What’s your name (optional) and/or your Midnight Ridazz log-in name?
Brad / M.R. login is BARLEYE
How did you first hear about Midnight Ridazz and what was your first group bike ride?
For many years now I couldn’t recall...but my gf reminded me recently that when she was working late in Echo Park on many occasions she would see cyclists riding by in large groups dressed in costumes a lot such as angel's wings, capes, and using noise makers. She ran out to the street once and asked who they were and they said MIDNIGHT RIDAZZ.
My first group ride was M.R. #25, The Friday the 13th Ride (aka the Dead End Ride) in January 2006.
Currently what rides do you attend regularly and what ride(s) would you like to see make a comeback?
I do the 2nd Friday M.R. ride, The Ride With No Name, Friends of the Friendless and the old school style Los Angelopes rides when they happen, The Westside Mosey and any other ride that looks good. Lately I've been riding amongst friends in smaller groups more...
I'd like to see Ride Arc, Sins and Sprockets, CruzWithUs and C.R.A.N.K. MOB (more than once a year) come back.
What advice would you pass on to new ridazz?
Wear a helmet, bring a bike in good condition, bring tools to fix your bike, and don't be shy...Talk to people. When my non bike friends come on rides I make it a point to introduce them to everyone I know. It sucks when you don't know people on a ride...
If you were leading a group ride, what would you do differently?
I lead The Ride With No Name and What I've found to be successful is being consistent....I take time on the route to make it fun, I try to make an interesting spoke card each time, and I keep the ride at a "chill" pace. There are so many different rides nowadays that it takes consistency to stand out and have people return for each ride. I plan it the way I like to do a ride myself...chill pace, minimal hills, big wide open streets as much as possible, long straight aways, and a good mix of songs. There are always gonna be newbies on each ride so I want their first ride to be a good one.
Do you prefer small rides (30 or less people) or larger rides and why?
I like the rides to be HUGE... Smaller rides are fun too but the excitement and fun happen on larger rides. I like to get to the start and see familiar faces….
Tell us about the best and worst experience you’ve encountered on a group ride.
The best would have to be the early Sins and Sprockets rides when I was meeting new people and experiencing a ride the way it should be done..I try to carry on the spirit of SNS with the RWNN. Some of the C.R.A.N.K. MOB’s have been really great too. Probably the most fun was the Revenge of the Nerds ride Funanu put on. Candy Cane organized a photo shoot a few days before and I put together the playlist and the ride was huge!!
Luckily I've never fallen, been hit by a car, or hurt in any way...The obvious worst is to see someone get hurt....That's happened three times to friends of mine. Tiffany (Tomato) got hit and run over by a car following a hold up at a liquor store, SpeedyBrian and Eddieboyinla both face planted on rides...
What did you do for fun before you started “riding”?
I used to skateboard a lot and went to see bands play a few times a week. That all changed after I started doing group bike rides.
What’s the best and worst thing group bike rides have done for cycling as a whole in Los Angeles?
It's a big cliche, but ONE LESS CAR is ONE MORE BIKE in our world...slowly people are realizing bikes can be fun and useful.
The worst thing bike rides have done is brought out the losers that steal from fellow cyclists. I lock my bike at stops now if there are too many people around.
If you can name 1 person who embodies the spirit of “Midnight Ridazz”, Who would it be and Why?
SkidMarcus. I first met him at Bikerowave the same night as the Cubcamp movie was shot and he's been a huge creative force in the bike scene and is always positive and pushing every aspect of bike riding to a higher level.
On another note, showing up to a big ride and saying hi to everyone I have met on past rides IS THE SPIRIT OF MIDNIGHT RIDAZZ and what brings me back each month. It's all inclusive and I've met some friends for life. When everything is going well from the start to finish of a ride, that's the spirit I’m talking about.
What do you think the public’s perception is of group bike rides?
When we’re riding normally in a huge group, most people honk for us and cheer us on…but when a circle of death happens, we lose all credibility we’ve built up…that’s my opinion.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Just keep a positive attitude and keep coming out to rides….The Ride With No Name only happens occasionally. When I was Rida of the Week, Ms. Stephanie wrote the following and nice words from others on the M.R. forum poured in and it was a really great unexpected thing to see and I thank all of you.
“I can't believe this guy has never been nominated for Rida Of The Week! This guy cares DEEPLY about Midnight Ridazz and the Rida community, as evidenced not only by his creation and leadership of the best goddamn ride we’ve currently got in LA – The Ride With No Name – but also by the continual flow of ride ideas pouring from his always-moving-always-thinking-always-caring brain. Not only that, but this guy doesn’t fucking troll, he doesn’t give a fuck about schisms or groups or cliquish behavior. He’s a laid back motherfucker who judges people for who they are, who gets to know people before making retarded assumptions about them, and who contributes a whole lot of positivity AND good rides to this community. Plus, this guy’s cooler than shit and he’s even older than my old ass! It gives me hope for my future.”
Thanks to Roadblock for allowing this section of MidnightRidazz.com to be included and Thanks to Louis, Harry, and Big Bike Dan for their incredible help with the RWNN. It’s much appreciated.
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Ridazz Roulette!
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