Sheer numbers...

This morning I was reading the Facebook page for one of our local racing forums about how one of the longer running training rides was targeted by the police department of one of the cities through which the ride passes. Specifically, it said that the police were citing riders who failed to come to a complete stop at marked intersections. This is nothing new, it has been going on  for decades (the ride, and the police response). Anyway, one of the comments was that, as cyclists, we expect drivers to follow the rules of the road, so we must follow them as well. This got me thinking that for me, at least, the statement is blatantly untrue. Indeed, I have not expected drivers to follow the rules of the road for years now. If I happen to be driving to work, or wherever, and making a conscious effort to keep my speed at the limit (really not as difficult as some people say), 95% (fairly accurate, completely unscientific guess)  of the other cars traveling in the same direction will be passing me, thus exceeding the speed limit, thus breaking a rule of the road. If I pull up to an intersection, how many cars will be encroaching upon or completely blocking the crosswalk? A lower percentage than above, but still a goodly number will be breaking a rule of the road. Same applies to those drivers who roll through stops, talk or text on their mobile devices, throw trash out the window, etc. In fact it is so commonplace for drivers to break rules of the road that I will honestly find myself surprised when I encounter someone who is following the rules of the road. I suspect that one of the reasons I am healthy today is due to (at least in part) the fact that I accept that drivers do not follow the rules of the road, and drive, or ride, accordingly (that means defensively at times, offensively at others).


Then I started thinking further about this - why are cyclists getting tickets when an infinite number of drivers continue on their way unmolested after breaking many of the very same rules. The answer was right there - sheer numbers. At some point in the past, law enforcement realized that they could not begin to deal with the mass of drivers who were breaking the law, and thus began to focus their attentions on the extreme cases, the blatant speeders, reckless drivers, etc. It is an unsatisfying conclusion, but I wonder, if cycling were to ever reach the same point, would sheer numbers force law enforcement to respond differently?

Ride of Silence...

Don't forget, Ride of Silence, a global event is approaching on May 19. To the best of my knowledge, the closest to us 909 folk is held in Rancho Cucamonga, hosted by the Cycling Connection. They will meet 5:00, ride at 5:30 at It's a Grind Coffeehouse, corner of Baseline and Day Creek. Ride in memory of those riders killed and injured by automobiles.

From the archives...

One of the things I liked about racing with a club that had an associated pro team, was that you had the opportunity to get stuff; not last year's bike kind of stuff, unfortunately. More like these trading cards kind of stuff, small stuff. The Chevrolet/ LA Sheriff team was one of the top squads in North America in 1994 and included Tour de France stage victors and an Olympic gold medalist. Racing for the team that year were Jeff Pierce, Steve Hegg, Bobby Julich, Malcolm Elliott, Thomas Craven, Dave McCook and Jamie Paolinetti.

El Roble Intermediate School Bike Marathon...

8th grade students at El Roble Intermediate School have been gearing up (literally) for the 34th Bike Marathon which raises funds for the Claremont Chapter of the American Red Cross. Over the past 33 editions more than $150,000 have been raised. This years Marathon ride will take place May 13 and 14. About 40 students are selected through a screening process which includes writing essays and gpa minimums. Funds are raised by pledges for laps completed. Awesome, humanitarianism at its best; kids riding bikes to benefit others.

Here's to old riding buddies...

Last night, out of the blue, I received a phone call from an old cycling buddy from my racing days; someone I had not seen or even talked to in a number of years. It was totally cool, bringing back a peloton full of memories. I met Dave in the very early 1990s when we were doing the Bicycle Doctor ride on Saturday mornings. I had been racing with the Chevrolet/LA Sheriff club for a couple years, and he was looking to get back into the sport after a number of years away. Though I tried to recruit him, he was determined to rejoin the team he had raced for in the 1970s; it worked out well, as he became one of the premier local master's level racers. 


We would occasionally drive to races together in the gawd-awful early hours of the morning, during which he would subject me to all sorts of Republican propaganda. There were times when we would skip out on the Tuesday/Thursday Rose Bowl training race after a few laps, and ride onto the Brookside Golf Course clubhouse patio, order some beers and toast the peloton as they would fly by each lap, and then go back to making fun of all the golfers. There were epic rides up into the local mountains, there was the bestowing of my first cycling nickname, bubba.


Beginning in 1998, when my son was born, I began to lose contact with the sport as family took up more and more time. By 2002 I let my racing license lapse, finally accepting the reality that any real opportunity of a serious comeback would be years away. That was when I lost contact with Dave as well. I know he continued to tear it up at races because I followed the scene through the racing media. But Christmas cards each year were about it until last night, and that is just not right when there were so many good times. So, I raise a cup o' joe this morning (can you guess who started my on that habit?) to old cycling buddies who shared laughs, epic rides, races, political banter, cycling library videos, unidentified cow bones, spare tubes, and what not; and let those good times continue to roll.

myself (left) with SuperDave at start of the Gunlock Road Race, stage 1,

Chums Classic Tour of St. George, c.1995

Would the beach be complete...

without the beach cruiser?

Three of many spotted at Seal Beach today.

Claremont Folk Festival...

Just back in from the festival, where the family and I spent most of the day enjoying the music in the shade of some giant sycamore trees. A good selection of folk music styles were presented, so moving from one stage to the other always gave you something new to listen to. It did not seem like too many people took heed of my message to bike to the festival site, but there were bikes in the racks, locked to trees and occasionally scattered around the grounds. Most importantly everyone looked like they were having a good time. Met a few folks from our cycling community - Mr. Barnes (a reader if this blog, yeah), lending a hand at the Folk Music Store's booth, or do you work there? Seems like I have seen you around. A woman who had done the LA Critical Mass ride on Friday, sorry not to have got your name. And then the gentleman who wanted to ride in from Downey with his guitar; that would have been some ride.

This Peugeot carried someone there...

as did this Schwinn...

and these fixies...

and this totally cool Trek with streaming streamers.

The Sugar Mountain Mama Serenade; a local favorite, whom I have seen numerous times and always enjoy...

same again for the Squeakin' Wheels; brilliant in a small setting like this...

Fred Sokolow hanging out in the sun...

and then singing some blues.

A new group to my ears, Cliff Wagner and Old Number Seven got the place moving. I liked them so much I bought a cd.

Tom Freund. Good stuff; if you are not familiar, check out Copper Moon on Itunes, I especially

liked it.

 

Lil Rev, and his ukelele. I kid you not, every fifth person was carrying around a ukelele. They seem to be the cool instrument of choice right now.

Yuval Ron Ensemble. Music from Morocco, for some international flavor.

the May Pole...

Another uke, and though the photo does not show it, she had the coolest hat of the day.

Quotable links...

Have not really done my homework this week, and therefore only have two to pass along:


"Part of our commitment now should be to create alternatives to congestion." So far the U.S. Transportation Secretary has said much in support of human powered transport as viable and necessary means of mobility. If only more local officials were as far-seeing, something good might be accomplished.


and then, easily one of the best blogs around. Great writing style, actually just great style period,
"In the evening the wind was up to no good..."


Just came upon one more... "finally, no charges yet in the death of Bahati Foundation cyclist Jorge Alvarado..." Honestly? Alvarado was killed April 8 by a driver who was street racing (illegal, yes) and still no charges after this much time.


Alright then, one more, and then I go and ride, thats the whole point of taking a day off from the work grind. If you have not discovered this blog yet, it is a pleasure and will brighten your darkest days with a myriad of colors. "Let's have some fun this beat is sic. Let's go."