what do you expect on a ride?
Thread started by
louisiana at 10.30.13 - 5:29 pm
So, I leave with this question..... Do you go on a group Bicycle ride to go places you never knew about or didn't know how to get too, Or do you go expecting to know everywhere your going and fear any sort of newness for the fact that you think you might get lost(even though the Leader knows where he is riding)? I ask because I would hope the Riders I lead sometimes want to yell out "where the Fuck are we?' where are we Going?" and I would hope that as a Rider they would have confidence in their leader.
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I love that most of the rides I have done have taken me to places I previously didn't know existed. Rides that cover familiar ground are OK, but I really love exploring new areas. Sometimes I'm not sure the ride leader knows where we are, but I'm in the group and just have to trust.
Man, I really miss Ride-Arc.
Creative Thing10.30.13 - 7:05 pm
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I really like rides where I say to myself, "Where the fuck am I?"
The "Passage" ride usually fulfills that for me. It's pretty hard for me not to know where I am in LA usually. I think that it is one of my favorite rides. Too bad I can rarely make them on Weds.
I also +1 to Leslie's comment. I miss Ridearc too.
I am planning a future set of rides that will be called "LET'S GET LOST".
Stay tuned for that one...
Joe Borfo10.30.13 - 7:37 pm
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SPANISH INQUISITION RIDE?
FBI10.30.13 - 10:41 pm
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I would like to think that we all don't mind getting lost for the sake of an epic ride (such as Passage, a ride I haven't attended in 2+ years :( ) But lately on rides it seems as soon as anyone realizes they are over 10 miles from home they Panic. Is it because they fear Borfo might Jump out in his bunny costume from behind a burning bush?
I always stay tuned!
louisiana responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
10.31.13 - 10:54 am
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the image of Borfo jumping out in a bunny suit from anywhere is the stuff that my dreams are made of <3
as for your question, I go on bike rides to make new friends and interact with the many creative people in our community. I have never, ever, been on a ride and not trusted the leader...except maybe on F-ride, fuck THAT guy. :)
now that I live in Oakland and go on rides here, I have come to realize that what we have in LA is truly unique. makes me love and appreciate it even more. here, people freak out WEEKS ahead of a bike ride. while our 2nd Friday ride gets thrown together by a different person every month the week before the ride, here I had to attend a meeting a whole three weeks ahead of time and have had to do test rides and get a "mentor", even though I have been doing group rides since before their ride was even a thing....you should all be grateful it's not like THAT.
sorry, almost turned into a rant there. back to my point: next time someone panics, tell em to use their iPhone to get on Google Maps and maybe school em on No Rida Left Behind. anyone who freaks out clearly does not know what our little community is all about.
KeepinEtNorma responding to a
comment by louisiana
10.31.13 - 12:18 pm
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When I started going on these late night group rides, I did it with the expectation that I may and probably would get lost at some point, no matter how diligently the ride leader tried to keep things together. It was part of the adventure. Right? Yes? No? As you imply, the only way to make absolutely sure that nobody ever gets stranded is to ride the exact same route every week. Or just have all rides stick to Sunset Boulevard between Douglas and Western.
I don't think I need, or anybody needs, to trust the almighty ride leader to do anything more than try in good faith to deliver the kind of ride that she or he advertises. And I still may get lost.
Whatever you do, don't fall into the trap of allowing overly needy riders--those who didn't come prepared, or expected a different kind of ride, or want you to stop every five minutes at a liquor store because it didn't occur to them that they can bring their own supplies in a backpack--to change the nature of your ride. There are rides for everybody...let your ride be your ride.
PC11.1.13 - 2:44 pm
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I go on group rides because they're group rides. Stranger the better, the more strangers, the betters. I went on my first MR by myself, and was sold on it immediately, and started talking my ped friends into coming on these rides with me. I don't have many of those ped friends anymore, but those that did come on rides, and kept riding, are my closest friends along with the friends I met on rides.
I've always been one of the self sustainable/reliant types, so I actually started meeting people by helping others when they were lost or broken down, and I found myself pulling sweep a lot. Now some of my best friends are those that I met helping others.
When I'm on a ride I don't lead myself, my only expectations is to have fun and to hang out with friends and maybe make new friends.
What I expect on a ride I organize (I don't like "lead"), I expect complete and "an all-encompassing and total loyalty, control and allegiance."
(#4 From DIY Brainwashing, Straight talk on D&D, By William Schnoebelen.)
the reverend dak responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
11.1.13 - 5:41 pm
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PC.... Spot on!
And Dak, That's The spirit!
And Norma, Just WoW, Organization seems to not lack up in Oakland.... That's for sure.
louisiana11.4.13 - 12:55 pm
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As a girl who constantly deals with rape culture on rides, and is extremely afraid of the predatorial looks I receive at the back of the ride by total strangers (strangers to everybody), I really super appreciate a little sexist treatment of being told where we are going, so I can feel safer that I can take care of myself if something happens, and not be left asking for help from a drunk and horny dude, the only drunk and horny dude in the back, with full attention on me....
I don't see why anyone with a penis or vagina wouldn't want the same respect, and think anyone would want to feel safe and independent if anything were to happen.
The best ride I've ever been on, the ride leader told me the route in the beginning when I first started going, while I was still slow and needed the assistance, and stopped telling me after I could keep up pace and no longer needed the handicap. I was annoyed he stopped telling me, but it was fair.
It was Equality at it's best, IMO, building me up with special treatment while I was becoming a part of the group, and then no longer offering that treatment when I had made it to Equality status.
I would hope any guys and girls could be hand-held into the bike scene like this if they are afraid like this, because I will always and forever be grateful for and appreciate that experience.
Becoming faster and/or being less afraid to own the streets really changed my life and it's important to remember it's not all about trippin' out man, or about the party on the ride, as a ride leader you are doing so much more!!!! You are EMPOWERING people to ride on their own, during the day, on the streets, alone, and whatever you have to do to EMPOWER people to be CONFIDENT CYCLISTS is badass in my book.
Don't take it personal, it's not confidence in the ride leader, it's personal confidence! Now that I'm faster, I am wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more chill about not knowing the route.
It really sucks I won't change my thigh high striped sock love because I really love going on new rides. :(
brittany11.12.13 - 10:58 am
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***** WHAT
YOUR COMMUNITY AND CLIQUE IS ALL ABOUT.
YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR EVERYONE. NOT EVERYONE CAN BE PRECIOUS FUCKING NORMA, NOT EVERYONE IS TREATED LIKE YOU.
YOU DON'T EVEN FUCKING LIVE HERE >.<
brittany responding to a
comment by KeepinEtNorma
11.12.13 - 11:01 am
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I love it when I get all lost on a ride, but you can't demand that from a ride either. Some ppl have really good city geography skills. LA has a ton of undercover spots tho. I like underground parking lots, footbridges, hidden staircases, alleys, and parks that are secluded.
tallcans4tallbikes11.13.13 - 8:05 pm
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Correct again, tallcans! Exploration is the best. And I agree, having been on so many different rides, to so many different places...
Gaining momentum, gaining confidence. Ride On
Redline responding to a
comment by tallcans4tallbikes
11.14.13 - 5:16 am
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I really don’t expect that much from a ride leader. Just the fact that someone is putting the effort into laying out a route and maybe has some music is enough for me. I, like most people, can’t really appreciate what goes into organizing a ride, so bravo to those leaders, and to those who bitch, I say to them, “start your own ride if you don’t like this one”.
manonmasi11.14.13 - 1:47 pm
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+1
The last thing I want is a ride that is completely laid out. How bout a little mystery?
I walk the line responding to a
comment by manonmasi
11.14.13 - 2:53 pm
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@ I walk the line, putting a route together before hand doesn’t eliminate mystery, if the last thing you want is a route that is planed before hand , you are going to be staying home a lot, any good ride leader know where her or she is going before they start.
manonmasi11.15.13 - 3:45 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!