Thanks, What A Party!
Thread started by
Glo Rider at 07.26.06 - 8:54 pm
My virgin cruise with the Ridazz was "The Dead Theatre Ride."
I've been on six or seven rides now, and I can't think of many things that bring me more joy. I don't know who does all the work, and I understand that there are cost involved, so I just wanted to say thank you.
I have a couple of suggestions that I'd like to cast out there, and it's nothing you've probably not considered already, but just in case....
1. Have you ever passed the hat so to speak? I know I would be happy to throw bucks into a bucket to help pay for future rides, and I'm sure many others would feel the same.
2. This may be unrealistic but... have you considered having an alternate course, kinda of a B course that you can hold in reserve for rides where the numbers get above 500. Both courses could end at the same location, with half leaving the front of the parking lot, and the rest leaving out of th rear of the parking lot.
3. Another thought was to pass out flyers to explain the problems with having such a large crowd, and explaining that after a certain number of riders pass the staging area, that the leaders would hold the remaining group for 10 to 15 minutes before starting. This would keep the drivers from having to wait so long that they loose their patience and start acting dangerously.
Anyway..... I really just wanted to say thankyou! You've done an amazing thing here in the last two years, and I think you will start a movement around the country and probably the world, if we can keep from being shut out by the man.
TadpoleRider
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Thanks tadpolerider. Your words mean a lot.
The consensus is overwhelming that Its not about keeping rides at levels of 1300... Rides that big require much more guidance and control than the group as a whole could offer considering that we ride though streets with laws that need to be abided by. Someone may get hurt. Guns are being pulled.... Knives kicks... Its turning into a mob rule. That's not the mission of midnight ridazz no matter how glorious the sight of 1500 ridazz might be its too much to be responsible for.
Sadly, the rides no longer carry the vibe and spirit that Skull created the rides with and inspired us all lovingly to follow her on her adventures through Los Angeles discovering the fun of bicycles. I even find myself becoming "drunk with power" so to speak amidst a huge crowd of bicyclists.
We are losing sight of the real joy of Midnight Ridazz which is getting together with friendzz on bikezz, being goofy and dressing up.
It used to be that you ride through an intersection and drivers would honk in support and cheer. Now addays the cheers are mostly jeers and anger. We don't want that.
Seriously the rides are just as fun when they are only 200 - 150 ridazz. Imagine how much bike culture could grow if we managed to divide up the rides by 4 rides a month and spread the love. It would reduce the number to a safe ride.
What is a safe ride?
To me, a safe ride means one lights worth of ridazz. That way we no longer will need corking. We can obey laws. We can still remain strong and protected as a group. That's likely about 150 - 200 ridazz.
I love the idea of rolling strong 1500 deep through LA but its even more lovely to think that midnight ridazz could sustain itself at 4 rides a month and in different parts of the city to help inspire rides elsewhere.
Then once a year we could hold an all city midnight ridazz rally or something at a parking lot huge enough for thousands. All Ridazz to the center ride. Look for it in a year.
even with 2 rides a month being a possible goal it would take a lot of planning.
Responsible people need to step up and be apprenticed so to speak into the roles of planning rides. It takes monthly love and dedication. Many times the only reward being the comraderie of the ride.
It doesn't really cost much in terms of money other than spoke cards. But those can be sold for a buck and pay for themselves and beer money. Its mostly time, thought and responsibility.
Skull Muff and Mabell have delivered so much to us over the years it became something taken for granted.
My personal goal is to see more and more bikes across the city. I want to see more mass commutes. I want to get more calls from friends asking if I want to ride. I want to get more excercise and discover more dive bars and blaze more stickie icky.
The future of ridazz?
I know one thing, we're working to reduce the size of rides and spread them to new areas. Not so much that they evaporate but enough that they sustain themselves.
Roadblock07.27.06 - 3:44 am
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Well spoken, tadpolerider. I also count myself among the legions of people who have been inspired by Midnight Ridazz and awakened to a vision of what cycling (and life) can be in this town. Roadblock, thanks for your clear analysis of the issues and some potential solutions.
While I don't want to come off sounding like I'm trying to be the voice of geezer wisdom here, I do have a few observations to offer. I didn't make all this up by myself, but I'll say it anyway:
This thing is special! Don't take it for granted.
Change is constant, take a look around; if you live long enough you'll see it. Growing pains are natural; Midnight Ridazz is in danger of becoming a victim of its own success. The larger the rides become, they run the risk of attracting unwanted (to my eyes anyway) attention from law enforcement and irate motorists. Whether we see the ride as a utopian vision, perfect anarchy or just a party on two wheels, we need to regulate ourselves, or someone else will do it (and it won't be so pretty).
A certain diluting of the original message and spirit may be inevitable, but participants who disrespect the communities we ride through and lack concern for not only their own safety, but the safety or their fellow Ridazz don't help matters. Whether they realize it or not, these people are acting as "agent provocatuers" and are playing right into the hands of those who would would like nothing better than to see Midnight Ridazz fail.
I don't have any brilliant solutions to offer, but I will second tadpolerider's big "thank you" to the people who have put this ride together and have kept it on course with their pure hearts. They are a dedicated and courageous group of individuals . . . I choose to have faith.
Ride On!
mr rollers07.27.06 - 1:48 pm
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I too would like to thank the original Ridazz for these wonderful rides and for everything. These rides have connected me with friends and family, new and old, better than any myspace or friendster ever could.
the reverend dak07.27.06 - 4:40 pm
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The Ridazz rides are something unique and I think might be difficult to replicate in other parts of the city. I didn't go to the Ridazz rides for quite a while because I was embarrassed to show up in my truck and haul out my bike to ride around. The bike ride to echo park (actually the return trip home to the W-SFV) was more than I wanted to put up with. But now I drive there and discretely pedal up and enjoy the rides.
So I ride my local rides, and people come and go, but they seem to be looking for some special experience separate from just riding bikes. Midnite Ridazz seems to give them that. Maybe I should be thankful that our groups tend to be 5-10 riders.
The Midnight Ridazz "phenomenon" would be a good study for some wanna be sociologists that want to start up similar rides in other parts of the city. Good Luck. I just like to ride, and usually group rides are fun. But so are solitary nite rides.
Ride On.
dave07.29.06 - 12:35 am
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If Ridazz were to start from another spot. Where would a good starting point be?
How many of you would start from the Valley? North Hollywood? How is the climate out there for bicycle ridazz?
What about the west side? There was a ride out there at one point. Is it still in effect?
Roadblock07.29.06 - 4:02 am
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I just went on my first ride in the valley. it started in NOHO, it was the CRUZ WITH US ride, started by Brian. It was fun. a bit short. but definitly a good ride. the valley is FLAT and empty. So it's safer and easier. It was definitly a good ride, i will be riding with them more for sure, like totally.
Honestly, i think it would be best for Midnight Ridazz to keep its start at Pioneer Chicken, and keep the same night. BUT at the same time, showcase the other rides across the city that are smaller and just as fun. For the politically minded, there is always the original Critical Mass on the last friday of each month which is in serious need of attendees.
the reverend dak07.30.06 - 11:24 pm
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Ha! You went on that ride I was checking that out on Bikeboom. Damn too bad I didn't get out there would have like totally been cool.
Actually I ride the valley every sunday from NH to northridge. The orangeline bike path is the fucking best.
Roadblock07.31.06 - 12:22 am
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I like the idea of having rides in other areas and more often. Westside hasn’t been rolling but could easily start back up. There are dedicated people on the Westside. Here’s an idea I had for a new structure for Ridazz.
Instead of everyone riding together in a mass people would get a map with a bunch of locations on it (public places where people would be anyway- open parks, clubs, coffee shops, etc.) and could roll around town in little groups meeting new people at the different stops. One stop could have the spokecards. There would be bikes everywhere! Theme and costumes still in full effect. Ever notice how much fun it is on the way to ridazz when you see bikers swarming to the start from every direction?!
I think this is a perfect time to test this out. Last ride there were fights, VERY angry motorists and dozens of cop cars waiting to pounce (down a side street at that park). Lets do something new, safe, and legal. So ridazz will keep growing. And this will show what our dream city looks like in a way that a mass doesn’t.
alec07.31.06 - 6:39 am
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CruzwithUs was cool last saturday. It got off to a later than usual time so maybe thats why it felt short. Try the PedalandPubCrawl this coming Friday, its usually a bit more of a challange (but Brians working on it).
My weekend warrior rides are, the PedalandPubCrawl, MidnightRidazz, sit around, then CruzwithUs. Instead of the sitting around on the third weekend, I think I'll hit the NELA CritMass instead. A group ride every weekend, and since the same people I know (and now consider as friends) seem to show up at all the same rides, so much the better.
Ridazz rolling in from all parts of the Hinterland and meeting at some central party spot sounds like the best idea so far. How about a midnite skinny dip in the lake? Cop magnet for sure.
See ya at the PedalandPubCrawl.
dave07.31.06 - 7:40 pm
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Again, I really appreciate these people that put on rides like midnightridazz, cruzwithus, pedalandpubcrawl, ridearc, sponkenart, whatever. It takes a lot of time and personal effort to to plan and lead a bunch of discriminating, critical, unruly, people on a fun ride around the block for a couple or three hours EACH month. I'm grateful.
What the hell do all these 1300 ridazz do when they aren't at Ridazz?
Get out there and support your damn local rides. Show the community and yourself that you are a bike rider. Or maybe they're just worn out from bike commuting all week or riding back and forth from Trader Joe's all the time and its all they can do to go to Ridazz once a month. I think I'm preaching to the choir.
Scuse me, I'm rollin out to the bikeway now, see ya.
Ride On.
dave07.31.06 - 8:27 pm
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An alternate site to consider would be the Eagle Rock area. It has the same kind of feel as Echo Park, has some good access to rolling hills and not far from Pasadena, or the Aroyo. And I believe they have the thinly spread LAPD policing the area. Riding in Glendale or Burbank which have their own PD's may bring trouble down too easliy upon the Ridazz. Although I do love it when the helicopters come out.
Glo Rider08.2.06 - 12:18 am
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they brought the copters out for the first time when we had about 50 Ridazz.... I forget which ride it was but someone got a flat under the 101 bridge at heliotrope (i think). it was such a waste of taxpayer dollars. 5 squad cars showed up and the cops were yelling and threatening about how we werent riding with helmets and such.... ahh the good ole days.
Roadblock08.2.06 - 12:39 am
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I understand the concerns about ride size and figuring out a way to grow. I am not sure how much I can do in LA, but I work in transportation for a san gabriel valley city and have some idea of what might be done to manuver through the LA system. If people are interested in trying to work the LA city council to try and see if there can be some kind of tolerance for the rides - I would be willing to give it a shot. I can almost guarantee that any small city would not want the Ridazz in town and the PD of places like Glendale and Burbank would never give a warm reception - maybe we can work it out so that we are at least left alone in LA city to grow in whatever way the Ridazz want to. I don't know if its a good idea, a lost cause, or if anyone would even want to be more above ground in the future. I do know that even 100 cyclists at a city council meeting would draw attention.
wozzeck4208.5.06 - 12:28 am
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o.k. so first of all, I am thrilled that someone is working on these issues. And thank you so much for all of your hard work. And thank you everyone else, who like me, has dragged friends who havent ridden a bike in years to the Midnight ridazz and changed that person's perception of city riding forever. In response to the idea of dividing the ride: Unfortuntantly, this must happen. I would freely devote my time to a Hollywood ride, cruising through the neon of old L.A. showcasing to the tourists and SUV PAris Hilton wannabes, what its about! HOLLWOOD IS FUN! Having said that, becuase of the crazy traffic, certain traffic laws would have to be abided! Those club owners pay off the cops, and it could get hairy. I think we should devide metro L.A. into 4 smart sections, having Santa MOnica be its own entity. So thats four routes and four Fridays a month! Awesome! My second point, is that I was wondering who if anyone is working with the mayor's office to implement a new LAPd policy in regards to how they deal with bikers? I have a feeling from the mixed reactions we get from cops, that there is no policy. If we do not approach them first, La risks turning into New York, and we would spend thenext 2 yearson the defensive. I am working on a proposal to my council Member (Eric Garceti, district 13) and welcome any sugggestions). THANK!
toph08.8.06 - 12:37 pm
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I think the key to keeping the local constabularies from garnering too much of a response is to keep the Midnight Ridazz rides in places where the jurisdictions are too busy on a Friday night to bother with people on bicycles. The Glendale ride was a perfect example of a law enforcement agency not having enough to do on a Friday night and as such, being able to respond quickly and with greater numbers than agencies that are truly busy on a Friday night. This is why LAPD's jurisdiction is perfect for Midnight Ridazz. This is also why it would be very difficult to make Midnight Ridazz happen in many other places, such as any city in Orange County. Route imagination, secrecy and planning for large numbers are also issues that obviously have been addressed, but the planning for larger numbers needs to expand with them. There have been some good sugestions in this thread in how to deal with that as well.
When it all comes down to it though, the only real answer is to just ride your bikes more all of the time. Maybe the once-a-month people will begin to realize this and make better things happen in their lives and the lives of the cycling community in general. Strength in numbers!
Jeronimo08.9.06 - 2:46 pm
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The Westside is starting to Flare up...
1. We(s)tside watergun ride
2. Cubscouts & Cubcamp
3. Full Moon MTB
Thanks to all here, and super thanks to you who ride from afar!
Gern07.11.07 - 2:30 am
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Since the saddle sores thread was bumped... I started cruising the older threads and saw this.... a freaking amazing how many rides we got going. Midnight Ridazz... is sooo amazing!!
digablesoul11.13.08 - 9:42 pm
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sure has come a long way...... this thread was started by someone who is no longer with us. Rest In PEace Tadpole Rider a.k.a. Glo Rider.
Roadblock11.13.08 - 9:58 pm
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Glad to have met Glorider. RIP
RB... I couldn't tell but was this the first thread on MR?
digablesoul11.13.08 - 10:06 pm
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Oh cool... yeah... man that thread goes waaay back. Thanks!
digablesoul11.13.08 - 10:17 pm
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Wow. People used to actually compose their comments, and think before posting! Inspiring and positive... man, I wish I knew about MR back then.
canadienne11.14.08 - 12:24 am
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This thread needs to be bumped every once in a while.
barleye06.28.09 - 7:46 pm
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yeah it does, i was thinking about him the other day. also, i think a Memorial ride should be done in his honor. JOE BORFO, Do you still have the family contact info?
Adrian_The_BEAST responding to a
comment by barleye
06.28.09 - 9:13 pm
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wow Barleye... the perfect thread to end a perfect day. Rest in Peace Glorider... his soul is in the universe... in the wind... at the beach...
Roadblock responding to a
comment by barleye
06.29.09 - 1:14 am
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The glo rider memorial ride was by far one the best rides I've ever been on. Seems like it was a way better vibe back then.
stillline06.29.09 - 1:20 am
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Ridazz Roulette!
