Second Annual All City Toy Ride

All City Toy Ride Photos: Flickr Set (65 photos)

In what has become an annual event, this being the second year, the Midnight Ridazz community donates toys to under privileged children. Delivered by bicycles to a central location in East LA, with riders in groups from all parts of LA planning their own routes. Masses from The West Side, Hollywood, The Valley, Pasadena, Downtown and Long Beach were represented. It was a magical evening that brought together people from all over LA for a good cause, and in typical Ridazz fashion was concluded with a big after party.




(The little guy with the two vertical eyes was my contribution to the Holiday good will.)

Santa Monica Critical Mass: December

Critical Mass in Santa Monica this month, was again tailed by police using selective enforcement of the law, giving citations for things ignored in other contexts or given as warnings.



Apparently less police force then last months ride & far fewer citations, although some believe that had more to do with a SMPD Christmas party that night then an effort to ease up the crack down. This is in fact a crack down, in the words of our mayor, who was interviewed by Fox news, which covered this months ride along with several other news stations.



Although I am a Santa Monica local I never made it out to SMCM in the past due to it conflicting with Ride-Arc, an architecturally focused ride, usually starting downtown that I was attending regularly. When I heard about the political situation brewing back home though, I wanted to come out to represent and also to see for my self what the fuss was about.


(She received a citation for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, and a warning for being under 18 without a helmet. Seen here being interviewed by TV news after the ticket was given)

As someone who has been on many mass rides now, and read up on some of the history of the critical mass movement, I was shocked at the police attention to such a tame group. Santa Monica critical mass is so peace loving compared to any mass ride I'd ever been on, or any of the Critical Mass rides I'd read about in other cities. They stay in one lane, stop at reds without corking, let cars through at stop signs, and the route for the most parts did not follow busy streets.


(citation for "lack of forward facing lights" of which the rider had two, seen glowing on his fork)

The mayor apparently feels it is an effective use of our tax money to use the police force and clog the judicial system, in his political agenda to squash this group bike ride. A ride that has now existed for several years and done so peacefully. Why it has become such an agenda is not entirely clear, and seems to run counter to Santa Monica's supposed environmental leadership and efforts to reduce car commuting, which clogs our city far more then any bike ride can.


(Santa was apparently riding to far to left. SMPD seen here spreading the holiday cheer)

My First Wolfpack Hustle

Image from wolfpackhustle.com

Pictured here is the gentleman responsible for last nights ride, known as affectionately as Super Cole. He's been riding Wolfpack for 52 weeks straight, and as such this ride was in his honor. The mustache makes him more aero.

Was a fun ride with a lot of intensity, averaging 19.5 mph for 44 miles. Data from the ride below.

Wolfpack. The Hustle Ride. Super Cole Edition: RIDE DATA 0101001010101101001001

Texas Renaissance Fair

Flickr Set: Texas Renaissance Fair (298 Photos)




I recently visited friends in Houston and went to the Texas Renaissance Festival for the first time. It was well above and beyond what I had imagined even with my friends there hyping it up.



Hilarious live performances were certainly a highlight of the fair, pictured here Sound & Fury performing "Testaclese & ye Sack of Rome".



Numerous elaborate costumes could be seen everywhere, and lots of real plate armor and chainmail.



One of the things that consistently impressed me at the fair was how many permanent buildings had been erected on the grounds, and the level of detail that went into them. More elaborate then Fantasy Land at Disney Land by far, apart from not having a large castle with a moat in the middle.



What medieval reenactment would be complete with out staged violence in a jousting arena.



At dusk every night of the fair, the sky lights up with flying boom sticks.

One of the things I was also not expecting, is how crazy things would be outside the fair. There are campgrounds where some spend the night to enter the fair the next day, and some who just come to make their own festivities outside with no intention of actually going in the fair. Until late in the night or early in the morning, depending on how you look at it, there were fires and dancing, music and glow sticks. Hippies tripping out, frat kids getting hammered and everything in between.







There was lots of amazing craft works out there, and with so many who take a great interest in these Renaissance Fairs and role playing, it keeps a fairly vibrant economy of hand made goods alive.











All and all it was an awesome and memorable experience, one certainly worth the trip out there.

Halloween in West Hollywood

Flickr Set: WeHo Halloween (78 Photos)




Before riding our bikes out to WeHo, we got some sustenance from Cinco de Mayo, regular feeding grounds for night rides on the West Side.



Drag queens posing in front of the religious protesters. We're they real protesters, or were they in costume as religious protesters?



Warhol's 15 minutes of fame still ticking.



Finding Nemo The Ride The Costume. Yes amazing!



Don't know what the hell these were, but um interesting.. someone pointed out they were in colors from the Fanta girls.



From Russia with love. Cosmonaut guy was one of my favorites.



No Face from Spirited Away, was surprised I didn't see more Miyazaki characters out there.



Superman escorts his lady friends.



Bat Boy in the flesh.



Freddy grabs himself a handful of little Asian girls. Creepy.


WeHo Halloween Flickr Set (78 Photos)

TEAM MIDNIGHT RIDAZZ

Yes, Midnight Ridazz has formed a team for AIDS Life Cycle, with 9 officially registered and more expecting to join soon. Somehow I became nominated to be captain of this crew on this crazy voyage of epic cycling and fundraising. It will be 545 miles of cycling euphoria, and of course there will be some pain and suffering too, but come next summer, we'll be ready for it. WooOOoo00oo!!!


We had our first ride together at the official ALC kick off ride at the end of October, which featured an awesome 5 mile hill climb up La Tuna Canyon on the advanced course. Everyone seemed to be doing really well and I think we're all off to a good start. As we slowly progress closer to the ride date (next June), we'll ramp up training to longer and more challenging routes.

If you're feeling charitable, and would like to support a good cause, and our team's effort, we are graciously accepting donations through our official Team Midnight Ridazz Webpage. We each need to raise $2500 by next June, and every little bit can make a difference. We're also interested in seeking sponsorship from businesses and are intending to produce team jerseys and sell space for logos.

Currently we are exchanging ideas for fundraising special events, and as we work out the details I'll keep you all posted.


For more information about ALC, what the ride is like, and how their fund raising money is used check out their site. AIDS Life Cycle

Day of the Dead at Hollywood Forever

This year was my first time seeing the Day of the Dead festivities at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, home to the rich & famous no longer living. The altars people made for it were often highly elaborate and the whole experience was full of captivating & unique sights. I just wish it went on longer into the night, it began wrapping up around 11:30. Will have to come back again next year and get their earlier.

Día de los Muertos: Flickr Set (50 images)









A tribute to Mel Blanc, voice of almost every original Looney Tunes character and hundreds of other voices.





Light projected onto a wall became a venue for shadow dancing to the music at the stage nearby.

The Halloween Ride

Halloween weekend descended upon Los Angeles and lots of merriment and costumes on bicycles ensued Downtown Friday evening. I dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood and I dressed my bike as the wolf. It was my first time in public dressed as woman, and it was a little unsettling how well the costume worked. Even some people I ride with every week had to take two or three takes before realizing it was me. Hope none of them had impure thoughts...

Red Riding Hood Takes Pictures (Halloween Ride Photos)