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what the FUCK!,as Its not enough of a LIFE-HAZARD being a lifelong cyclist in LA, YOU FUCKING
BITCH ASS FUCKTARDS decided to go and start a fucking gangwar?~!!!?!?!?!?!??!
Now I've got full on, recently released AVENUES GANSTERZ SCREAMING
AT ME THROWING GANG SIGNS YELLING 'FUCK YOU BITCH'!!!!!!!
And they will even shoot or mug us now?>>
WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!
your whole movement is pathetic and based on bullshit superficiality, token PC gestures,
selling more shit to you suburban overgrown partykids.
I never see ANY of you shitwads ANYWHERE!!!!!! where the fuck are you?!
I'm ridin everywhere!!! where the fuck are you~?
Out on the weekends in packs to get drunk and start shit with fools packing guns
IN MY HOOD!!!!?!???!?
check yourself poseurs.
You all have cars anyway and you know it you maggots.
And you know what? I dont care if it was only a few of you!!!! YOU all MAKE ME
SICK! I'm all down with everything bike-centric.....but the mess that "ridazz" has created all over this city for as long as I can remember is more negative than anything.
Especially for bike messengers and utilitarian cyclists.
MIDNIGHT RIDERS WAS STARTED as CRITICAL MASS, but the friends involved in its infancy soon abandoned it because it was clear that the dominant
LOW-BROW party/"art" culture of LA won out over the more egalitarian and politically motivated CRITICAL MASS events.
YOU ARE THE EPIDOMYEof EVERYTHING BAD ABOUT
IDIOTIC self-absorbed ANGELENOs....
ANd I BET HALF OF YOU ARENT FROM HERE ANYWAY>
Eat shit and die.
BE WARNED....I WILL FUCK YOUR SHIT UP IF YOU
EVER RIDE UP ON ME AND SAY A WORD!
Sure, it makes sense not to antagonize Gang members. However, the way this person wrote started the thread just reveals he is a whiny brat with no social skills. I wasn't at the ride, so I don't know what happened. Regardless, shit happens sometimes and it's not the fault of the whole group. Just let him rant away.
''Eat shit and die.
BE WARNED....I WILL FUCK YOUR SHIT UP IF YOU
EVER RIDE UP ON ME AND SAY A WORD! ''
How can we accomplish such a feat if he made a fake username to hide behind while posing his baby-garble. Oh well, looks like we can just forget about this post now.
Now I've got full on, recently released AVENUES GANSTERZ SCREAMING
AT ME THROWING GANG SIGNS YELLING 'FUCK YOU BITCH'!!!!!!!
And they will even shoot or mug us now?>>
IN MY HOOD!!!!?!???!?
---Ummmmm, I have a feeling Highland Park isnt YOUR hood if youre being threatened by the Avenues.
Despite other posters, who pretend not to see your point... I do agree with at least the idea that CM / MR needs to take a step back and change their route tactics... and their attitude towards where they ride.
Its getting too big, too frequent and the message isnt coming across as it once did. Its really time to accept that CM is mainstream, accepted for what it is, and that it can flourish without having to still pretend that it needs to assert itself.
"Werent at the ride?"..... neither was I but I KNOW SOMEONE WAS SHOT and a couple of morons got their asses beat....and supposedly this has been going on ever since (july 10th) ....but since i'm not affiliated with ANY of your stupid clubs I'M the victim of YOUR DUMB ANTICS.
You assholes ruin it for ME both with the neighborhood AND NOW even with the COPS!!!
what happened????
something so stupid and tragic that NOW I might be a gang initiation target.
DUMB FUCKS!!!!
well seeing as how IVE LIVED IN NELA almost my whole life....I HAVE
NEVER EVER BEEN HARRASSED BY GANGsters EVER until TODAY>>>>
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT A WHOLE CARLOAD THROWING THEIR SIGNS AND YELLING "FUCK YOU BITCH", while pointing at me 3 feet from my face(not joking in the slightest).
WHILE I WAS WAITING ON THE CURB TO GO ACROSS A CROSSWALK, just standing there with my bike.
you can eat shit and die...you probably live in orange county or the west-side anyway you douchebag.
Helper responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
07.20.09 - 5:26 pm
What are you talking about? You see any threads on any shooting that went down? I sure don't! You sure you got the right bicycle club?
I do have to agree with you on CM though. Yeah I miss those days were it was alot more political and less of another fucking party ride. But whacha gona do? If the ones that don't like it stop going, then you got a bunch of yahoos taking it over. Well that is until it starts getting colder.
User1 responding to a comment by Helper
07.20.09 - 5:33 pm
I do think you're missing the larger point, that CM - MR is not the "problem" in this case.
There are precautions that should be taken, but your hatred is clearly misdirected.
I hate gangsters, period!!!
CM and MR needs some changes, but blaming them for what occured is wrong. What happened merely highlights or reminds others what to keep in mind about Los Angeles. It should never have been about blaming any others than those that inflicted the harm (without getting into Ethical Theory of course)...
perhaps the signs they were throwing, the clothes they were wearing, the car they were driving, and the tatoos all over their faces!>>>>>>>
and i was the only person standing there with my bike and bag.
Helper responding to a comment by rayrayray
07.20.09 - 5:35 pm
sunday the only gangsters we saw in the morning yelled
"Hey u in the Helmet. watch out for that tree!" we all had a good life and kept riding. it was awesome.
madmelo responding to a comment by _iJunes
07.20.09 - 5:37 pm
Actually MR, IS THE CAUSE...these people obviously did not know the neighborhood and were most likely high/drunk. And then STOOOOOPID enough to not just keep riding.
I dont hate gangsters...NO MORE than i hate cops.
They never fuck with me.
UNTIL NOW!!!!!
my "hatred" is not misdirected.....I would like all of you to pass on the word....
where else would i post this?
idiots.
Helper responding to a comment by md2
07.20.09 - 5:38 pm
Again, I am going to tell you that it's not the fault of Midnight Ridazz that a fight broke amongst some gang members and regular cyclists because they were trying to defend themselves. We ride at night man. Anyone who has a bike and a good attitude is included to ride with us. We are not a GANG or an exclusive club.
I've lived in NELA longer than you have, and I know the dangers of messing with certain people. If that is your point, then fine. But, you are only successful at trying to piss people off on the forums and push yourself away from us wanting to ride with you. Congratulations!
It might have helped if your very first post had been, you know, coherent. Like at all.
But troll posts get troll responses. The sharks have smelled blood man, and I must say i'm quite proud of our trolls.
danya responding to a comment by Helper
07.20.09 - 5:46 pm
Did i write that somewhere? I dont think so.
I've gotten asked "oh so do you do those midnight rides?" for years now.
My response is > HELL NO, I ride for UTILITY....as in
TRANSPORTATION....ENVIRONMENTALISM< SPIRITUALITY...
and to honer the lifeways of the indigenous people of this land.
I'm not into bars or raves or any of your other crass commercial trendy ass bullshit.
fuck off.
The only reason i came on this board today is because
YOUR ORGANIZATION is INVOLVED IN PROMOTING irresponsible
behavior which could get other people hurt because of a predjudice against
cyclists. or a full on gangwar for that matter.
If you're black in HLP you can get killed....just for that.
wake up. grow up.
A fight broke out because they were "defending themselves"?
I think riding on is the best strategy to "defend yourself" against
gangs.
Helper responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
07.20.09 - 5:54 pm
Where's that guide to trolling? Someone posted it up last year-ish, I'm pretty sure this guy fits the bill. I kind of want that elusive internet "evidence", though.
I'm starting a Helper Ride. This ride will be for TRANSPORTATION/ENVIRONMENTALISM/SPIRITUALITY ONLY! Talking amongst yourselves is explicitly forbidden, unless it is about transportation, environmentalism or spirituality. Route will be contained to Helper's "hood".
i dont know guys he kinda has a good point although he hasnt really articulated it very well i can understand why he is pissed, ive been riding through HP all the time and untill recently i haven't felt welcome in that area aswell kinda sucks
Alright you guys. You didn't even break 150!!! You guys would never make it in The Troll Major Leagues. You guys still need some work. Have the faith and keep plugging away.
We have a case of misguided anger towards the wrong group. The behavior of the gangster's is in question, and you blame the victims. Why don't you stand up for your neighborhood. Clean it up. Get involved with community outreach and help not create another generation of gangsters.
I don't know about you, but my browser's already going insane trying to keep up with this thread. I'm not sure how everyone's managing to respond three times in the time it takes me to load the page.
danya responding to a comment by User1
07.20.09 - 6:08 pm
Did i write that somewhere? I dont think so.
I've gotten asked "oh so do you do those midnight rides?" for years now.
My response is > HELL NO, I ride for UTILITY....as in
TRANSPORTATION....ENVIRONMENTALISM< SPIRITUALITY...
and to honer the lifeways of the indigenous people of this land.
I'm not into bars or raves or any of your other crass commercial trendy ass bullshit.
fuck off.
The only reason i came on this board today is because
YOUR ORGANIZATION is INVOLVED IN PROMOTING irresponsible
behavior which could get other people hurt because of a predjudice against
cyclists. or a full on gangwar for that matter.
If you're black in HLP you can get killed....just for that.
wake up. grow up.
A fight broke out because they were "defending themselves"?
I think riding on is the best strategy to "defend yourself" against
gangs.
Helper
responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
07.20.09 - 8:54 pm
We don't promote irresponsible behavior... People are irresponsible on their own. You can't control the way a person behaves, responsible or irresponsible. You don't ever see threads on MR saying, "GET FUCKED UP AND RIDE STUPIDLY," people just do that on their own. Even I have and I learned my lesson the hard way and haven't gotten drunk before riding ever again. Yeah, there are party rides, but why show up if you won't be able to hang? To me, that's just their pedo, not mine... People already know wassup by now.
Most of Helper's points are sound but his delivery is fucking atrocious.
Helper, sorry to hear that you think it's "MR"'s fault, but it's not. What happened with the gang situation was decided on an individual basis. It's not like the whole fucking group condoned their actions. I blatantly disagree with any sort of physical or even verbal confrontation with aggravated drunk gang members. Had I known that we were going to be running into that I would have gone home.
I don't think anyone here supports being involved with gang related activity.
I don't think anyone here supports endangering the cycling community.
I know nobody here supports bitch ass whiners who generalize everyone into a group! GTFO!
Getting colder? I dont take breaks. I ride por vida.
no i didnt see any threads about the shooting
THATS WHY I POSTED....Think fast slowpoke.
What do you mean "party ride"????? I've never heard of "party rides" anywhere else.
Sure bike events...themed rides but not >>"PARTY RIDE"....
I've lived all over this country.
Helper responding to a comment by User1
07.20.09 - 6:15 pm
Sucks if this a valid complaint. The delivery might not be what everyone expected but what if its true? The OP was rude and so was the response. Easy to gang up on a different opinion.
Someone sounds a bit pretentious... And actually, there WERE threads about the shooting. IT HAPPENED ALREADY. All we can do it learn from it... I wanna be nice, but I'm sick of your bitching and insults. GTFO already. If you don't agree with MR, then don't post with MR. Don't RIDE with MR.
Jonnyboy, I wouldn't even say that his points are sound. I mean, that would imply that they were made in a logical, rational way, when they are clearly nothing but scapegoating and emotional response to a perceived threat.
I definitely agree on the GTFO bit, though.
danya responding to a comment by jonnyboy
07.20.09 - 6:19 pm
What I'm saying is:
This must be an ongoing problem, or else I woudnt keep hearing about it or actually
being verbally threatened.(since the 10th of JULY)
Helper responding to a comment by jonnyboy
07.20.09 - 6:21 pm
Aren't there gangs everywhere? There is no way to avoid gangs while riding. We ride to have fun. We don't represent any particular political/environmental/spiritual mindset.
We are not a CLUB. Everyone can ride within reason.
What Midnight Ridazz is:
-Fun
-Friendships
-Non Confrontational
-Family
-Compassionate
-Open - Minded
-Multi-cultural
What Midnight Ridazz is NOT:
-Mean Spirited
-Political
-Commercialized
-Non-inclusive
-Abrasive
-Protest
Helper, the fear thing doesn't work on us. Some of us ride for enjoyment as well at transportation. Nobody is going to stop us from doing that. Either join us or keep on hating.
It is true.
VALID COMPLAINT.
I literally registered to post here 5 minutes after seeing a full face tatooed g
scream FUCK YOU BITCH in my face and stare me in the eye...
a whole car full.
There is a pretty big mexican mafia war going on right now too.
Helper responding to a comment by sc_nomad
07.20.09 - 6:23 pm
Doesn't matter what you intend the ride to be, the perception is what matters. At the end, it is a social event and people get out of hand. Too bad it is what MR turned out to be. I show up at rides that are starting out specially in my area and the theme is almost always the same; lets ride for a couple miles and stop where we can drink/smoke/whatever.
What happen to just riding?
sc_nomad responding to a comment by northernsoulbyrd
07.20.09 - 6:27 pm
All I'm saying is that if I got randomly hassled by people looking like gang members and I had just heard about a large group of cyclists that got in their faces a few weeks before, I'd be fucking scared, pissed, and discouraged too.
I was pissed off the day it happened, just because I was afraid something like this would happen- and it ended up happening to "Helper". Let's hope this is the end of it and not the beginning of something nasty for our ridazz.
Helper, you really fucked up with the way you confronted this public forum- but I can understand why you're upset. Just maybe next time be a little more rational with your words and try not to lump people into groups? Just because we ride together doesn't mean we all think the same or like the same food etc.
LET THIS BE A WAKEUP CALL TO EVERYONE. IF YOU FUCK WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE, IT CAN BE HORRIBLE FOR EVERYONE = YOU WILL NOT ONLY BE PUTTING YOURSELF IN DANGER, BUT YOUR FRIENDS AS WELL.
DON'T TRY TO BE A HERO, JUST FUCKING RIDE IT
jonnyboy responding to a comment by danya
07.20.09 - 6:31 pm
What happened to just riding? We kidnapped it, and it's in a empty warehouse...
But seriously, plenty of people still ride for the love of their bikes. Take this weekend's most epic beer run, for example. 115+ miles, super chill, awesome people, and only a beer or two at the very end of the ride.
danya responding to a comment by sc_nomad
07.20.09 - 6:32 pm
what i do not like about most of the responses to helper is that most of you guys are taking his comments as a joke... some of you are right, that helper is not making anything better but he has a legitimate reason to be upset... I am pretty sure that MR is probably not going to go out to Highland Park anymore or any time soon but Helper is still riding there and other riders too... Initially I would participate on most of the MR rides but it became apparent that some of you guys take it seriously while others do not... you have ppl like roadblock and josef, but you guys do not see them getting into this type of situations or causing these types of events. There was another thread talking about knowing the city... that comment was right... when you guys start playing jump rope in your costumes, well that is fine in certain parts of los angels but you can not do that in parts of los angeles.... how many of you guys showed up to the MR gatherings posted by Veronica to make it a political/social movement and not just a party... at the end... helper's comments whether he or she is going about it the wrong way, MR should take them seriously to avoid anyone else being hurt needlessly... this time this guy survived... lets try to avoid a next time...
Well, I think that's slowly changing. I'm trying to get more involved with my community. I ride a lot in NELA all the time. I go to the Oven once in a while. It's growing. Look at the last few years.
Hell yeah, I've done plenty and continue to do plenty in my full life that i'm proud of.
And riding a bike gets me there. I do not have, nor have ever had a car.
SURE!!!!
I'm totally afraid of texters and cellphone drivers and people who cannot even see straight, and not to mention the 2/3rd of all people in LA who openly admit to driving drunk.
How about the douchebags who like to throw shit out their window?
how about my friend who got paintballed and egged?
And then theres always the cops..dont get me started.
I keep hearing stories about "ridazz" pulling the same stupid shit downtown too!!!
Helper responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
07.20.09 - 6:35 pm
Its hard to deny that some people pay for other ridazz action. I've seen and been guilty of it. You didn't give me the nick 'Agitator' because I'm calm. My actions might have caused a car to buzz ridazz a bit to closely, I don't know but it could happen.
sc_nomad responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
07.20.09 - 6:39 pm
I dont ride these "night rides".
I work at 6:30 am.
I'm a utilitarian bicyclist.
Thats all the more involved one needs to be.
I dont go the "the oven" at all. My good friend and HLP based bicyclist got chewed out by two of them for showing up on the wrong day even though he thought it said different on the website. And then they snobbed him out and said "this is for a night for members only".
pathetic.
Nuff said.
Helper responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
07.20.09 - 6:45 pm
There's not much you can do from keeping people spread out with evenly distributed amounts of happiness. There will always be haters and gang-esque behavior, there will always be positive people who believe in love & peace. The best thing we can do is accept the good and the bad, but most importantly the best thing we can do is to be smart with our own actions.
jonnyboy responding to a comment by palucha66
07.20.09 - 6:46 pm
That's the exception. Riding still exist but in the MR community it is mostly about the party. It was more balanced at one time but the stops got too long. Things will change I'm sure.
sc_nomad responding to a comment by danya
07.20.09 - 6:46 pm
There is stupid shit going on. I agree. We can't point our finger at "Midnight Ridazz" and say it is the cause. No. We are riding to have fun... THAT'S IT.
If some douchebag fucks up a ride, sure it reflects upon everyone in that ride because that's what people do - they lump up everyone together and blame the whole group for a couple of punks fucking shit up.
We need to just learn to accept that there will be douchebags.
Some of these douchebags can learn not to be douches though. I've seen it happen.
I think that's another great thing about ridazz is there is some transformation happening amongst us all. It's not always good times and it's not always bad times. Shit fucking happens.
People give up on Midnight Ridazz because they don't want to put up with problems. I actually think it's fun to get through them. I hope Midnight Ridazz will still be going on when I have some kids and will become smarter and just as fun as always.
Sorry you got threatened, Helper. I hope you tell us if things keep getting out of hand or improve for you.
there was a crew that rolled up on me at york/fig yesterday at about 5:00.
just posting up looking like posuers. trying to look me up and down for some reason.
Looking to get their dumb neon dayglo custom fixxed asses shot.
Helper responding to a comment by palucha66
07.20.09 - 6:47 pm
MR might think they act like gang members but many hide in the safety of the group, just like gang members. I've seen many act tough when they ride several hundred deep, just like gang members. I've seen them pick on people who are not as they are, just like gang members.
But no,we are not a 'gang".
sc_nomad responding to a comment by Helper
07.20.09 - 6:55 pm
From what helper is saying, is that it looks like there are some gangster kids who have taken to riding and are causing trouble. A lot of us (XL and others) met some of them when they crashed a particular ride. So that kind of sucks that Gangster Kids have picked up the bicycle thing. But they don't represent us. There is a legitimate fear about there being real gangs on bikes.
Perhaps we are going to have to prepare for this in the future? After the apocalypse it's all going to be about Bike Gangs...
The ride leader that night told everyone to keep moving and get the hell out of there, even tho' the gangsters started throwing stuff at the ride. Unprovoked even!!! (said snagglepuss)
The only concern was to get the hell out of there and to safety without further incident.
The "Gangsters" started it, escalated it, and produced a firearm to add to the whole mess.
Get your facts straight before flaming the posts.
jeffwr3 responding to a comment by Helper
07.20.09 - 7:01 pm
I love how you're quick to shit talk and blame people through an internet forum. Second, I love how you've not given any credit to the gangsters, who without them, none of this would have happened. So what are you saying? We get hit on the head with a pot and we're supposed to ride on? Really? So douche bags like this can think it's ok to continue this kind of action towards a lesser, unarmed bicyclist? GTFO.
Instead of coming on here and hiding behind that stupid moniker, you should have read the forum (apparently you know it happened as of july 10th) and seen that many of us are trying to figure out ways to avoid this. We've never had this kind of problem on any of our rides. Did you read about the other kid that got shot by gangsters that same night in a different part of town (Pacoima) as he was riding home, who like you, had nothing to do with MR.... was only trying to get home. So who's at fault there? The rider for riding his bike that late at night in gang infested territory?
Compose your argument in a less threatening and without a condescending tone, and you might get a more receptive response in the end.
well I have as close to a source as needed.
I'm sorry but I have never heard of any gang member opening fire on any group of bicyclists without being provoked.
Like I wrote before....I have shit thrown out car windows many times over...
I dont need gangs thinking i'm part of some "crew".
Thats how they see it.
If a gang is throwing shit at you YOU GO FASTER!!!!!
Helper responding to a comment by jeffwr3
07.20.09 - 7:07 pm
Not blaming....OPENLY criticizing!!!!!! and warning.
Sure I'll compose my COMPLAINT in a less threatening and condescending tone.
I'm not hiding from anything. I tried to find something on the incident and couldnt navigate all of the posts here. So....I posted what literally just happened to me..
and
i'm positive beyond a shadow of a doubt that the two are related.
Never has this been an issue.
NEVER.
Helper responding to a comment by GodLovesUgly
07.20.09 - 7:12 pm
I have never known of ANY shootings in HLP of bicyclists by gang members.
Plenty of shootings/stabbings etc..... but never bike riders.
Why would they do that? theres a code.
Helper responding to a comment by GodLovesUgly
07.20.09 - 7:15 pm
So maybe we should do as the gangsters and really become a gang by arming ourselves. I'm tired of hearing about cyclists being robbed of their bikes and personal belongings by these assholes, yet they don't expect the same retribution... because guess what? We're not gangsters. I've had friends who on their way home, from work, from a ride, from wherever... have been accosted, assaulted and even beat up for no apparent reason.
So we made some noise in a part of town that probably doesn't appreciate our shenanigans... does that still give them a right to assault us? And then when those being threatened decide to fight back, to pull out a gun and use it?
We're in the same boat... if you haven't already figured it out. I have a ton of friends who do ride with MR who live in those parts of town. Ask them what they think and see what's really up.
I used to play music at a house near 50 and monte vista......
they were a bit like a frat house of rock star wannbees, but after about 6 months of them rocking out pretty hard in the studio they build inside, locs showed up with shotguns firing them in the air.
The rockhouse "cornerstone" was no more.
Helper responding to a comment by GodLovesUgly
07.20.09 - 7:22 pm
Did you ever think that maybe that gang members just didn't like you? Why don't you just admit what really happened? Some gang members scared you so you go on the internet to anonymously berate and threaten people. I don't understand how people get so mad all the time about stupid shit like this. It takes way too much energy to carry around that kind of anger.
You live in fear my compadre.
If that's the case... move away from the hood.
Shit, it's what my parents did.
And don't give me this shit that you can't afford it.
A better life is worth every penny... why even risk being being caught up in a driveby.
And this code you talk about.... shit's a joke.
When little kids stop paying the price of a stray bullet or when innocent people don't have to fear for their lives... then you come talk to me about this code bs.
sorry dude. I'm not bullshittin you.
I'm just waitin to cross the street and see my lady...and BAM>>>>
screaming in my face...i could barely even think about how to react.
but they were serious. not joking. I know what i'm talking about.
The only reason to not like me (seeing as how i've been fine for a couple of decades)
was that i was on a bike with a messenger back and a hat.
thats it.
Helper responding to a comment by Velocipede
07.20.09 - 7:26 pm
So you live in the San Gabriel Valley? I thought this was all about NELA? I mean, I thought you lived in NELA... what does the SGV have anything to do with this? I'm lost. Can you direct me?
I'm pretty sure your incident is blow back from what went down on July 10th. I'm betting you were on the art ride on the 11th weren't you? Funny thing was that there was hardly anyone from MR there, and about 50 ridazz from the surrounding area. We rode incident free, but in the back of my mind I worried about the people that live and ride in the area. It's got to be pretty fucked up now if you have to ride solo late at night. I just want to say that there were some ridazz trying their best to calm the situation and get everyone separated safely. I personally had faith that we could have called the cops and had it resolved the best that could be expected. What would have been best for the ridazz that night, the people living in the neighborhood, and even for the gang members.
I hope all is works out for the best for you Helper, and for all the people that live in the area.
User1 responding to a comment by Helper
07.20.09 - 7:33 pm
@Helper:
Joe.
If you dont know Benner st @ ave60 and its significance then you are ill informed about "gang activity" in los angeles.
Well, I live one block from that intersection, at Hayes and Ave 60, and I not only ride my bicycle, but I do so with a messenger bag with the midnight ridazz logo silk screened all over it and I haven't had any more issue with gangsters than I did before July 10. Every once in a while, a carful of machismo makes some noise. Poll anyone in the neighbourhood and they'll all tell you they've seen it. It is hardly a new phenomenon. I've ridden in that neighbourhood daily since the shooting and I was there on the night (but not involved) and I haven't had any trouble whatsoever. Helper is making a mountain out of a molehill.
The events that led to the shooting could have happened in just about any neighbourhood in Los Angeles. There are gangs everywhere. Unless you are suggesting that people shouldn't get together and ride anywhere in the city, you are making a ridiculous argument. Never mind that you are attacking the victims rather than recognizing that gang activity in our neighbourhood is the problem, not a crowd of bicyclists riding through on their way to somewhere else. If you want to complain to someone for behaving in an antisocial (and illegal) manner, I encourage you to head on over to the house in question, knock on the door, and tell them so. I'm sure, since they make such better neighbours than the midnight ridazz, that they'll take your criticism to heart and change their ways immediately. Be sure to let us know what hospital they send you to so that we can pass the hat to get you some flowers.
#1: Let us not forget that someone was shot because he was trying to protect others, plain and simple. If you disagree with that, go play on the freeway at night in black spandex.
#2: Helper, you're agitating hundreds of people, making generalizations because it doesn't involve critical thought (something that requires you to CONSIDER the fact that YOU may be wrong), and telling THEM that THEY'VE got it all wrong. What kind of response did you expect? Oh, that's right, you didn't care, you're on a soapbox. Less mouth and more ears.
#3: History has shown that any time you encroach upon somone's structure of order (i.e., bicycles moving through traffic faster than cars can, warranting more bike lanes), threatening its strength, a push back from the opposition is inevitable. No one that rides a bike in Los Angeles should expect to do so without having some sort of altercation with SOMEONE, at least not in right now. If you do, you should probably move somewhere else.
#4: Just like any other community, the world of Ridazz is filled with people that make life rediculously, unecessarily hard for everybody else (like the kid I ran down and cursed out on a ride that threw something at a cop...what a moron). Like any other community, these people are dealt with to the best of our ability. Hell, we provide grocery stores security to make sure that no one steals!!!
Enough of the serious talk. Helper, it sounds like some gangmembers scared the dogshit out of you, fair enough, you're definitely entitled to your feelings on that one. But don't come in my back yard, knocking shit over because you're pissed off, looking for sympathy in the process. Accept the fact that Los Angeles contains nice people, and shitty people. And that the intereaction between these two camps will produce results that not a lot of people like, like yourself. Stop fucking crying and adapt to the changing environment around you, like we all do.
"#1: Let us not forget that someone was shot because he was trying to protect others, plain and simple. If you disagree with that, go play on the freeway at night in black spandex."
I'm hoping you can elaborate on this if you can? I'm lost at how you came to this conclusion since you weren't even there? And hurry before RB deletes this thread!
User1 responding to a comment by BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
07.20.09 - 8:07 pm
the guy has a point. not saying anything about the specific incident that may or may not have led to this happening.... gangsters have been fucking with cyclists forever including a bike jacking in that area some 8 months ago... but I digress.... it's obvious that what we say and do as part of a group on these rides can affect us all as individual bike riders....
People that believe the guy that got shot was protecting others is living in a fantasy world. They might as well believe they can't get hurt playing on freeways. Everyone was cleared from that spot of the incident. That means that shots would not have been fired if we called the cops and stayed where we were. Which was a safe distance from the gangsta party house. But some people had to push the issue and confront these guys out in the streets. That's how the shot was fired. NOT protecting someone. So who pays the price now? People that live and ride in the area, such as Helper here. Too bad the guys talking all the shit, (BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji), don't live in the area!
Helper, I don't agree with your tactics, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve our support. All I can offer you now is to tell you where the party house is located. This way you can tell others and keep your distance. The gangsta party house is this one here.
Good luck and here's my email if you need to get in touch with me, allanalessio yahoo dog con
Man, facebook is not looking all that bad after all! At least they won't delete my posts, right?
User1 responding to a comment by BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
07.20.09 - 9:55 pm
im with helper on this one.maybe he didnt come across the right way on his original post ,but i can completely see where he is coming from. i sure hope nothing tragic happens to validate his point.
i felt a ittle strange the first time i went back to HP after that shit happenned,and luckily for me i dont have to ride there on a daily basis anymore.
to see all these youngsters talking shit and totally disrespecting someone with a serious concern shows ,for the most part,what MR has slowly evolved into.
also,save your time and energy and dont reply if you have a problem with what i write on here.just save it for when you see me on a ride ok
Dingo, I'm responding because I don't think I'm gonna see you on a ride because I'm always in school. Helper came in here disrespecting. You don't get respect by dishing out disrespect via weak generalizations. I even wrote that I understood where he was coming from. So I don't think it's fair to fight for his being respected. He put us all in a box with one label on it, that ain't right.
Can somebody fix the type? Some posters are getting so hysterical they deserve a larger !@#$?. (Comic sans in violet would be particularly appropriate.)
BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji: "You don't get respect by dishing out disrespect via weak generalizations.
BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji: "#4: Just like any other community, the world of Ridazz is filled with people that make life rediculously, unecessarily hard for everybody else (like the kid I ran down and cursed out on a ride that threw something at a cop...what a moron). Like any other community, these people are dealt with to the best of our ability. Hell, we provide grocery stores security to make sure that no one steals!!!"
I'M JUST SAYIN
jonnyboy responding to a comment by BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
07.20.09 - 10:52 pm
The night after that fight and shooting the Spoke(n) Art Ride cruised peacefully through the neighborhood and ended at the Bike Oven and Flying Pigeon LA shop. No fights, no brawls, no bullshit.
I live, work and ride in NELA and if anything, my relations with people in the area have only gotten better with time.
A few dumbasses trying to "defend" themselves is not the start of a "war" with either HLP, Avenues, nor any other group of people.
I agree with the point about how the party and "art" scene has changed the rides into something else, but what are you doing to change things to how you'd like to see them? Give it a rest, take a nap.
some ppl are jsut pussies i swear leave them be and they wont do shit if they claim their hood just agree wtf simple as fuckn that lol their just saying words until actions are taken then dont fuckn worry simple ass fuckn that and i know cuz my whole family BANG parents bros cusins uncles aunts the whole shabang
awww... i missed my chance to comment during the good part! ;[
helper.. why don't you HELP by joining us and becoming a positive influence to other ridazz? before you judge us... met us... we are all different. in our diversity lies our beauty. you will not find a single community sporting more diversity than this one.
where else do you find a 15 year olds and 60 year olds friends with each other? people of all ethnicities and economic classes? people from la, and from anywhere in the world. THAT'S what the midnight ridazz are. we are just people coming together to celebrate bicycles and friendship and love and fun. i can't understand why you wouldn't want to be a part of that.
In fact I only saw one other person riding in highland park yesterday aside from myself and my girfriend..
Actually there are not the same type of gangs everywhere.
Theres a reason why they are called "avenues" gangs.
So what if you havent been the one to get harrassed? I was.
And I do not congregate in packs to joyride from city to city and then making a commotion late at night in RESIDENTIAL neighborhoods in gang territory.
so ideasculptor, did i ever meet you at the SPACE ARK?
Do you have any invlovment in the new HLP co-op?
Any local galleries? Businesses?
Helper responding to a comment by ideasculptor
07.21.09 - 8:03 am
Pro tip: Gang members are violent idiots. Do not expect rational behavior from them.
Helper is making all kinds of assertions about what gang members would and wouldn't do. This is a failure. We are talking about unpredictable idiots here, leave the predictions to the meteorologists.
Futhermore, the sweeping generalizations about the entire Ridazz community (yes, we are a COMMUNITY, not a gang) only serve to underscore Helper's lack of understanding as to what this community is all about, and exacerbate the failure of his argument.
I'll start understanding you the minute you stop blaming midnight ridazz. Again, generalizations come in all shapes and colors and forms... and this isn't any different than saying all latinos are mexican.
Ya te dijo el otro vato que el vive a una cuadra de donde paso toda la madre y el no ha tenido nada de problemas despues del incidente. Por que no ves que fue un incidente aislado. Ya para de chingar.
Well, I'm going to continue drop-kicking the dead horse.
For the past 10 years, we've had an influx of all sorts of new residents flocking up to the Victor Valley area for cheaper housing.
Unfortunately, this also includes alot of the gang and criminal element that were pushed out of LA County by either a false hope of a better life, or a condition of some judge involved in their "in possession of.." trial.
Anywho, they encourage other friends and family members to come up here for either the money saving reason, or the fact that all cities up here contract police services out to a sheriffs department that couldn't save its own ass in a pop-gun fight(yeah, our county usually calls in CHP, or even neighboring LA County sheriff for extreme backup).
With all of that in place, this area of the desert has progressively transformed quiet neighborhoods into locales of extreme drug deals, futile "SMASH"(local ripoff of LA County CRASH) sting operations, and endless nights of G-Rides making the dying cow cry.
Now how does this correlate with the gang violence in your neck of Highland Park?
Rent prices are going up, neighborhoods are slowly being transformed for the benefit of other demorgraphics and these guys are holding on tighter than ever to territory they've laid claim to for tens of years.
Don't bother talking to that fool named Dingo. He represents the lamest Bike Gang from Highland Park called the army-of-dildoes, or something like that.
This is our turf now!
(what?)
Joe Borfo responding to a comment by BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
07.21.09 - 10:13 am
"Eat shit and die.
BE WARNED....I WILL FUCK YOUR SHIT UP IF YOU
EVER RIDE UP ON ME AND SAY A WORD!
----PR "
I often offer a friendly greeting to cyclists on the road.
Perhaps you should send us a photo so we no not to offer a friendly greeting to you lest we be caught accidentially raising your ire.
BTW/ did you "FUCK SHIT UP" on that gangster who said a "few words" to you.
Or do you just start shit with peaceful bike hippies on the internet who don't know who you are or what you look like.
You can pretend to not see Helper's original point...
And he does have a point.
I have friends in HP who are pretty worried about what might occur... especially if anything escalates over the incident (i.e. arrests, more patrolling, or the like)...
Cyclist are more likely than not a default target now, just because of what happened...
md2 responding to a comment by mandingo
07.21.09 - 11:45 am
Hey there Helper so suck a nut and find something better to do with your life than piss off some cyclist be smart about it shut your ass and leave us the hell alone if you are ever in my hood I will beat the hell outta you with my u lock so move bitch get out my fucking way go suck a dick.
A Highland Park blog indicated that something was going down with local gangs that day, before anything with MR went down. Inference: craziness and aggression was high, and the guys that started with MR were looking for an outlet for their aggressions. Personally, I think that would explain some of the evening.
Even if that weren't the case, and even if it did happen in a vacuum, you are the worst kind of person. You weren't there. You're getting rumor and secondhand stories from people who most likely weren't there (and yes, I go to the oven and know who they are). You come out swinging and you have absolutely nothing to back it up. You generalize about the riders that night, when we represent a huge cross-section of LA, and you have no idea who we are. You sound like the asshole who was chasing one of our riders with a shovel and yelling racial slurs at him when, ironically, that rider was Mexican - the asshole unthinking racist gangster picked up on a little something (the rider's dark skin) and generalized some bullshit, racist, preconceived hatred based on misconception...just like what you're doing.
You blame us for getting harassed by gangsters? Why don't you blame them for being dicks to you and other members of the general public they don't know and for assuming everyone on a bike is exactly the same (oh...wow...you really do remind me of them, come to think of it).
Come on a ride, come find me, come talk to me individually and in person. That's not an aggressive in your face statement, that's a genuine heartfelt invitation. You can find out who I am, why I ride my bike, my political beliefs. You can tell me about yourself. And then you can ask me about that night, and we can talk about what you would have done differently if put in the same situation. Then, perhaps, you can judge who I am as a human being. But not before.
Later that night(july 10th) I was riding the SAME route at 3 or 4 am. FOR TRANSPORTATION...as in....TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER!!!!
TO GO HOME AND SLEEP. ........AFTER I had already been ticketed and detained for an
hour and a half by the LAPD for something completely unrelated to the topic.
I dont do social rides. Why? because I'M DOING SHIT!!!!!! ok?
Riding a bike is not a hobby or club for me its a LIFESTYLE!!!!!!
Anything you do as a group which IN ANY WAY interferes with my LIFE is
MY BUSINESS so......now you ALL know that there are other people out there who ONLY ride bikes and dont like MR fucking up our
LIFEz!!!!
thats all! punto finale!
Helper responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
07.21.09 - 2:16 pm
if you arn't into riding social rides and have a whole "FUCK YOU" attitude towards us... why are you even waisting your time on this site, don't you have better things to be doing with your precious time then trolling the internet?
Some of us do use biking as our only mode of transportation.. but it's fun to gather together with other people who share the same interests as ourselves.
When I ride my bike to and from work, it's always a party ride. Best way to start and end a work day, as a matter of fact. Especially riding on Broadway. That shit is fun in traffic.
@KiMS1 I think you should go voz a voz and challenge Borfo to a karaoke duel.
J-ro was the person that was shot in the back yes he is outta the hospital and feeling as good as can be expected from being shot in the back he will be out for atleast 3 weeks that is if the bullet pushes itself out of his back if not and the have to do surgery longer but he is doing better right now.
And I junes I am late to the party but I did not see this thread earlier and I am starting to laugh at this fool that in later comments saying that riding is a lifestyle he does not do social rides. Hahahahahaha that is to darn funny because I would think that me and you and every other midnight rider prove to this fool that riding is a lifestlye cause we ride everywhere to work to rides and races and everything else like that so I dont know why he is so pissed or wasting his life by posting something like that here.
To Helper: you are a fool for wasting your life and responding to the comments about stuff like that that happened the man that was shot was a friend of mine he did not attagonize the gangster they were going to hit a women with a shovel that the took of her bike in attempts to steal it J-ro stepped up and disarmed the gangster when he turned his back they shot him. So if you want the facts get it from the people that actually know what happened I got it from the man that was shot and several other people that were at the scene when it happened.
The point is shutup and leave this alone already especially seeing that your complaint is that you cant go on a social ride with us because you are to busy well thats funny because you have enough time to sit on your computer and type back to all of our responses. Hope that this has opened your eyes Helper.
P.S. Stop sitting at home on your computer and ride a bike.
To Helper: you are a fool for wasting your life and responding to the comments about stuff like that that happened the man that was shot was a friend of mine he did not attagonize the gangster they were going to hit a women with a shovel that the took of her bike in attempts to steal it J-ro stepped up and disarmed the gangster when he turned his back they shot him. So if you want the facts get it from the people that actually know what happened I got it from the man that was shot and several other people that were at the scene when it happened.
BS! He wasn't anywhere near the girl (Stephanie) that went down. She was out in the middle of the street and J-ro was on the sidewalk. Not only that, the incident with Stephanie, happened minutes before he got shot. He got shot after everyone was cleared from the scene. He got shoot cause he wanted to square up with someone. That someone happened to have a shovel. J-ro took the shovel away from the dude after one swing. The dude's homeboy came in behind the guy that was shovel-less, pulled his weapon out and fired. Before the shot was fired, J-ro turned and ran.
The dude that confronted J-ro was a different dude from than the one that was ready to hit Stephanie. He was ready to hit her while she was down, but people around him, both sides I think, yelled at him not to. There would have been alot of ridazz on his ass if that would have happened.
I've read the description of events from that local site posted above. That's not how it went down. There were no groups squaring up against each other. There was no heroic saving of a damsel in distress. The groups were separated before the shooting went down. Everyone was cleared from the scene. Yelling was going on on both sides, and there were people on both sides that wanted to square up. There was also people on both sides trying to get the situation under control.
User1 responding to a comment by louisbianchirider
07.21.09 - 5:12 pm
Helper you are a fool please leave the midnight ridazz alone go on with your day leave out site and leave our lives alone your negativity is not needed here.
@ User1: I have met you on a ride and you are a cool guy what I dont get is why on the forums are you a dick and or an idiot posting stupid shit all over. I still think you are cool outside the forums but being a dick on the forums is still not needed.
Whoever is managing this site can you please delete this stupid thread starting by someone that does not belong on the site.
I'm a dick cause I'm exposing the truth???? I just happen to be someone that speaks up if I see the wrong. I'm not going to sit around and just read about how the events unfolded when it's completely fabricated. If it's the truth, then you don't have any problems with me. I'm the same way in life as on the net. I just don't write about butterflies and ponies on line.
User1 responding to a comment by louisbianchirider
07.21.09 - 5:45 pm
Yeah helper needs some writing classes but he does have a point.
We ride the worst neighborhoods with no regard for the dangers.
Incidents between bikes and gansters have been increasing fo a while. We should play it safe till things cool down. That means Stay out of the avenues and HP for a while.
I don't think we did anything to provoke those guys on the neverland ride but regardless they felt like we were encroaching on their territory and with avenues thats just a bad idea.
So in conclusion HELPER you are a whiny little bitch but you are right we need to take steps to be safer even in large groups.
Can we close this thread?
Let's learn from the incident and move on.
And by all means, if a fellow rider is in trouble (whether everyone can agree on one degree or another of the word), then do your best to protect each other.
We are all we have out there on the streets at times, and sometimes we don't have anything but our bikes, u-locks and our person.
Helper... stop responding. Your hostility towards us should merit a second look at... why don't you go and berate the gangsters about how they as a whole fuck up your world?
I live in Highland Park and have never had a problem with the Avenues. Unless you are riding around on the small streets east of the 110 near Avenue 43, you probably will not even run into them (well, they are everywhere, but you will not run into a pack of them feeling like they are justified in messing with you).
But it is definitely wise to not mess with the locals, I remember a small incident about 3 years ago on the ride that went from Griffeth Park and down the LA River bike path. Don't know what starts these things, but people are very territorial in those neighborhoods, so the first couple hundred cyclists probably piss them off by default, and it just takes some guy screwing around to push it over the top.
-->
Ridazz Roulette!
+1
You aren't helping anything, Helper.
lets go for a ride with helper guys!
But wait. You just told me that you were not there... What gives?
Ever since that indcident on midnight riddaz. This is how I roll now dawg.
Just ride ur bike and remember to stfu..
From what helper is saying, is that it looks like there are some gangster kids who have taken to riding and are causing trouble. A lot of us (XL and others) met some of them when they crashed a particular ride. So that kind of sucks that Gangster Kids have picked up the bicycle thing. But they don't represent us. There is a legitimate fear about there being real gangs on bikes.
That would be great.
HAHAHAAHAHA!!!!
:-)
hey, fuck you!
awww... i missed my chance to comment during the good part! ;[
:-l
Don't bother talking to that fool named Dingo. He represents the lamest Bike Gang from Highland Park called the army-of-dildoes, or something like that.
You like O.J.?
Borfee's got the boobs too!!!
ON SOME GOOD SHIT