the lexicon. It's not a dirty word.
@Bentstrider. We aren't hijacking your thead. A new ride is coming to your town and we are discussing the nature of different rides.
marino04.30.08 - 12:24 pm
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@rbi
I'm only negative when the wind is blowing up here, which is 70% of the given time.
I breathe dust where I live, cut me some slack, JACK!!!
bentstrider04.30.08 - 12:28 pm
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When over 200 bicycles take to the streets, that is a political statement.
When these 200 bicyclists wave and smile to drivers, it changes the dynamic of the protest. From "fuck you" to "join us".
That is what LACM is all about. That is what makes it one of the best Critical Mass rides in the country and most of the world...except for Budapest, Hungary...80,000 bikes..
skd04.30.08 - 12:41 pm
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Actually Santa Monica Critical Mass is cool too. Even though they must adhere to certain restrictions. They people out there ride every month. I support them and join them every chance I get.
A lot of people talk shit about CM, and then there are those who actually ride it every month.
skd04.30.08 - 12:46 pm
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@skd
-Ever since discovering this fine, confederation, I've noticed that we get little, to no harassment from motorists.
With all of our open calls for them to "join us", that creates an open-image for them to wonder, "H'mm should I really ditch this and join them?"
About the only time I'll be aggressive towards a car/motorist is if they fire first.
bentstrider04.30.08 - 12:50 pm
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i don't know for sure that NYC Cm is War against cars.
It seems to me that NYC CM is a war against bicyclist and anybody on the street who happens to be on a bike.
sexy04.30.08 - 12:55 pm
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So the Victor Valley ride is Monday 6pm?
skd04.30.08 - 12:58 pm
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i rode smcm every month for a solid year. now i talk shit. whats your point?
ruinedbyidiots04.30.08 - 1:00 pm
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skd -
"That is what LACM is all about. That is what makes it one of the best Critical Mass rides in the country and most of the world...except for Budapest, Hungary...80,000 bikes.."
Me -
Wait......what?
User104.30.08 - 1:01 pm
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RBI,
Were you there when it was "rained out"?
User104.30.08 - 1:03 pm
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rbi You can't talk shit about LACM that's my point!
skd04.30.08 - 1:10 pm
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did you ride the one that boogaloo shrimp got a ticket?
skd04.30.08 - 1:11 pm
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i can and will make as many generalizations as i please.
down with critical mass. up with miniskirts.
ruinedbyidiots04.30.08 - 1:12 pm
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i was in a group of about four or five riding next to sexy and alex when they got their tickets. i drank a really expensive bottle of port before that ride.
ruinedbyidiots04.30.08 - 1:15 pm
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I tire of those who talk shit, they offer no solutions and no constructive discussions. Those who prefer to complain, whine, moan and attack those of us who are trying to encourage, grow and proliferate the bicycle experience, are a detriment to the bicycle community and are "scene killers".
skd04.30.08 - 1:17 pm
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From the intensity of online wankery that surrounds it, you'd get the impression that what LACM is all about is telling people what LACM is all about.
nathansnider04.30.08 - 1:18 pm
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rbi, I remember you. You have stopped riding altogether. Why?
skd04.30.08 - 1:19 pm
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no, no one should be banished.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Everyone.
skd04.30.08 - 1:20 pm
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i ride, just not in santa monica. i will be at the races on saturday, the movie shoot ride thing on sunday, and maybe even ridearc on friday. but not smcm.
ruinedbyidiots04.30.08 - 1:21 pm
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your right ROTY, I did mean that the police use NYC CM ride to come down on anybody on a bicycle. I don't know if it is war on cars on the NYC-CM. That is not the impression I got. I doubt it.
Yes RBI, talk bad about CM. Your a tough guy!
It would be great if everybody talked bad about a ride that they don't like for whatever reason. Or you can just not go, if you don't like it.
Or shall we go back and fourth and say this ride is bad for bicyclist and argue why it is so. There a certain ride that I don't enjoy, so I don't go, if has done way more damage in it short life span with Rapport with police agencies and private property owners then CM has done in the years its been in LA. Shall I talk bad about, since so many people enjoy it, or should I shut my mouth because many people enjoy it and don't feel the same way as I do, and it isn't going to convince those people that they don't like it. Just like talking bad about CM isn't going to convince those people that enjoy CM that it is a bad thing.
sexy04.30.08 - 1:26 pm
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So you rode with us in SMCM when we were chased by cops, the mass citations and the harassment.
skd04.30.08 - 1:28 pm
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Shit at least RBI has been on some CM ride. What gets me is the people that criticize the ride that have never been on the ride. Or was on it 3 years ago. How can someone have such confidence in their opinions?
User104.30.08 - 1:59 pm
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Allan,
You and I may not agree on everything, but you have consistently ridden on LACM and SMCM every month. Kudos to you for that.
skd04.30.08 - 2:02 pm
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lets back to on point, is anybody going to go to this ride to see the "shop guy who looks like a lame-ass variant of Skano"?
I would, that and it would be fun to ride around Victor Valleye in a group of 8 people to see what the locals reaction would be, and it would be all around general fun
sexy04.30.08 - 2:05 pm
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I want to go, but I am not sure i can make it to Victor Valley by 6pm. I get off of work at 5:30pm, westside.
skd04.30.08 - 2:10 pm
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@skd
Well, it's pretty understandable if only one, or two people make it up here from down there.
Pertaining to my other posts, I mentioned that the Victor Valley has pretty much turned into a bedroom-town.
All the miscreants that work down in LA, and take advantage of the "cheap?housing" up here.
That means anyone going north on the 15 around that time is faced with heavy traffic near the Sierra Rd exit, on up to the 215/15 interchange.
Only way anyone will be able to make it up here is if they leave between 3, or 4PM.
The heavy traffic is mainly a result of the aforementioned workers returning to their dimwitted families up here.
View Larger Map
Oh, and the route will be 6.5 miles in each direction.
14 miles for all of us that are game enough to ride it back.
bentstrider04.30.08 - 4:07 pm
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Something tells me Critical Mass would do a lot better without people trying to "save" it.
PC04.30.08 - 4:47 pm
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Well, the dreaded Wind-Gods seem to be harnessing energy from all the naysayers and goodie-two-shoes, this side of the San Gabriel Mountains.
With the high-speed gusts in this area, we'll see how many people are going to brave this one.
Nonetheless, I'll be there with the MR-propaganda kit.
My bike and all the spoke-cards that adorn thee.
bentstrider05.12.08 - 6:37 am
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The ride turned out quite alright for a first-timer up here in Wind-afflicted area known as the Victor Valley.
I counted about 40 riders and there seemed to be a fair mix of every bike-type.
Apparently, the only difference between the MR-rides and this ride was that this one tended to follow a more, bikeforums.net approach.
There was a prayer circle held before the ride commenced, but then again maybe they were praying because most of the people have never ridden on the street before and were afraid for their lives!!!
Anywho, despite calls to keep it "two-abreast", myself and a few fixed-gear/oldie-roadbike enthusiasts that were familiar with Critical Mass, encouraged the taking of the lane, and even corked off a few intersections.
All in all, this was quite a decent, experience to say the least.
Now, if only the weekend-warrior population didn't outnumber the commuter-cyclists.
I'll post a video in a little bit.
bentstrider05.13.08 - 11:09 am
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Bike prayer circle in front of Lowes?
Jesus H. Why didn't we think of that!
Joe Borfo05.13.08 - 11:16 am
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car driver - "NO NO, I wasn't riding your ass, I was just trying to see what your sign said!"
I like the idea of a prayer circle! Let's start sacrificing virgins! Anyone know a virgin?
User105.13.08 - 12:22 pm
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Even I'm still awe-struck by that whole thing.
I guess for most of these individuals, this was probably their first, street ride and they were all nervous like it was prom night, or something.
Nonetheless, I managed to upload some MR-images to my camera and show many of them, some of our exploits in the LA-area.
They were quite impressed with the leaps and bounds that have occurred there.
bentstrider05.13.08 - 12:43 pm
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Q. I like the idea of a prayer circle! Let's start sacrificing virgins! Anyone know a virgin?
A. User1
sexy05.13.08 - 1:09 pm
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So is THAT what you call our little escapade?
And all the time I thought I was with the best fluffa in the world. :-(
User105.13.08 - 1:21 pm
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Q. I like the idea of a prayer circle! Let's start sacrificing virgins! Anyone know a virgin?
A. User1
sexy
05.13.08 - 4:09 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Satan on a Tricycle05.13.08 - 7:01 pm
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Looks like a good turnout and a great ride. Funny... at the beginning I was like, "Where are the buildings?" Nice vid... what's the name of the song you used? I heard another song using that "and bumping and bumping" loop but couldn't figure it out.
Al
digablesoul05.13.08 - 7:05 pm
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@digable
That track's actually "Fatboy-Betty", a mashup of Fatboy Slim's "Sho' Nuff", and this other track.
I heard it on that Sirius Boombox 34.
bentstrider05.13.08 - 9:09 pm
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So, I've been talking with "BMX4SK8Parks" advocate, Will Durmage about starting a monthly critical-mass/Chill ride up here.
He's down with it, as are some of the cats that build the dirt-jumps in the back alley.
I'm aiming for a date of the 27th of this month and the route is quite simplistic.
The only problem right now is ensuring the weather is actually calm on this day and not winds howling from the South at 30-45mph, sustained!!
bentstrider03.9.09 - 2:29 pm
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