Tuesday night community bike ride report, November 6, 2007
Just a note for you stay-at-homes out there, a huge crowd of us rode Janet’s great new route over the new basket bridge, up 4th Avenue, and then out past the Barrio Brewing Company and toward South Tucson tonight. I’d love to know how many of us were riding tonight if anyone counted . . . .
As always Radio Free Bike was broadcasting along the way from the back of Aaron’s cruiser bike/transmitter.
I saw no police at all. I think we did a pretty good job of keeping to one lane and generally not blocking any traffic. It was a great ride and I am noticing more older folks showing up, too, not just college students.
At one point the police helicopter spotlighted us but I think it was all in good fun. Everybody waved and rang their bells, the helicopter circled a few times and flew off.
A rousing game of foot-down followed and for once Rocky was defeated on his BMX bike. This guy is so good at this game (and at riding that thing) that he is regarded by many to be fundamentally unbeatable. Last time he played he sat on his handlebars and rode backwards just to give somebody else a chance for once.
It’s kind of embarrassing to be beaten at foot down by somebody who is riding his bike backwards and steering with his butt.
I am hoping the Tucson Weekly article, due out tomorrow evening, will bring more local people out for the ride. I think we should shoot for 1,000 riders.
–Erik Ryberg
November 7th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
That’s SWEET that some older people are coming out. The few Critical Masses I attended here in Seattle had a wonderful variety of people. The young, hipster crowd on their tricked out fixies, BMXers, commuters, tall bikes, drummers (yeah on bikes), cargo bikes, and some older folk on some beautiful old lugged bikes with leather panniers brooks saddles and dressed like they’re ridding the English countryside. It’s great to see such a mix.
We’re going to come visit family over Christmas. I’ll have to borrow someone’s bike and join you.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
The motorists seemed a lot more irritated last night, a little scary.
November 9th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I miss my bicycle. It’s scary to ride here in Newyorkcity. The rats chase you around and the cars chase the rats and on and on.
The Weekly article was great, and I was not at all surprised to see that the “bike lawyer” is right at the front of the cycling fray (aka the peaceful assembly of cyclists- perspective is everything.)
I hope to come to Tucson in the next few months, and I’ll be bringing my headlamp.
November 10th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
i left early because of the music… not only did it sound terrible (overdriven), but it was a really bad selection of songs. couldn’t get away from it either. what makes these people think we all will be down for their bad white people jam band music? i say, turn that shiz off.