This got me thinking - you can’t just start bike partying, and expect everyone is going to join you in a rock your socks off get down bike jam.  You’ve got to set the tone.  You do it by complimenting strangers, and you do it by being the most suave, engaging and charming green dinosaur on two wheels.

Sunday night Erock and I were walking to the grocery store, and we walked past a sassy looking 20-something on 2 wheels.  The conversation stopped.  “Do we know that girl?”  “I don’t thing so.”  “Well, I want to.”  “Me too.”

How do you talk to random girl on a bike, a cute one?  We foundered on this hypothetical like 6th grade boys with cracking voices and monster zits.  I mentioned that I was carrying Bikerowave cards, and that we could just ask her if she’d heard about the Bikerowave.  Yes - that’s the ticket - make up a non-sexual reason to talk to them!  “The Bikerowave Gambit” you could call it.  We agreed to try this teenage strategy as soon as possible.

The big green dinosaur upstairs gave us another chance 26 hours later, as we returned from the hills where we were scouting this weekend’s ROBOTZ ride.  Zooming along on Venice we caught a velo vixen approaching Lincoln, and then all three of us got hung up at the light.

“Howdy!”, I led with my standard country greeting, the details of the Bikerowave Gambit running through my mind.  Pretty soon Lauren, Erock and I were talking bikes and nonsense.  The Bikerowave Gambit went right out of my mind, never quite executed.  It turns out the gambit wasn’t an excuse to strike up a conversation, so much as it was a trick to help me overcome my shyness.  Of course, I made sure she left with a card.

Can you imagine if anyone who was attracted to someone started a conversation with them?  Nothing would ever get done.  The city would just be rejection, flirtation, acceptance, and sex, all day long.  Soon we’d all be buried in dirty laundry and overflowing garbage cans.

But suppose that we did that just with cyclists.  What if next time you biked alongside a girl with that wicked smile you said hello, and let it hang for a moment, a non-threatening invitation to have vocal intercourse?  Or suppose next time a boy with those tan thighs passed by, you invited him to ride you home?

Pretty soon we’d all be biking.

• Chime in: library bike parking sitch
• Green Drinks are so Bike
• Who Knows What’s Going On? Not me.
• LAPD Officer: “I have a lightsaber” (Hummer follow up)

Follows is a letter from the LA Wheelmen about how Rod was killed on the final leg of the Wheelmen’s 200 mile Grand Tour on Sunday:

“The finish line is just the beginning of a whole new race.
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience
We’re spiritual beings having a human experience”
Susan Saint James who lost her 14 year old son in a plane crash

Tragedy struck a father and his 14 Year Old son on the Grand Tour early Sunday morning.

Pam Leven, the President of the Los Angeles Wheelmen who organize the Grand Tour, wrote:

“Dear Grand Tour Riders, Volunteers and LA Wheelmen Members,

Our community and the greater cycling community is mourning the tragic death of Grand Tour rider Rod Armas who was killed by a drunk driver just a few miles from the end of the Double Century. Rod’s son Christian, 14, was seriously injured, but released from the hospital on Monday. Rod was 45. He had ridden a double century years earlier and wanted to share the exhilarating experience with his son.

The tragedy was a sad end to an otherwise terrific Grand Tour. The Wheelmen organizers know that all credit for success belongs to the volunteers. On behalf of the Wheelmen, I’d like to thank you all very much.

You created the rest stop havens for riders, providing equal measures of food, drink and enthusiastic encouragement. You riders, in turn, gave volunteers the boost we needed to take care of everyone who rode in after you. You especially cheer us when you pause to say thank you and chat a bit, making a personal contact that distinguishes you from the moving mass of riders. Rod and Chris, late in the evening, had a number of the rest stops almost all to themselves. Volunteers spent time with the two and got to know them just a bit more than with everyone else. They developed an emotional investment in the pair’s success - and felt Rod’s death and the family’s loss even more deeply.

On behalf of the Wheelmen and Grand Tour communities, I sent condolences to the Armas family. Many people have asked about a tangible gesture of sorrow. As soon as I get information about a memorial fund for Rod or a medical fund for Chris, I’ll send out the details.”

According to

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jun/29/oxnard-driver-arrested-in-cyclists-death/

“MALIBU - An Oxnard man was arrested in a hit-and-run accident after his truck allegedly struck and killed a father and injured his son cycling along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Cyclist Rodrigo “Rod” Armas, 45, of Kern County, died at the scene, while his 14-year-old son was taken to UCLA Medical Center and was in stable condition with numerous broken bones, Los Angeles County authorities reported.

The two were riding east on the shoulder of the 34000 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Driver Robert Sam Sanchez, 30, drove about a mile south of the crash and ditched the truck, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported. He was found a short distance away and arrested, still displaying symptoms of alcohol intoxication, authorities said.

He was being held Sunday night on $100,000 bail.

Sanchez is a records clerk for the city of Malibu and lives in Oxnard, according to Lt. Scott Chew of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lost Hills station.

Authorities said the cyclists were on their way back to Malibu during the annual 200-mile Los Angeles Wheelmen “Grand Tour” event.

The bicycling event starts and ends in Malibu and wends through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Armas was a Los Angeles County deputy probation officer. He is survived by his wife, Shelly, his 14-year-old son and two daughters, ages 9 and 12.”

M.J. Grove works hard in making the Grand Tour so successful each year and she added her comment on that web page:

“The Los Angeles Wheelmen’s 51st Annual Grand Tour had almost 500 riders out on the road Saturday into early Sunday, riding 125, 200, or 300 miles. It is not a race, it is a recreational bike ride for people who want to enjoy the sport and challenge themselves to greater athletic achievement.

Thousands upon thousands of SOBER drivers passed them, safely and without incident. The riders were NOT anywhere they shouldn’t have been. They were experienced riders using a public highway, wearing helmets, lights, reflectors, and obeying all traffic laws.

The CAR was where it shouldn’t have been, driving on the already occupied shoulder, where the DRIVER steered it.”

The Grand Tour dates back to 1959 and many thousands of cyclists have enjoyed it’s beautiful scenery and great Southern California views over the past 51 years.

Lynn Katano supported so many riders at the Rincon Rest Stop Saturday and wrote last night: “I got this news this morning from various sources and I’ve been in shock all day. It was not even twenty-four hours ago that they were at Rincon swapping stories with us and resting up for the return ride to Malibu. They seemed like such nice, down-to-earth people…it’s such a tragedy.”

Lynn shared a photo of the Father and Son team at

http://www.CalTripleCrown.com/images/RodrigoChrisArmas.jpg

Ken Campbell helped to support the Grand Tour Saturday with Dan Crain and wrote: “We were sweeping the highland course and stopped a couple of times to offer the two encouragement, water, and whatever.  They were bringing up the rear and we thought the boy was doing better than the dad. Dad was on a hybrid bike the boy had a newer road bike with better lights and was in front.  It really touched my heart having always wanted my son to do long rides with me but to no avail.”

Jim Watrous was also helping to support the Grand Tour.  He did course sweep from Ojai to Rincon and helped Rodrigo and Chris Armas on that stretch.  Jim wrote: “A tragic reminder why alcohol abuse or any drug abuse and driving should be dealt with much earlier. Given the circumstances, fetching and reducing the size of these pictures is hard to do.  Here are the four pictures that I have.  Who could have believed that their future would have ended in tragedy.  I truly thought they were going to make it.  And they would have, if not for an [alleged] drunk driver.  In sadness, Jim Watrous.”

Jim shared his four beautiful photos which can be found at

http://www.CalTripleCrown.com/images/TeamArmas.jpg

Look at the joy in the eye of Rod and Chris as they were flying around the bend!!

http://www.CalTripleCrown.com/images/ChrisArmas.jpg

http://www.CalTripleCrown.com/images/RodArmas.jpg

http://www.CalTripleCrown.com/images/RodChrisArmasSoup.jpg

Paul Haussler was also driving SAG Support on the Grand Tour.  He wrote: “I had two bad feelings last night during the Grand Tour.  I heard about a father and son as the last riders on the Highland Route.  The next time was hours later when I saw an ambulance and paramedics racing north on PCH about 1:30 AM.  Video can be seen at

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=6888079

Broad Beach, the location of the accident, is just north of Zuma.  It must have happened shortly after we went through sweeping the Lowland Course.

We feel terrible for the cyclists and family.  Our hearts go out to the Armas family.”

Sadly, the Armas family has been torn apart by another alleged drunk driver.

14 miles and Rod and Chris Armas would have finished an incredible achievement for a father and his son.

14 short miles.

Lynn Katano wrote: “I still get all choked up when I tell people about them.”

The family is in the process of setting up a College Fund Account for donations.  We’ll pass the account number and address onto you when it’s available.

The service will be held on Tuesday July 7, 2009 at 10:00am at the Country Oak Baptist Church, 20915 Schout Rd. Tehachapi, CA 93561, Telephone number (661) 822-1379.  Reception to follow.

Please help the Armas family with your donations and keep them in your thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time.

Chuck Bramwell
California Triple Crown Guy

Lynn Katano
California Triple Crown Social Director

Frank Neal
California Triple Crown Data Guy

Charlie Irwin
California Triple Crown Software Guy

“Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, and today is a gift.  That’s why they call it the present.
God is the author of the past and the future, and he’s the giver of the present gift.”
“Eternal Life is Now”
Mary B. Kirk

• LA Wheelmen Grand Tour: Father killed by motorist, son in critical condition
• Local Cyclist Killed
• Hummer hits cyclist. Officer Cho sympathizes with the driver, adding “and I carry a gun in my car.”
• LAPD Officer: “I have a lightsaber” (Hummer follow up)

Did you watch the whole thing?  No?  Well then you won’t get it - so go watch the whole thing, and get back to me.  Do some dancing while you’re at it.

I think this is exactly what we should be doing as cyclists, and for those involved with Midnight Ridazz, in the bike scene.  We gotta rage and party so hard, we gotta ride and own the streets so well, we gotta smash and mash and turbo blast so fast that people can’t help but RUN over to participate.  Biking should be so fun, such a meteor ride to the moon, that people can’t even take the time to mount their bikes.  Our bike lanes should be full of people crushing it on foot, carrying their bikes they’re so excited.  People ought to be biking around in their pajamas and bath towels with shaving cream on their face because they just were too stoked to bike that they forgot to do some things.

So how do you do it?  I think the way to get the metaphoric dance party started is to literally start the dance party, a real one.   Biking doesn’t have to be all about biking, but rather the opportunities that it affords you as transportation, one in particular being the spontaneous dance party in a glorious location.

And that’s what we do.  On Santa Monica Critical Mass last month we stopped at the First Friday’s Art Walk on Abbot Kinney in Venice.  And at California and Abbot Kinney, we got a crowd on non-cyclists involved in a huge dance party.  A huge dance party that, when the light was red for traffic on Abbot Kinney, we would take over the intersection and dance their, to the point where hundreds of people were dancing on the red.  Even when the music died.

You think those folks will ever look at cyclists the same way?  No chance - they’ll always wonder if that was one of the people who showed them the best time of their life.

Crazy dancing kid, I salute you!

• Top Tren Ways to Get Your CRANK Mob on!
• Recap: March 2008 Santa Monica Critical Mass
• Santa Monica Critical Mass RANT
• Friends of the Friendless Will Tell You of Chet (pt. 2)

Come out and show your support for the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights, and encourage the Palms Neighborhood Council to give it a rousing, ringing, and unanimous endorsement.

When: Wednesday, July 8th, 7:00pm
Where: Iman Cultural Center, 3376 Motor Ave

Afterward, a rambling ride around the Westside ending in gluttony, somewhere!

Updates on Westsidazz twitter.   Bike Writers Collective Facebook Group, and Facebook invite.

• TUESDAY: Cyclists’ Bill of Rights at Mar Vista Community Council
• Mar Vista Community Council endorses the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights by a 10-0 vote!
• East Hollywood Neighborhood Council adopts Cyclists’ Bill of Rights!
• TAKE ACTION: Ride to the Mandeville Canyon Assault Community Meeting, Monday, 6:30pm

As Saturday turned into Sunday, Rod and Christian had approximately 190 miles behind them including 8500 feet of elevation gain and four very challenging hills. They were riding on the shoulder in ideal conditions. the sky was clear, there was great visibility, the roads were dry and there was a slight off shore breeze.

. . . At approximately 1:30 am, the next SAG driver came across an emergency scene with medical and law enforcement personnel at work on the two cyclists who lay on the ground at 34000 PCH . . .

Rod was pronounced dead at the scene and Christian was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center with severe and comprehensive injuries.

As someone who was twice ridden the 200 mile highland route on the Grand Tour, this sent shivers down my spine.  The last 30 miles of the route from the final checkpoint returns to Malibu along the rolling hills of PCH.  At this point, your body is totally brutalized, and the term rolling hills translates to total agony.  But worse are the drivers, and when you are most tired, you are forced to concentrate intently on staying safe next to speeding vehicles.

I can’t suppress a morbid thought.  On epic adventures with my own dad we would often get in nasty arguments when this exhausted.  I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose your dad at the end of such an effort, especially if you had just argued.

Please re-blog, tweet, and share Stephen’s article with your friends.

• R.I.P. Rod Armas: A letter from the LA Wheelmen
• Local Cyclist Killed
• Hummer hits cyclist. Officer Cho sympathizes with the driver, adding “and I carry a gun in my car.”
• Advanced Congratulations to Stephen Box on (future) Success in Woodland Hills (Roasted, Part 1 of 1,000,000)

Captain Allen, under pressure from Councilman Rosendahl, asserted that there were plates on the ‘07 Hummer, in contrast to the above photo from the scene.  Allen and Williams’ report also revealed that the City Attorney’s office has decided not to prosecute the motorist, and is considering prosecuting the cyclists on vandalism charges.

After cyclists countered LAPD’s report in almost every facet, Councilman Rosendahl grilled Williams.  When Williams repeatedly said he did not know if the vehicle had plates, Allen stepped in from the audience to answer the question.  Allen asserted that, based on the report, the vehicle must have had plates.  Later, Matt Simmons, whose bike was run over by the Hummer, speculated that the information had been retrieved from a VIN number.  Simmons went on to say that the lack of plates was what caused cyclists to blockade the Hummer, and that there were photographs documenting that.

Was Allen lying about the plates?  My first reaction was “yes”.  Their report was full of audacious spin.  They said that the Hummer driver left the scene because he was afraid of the cyclists, when every cyclist witness I have spoken with has explained how one woman leaned out of the car and yelled victoriously “no plates!”, and another passenger boasted that he was carrying a gun.  They reported that the Hummer drove away from the scene, inadvertently hitting bikes, but then stopped and waited for the police.  This directly contradicts what cyclists reported - that they were pulled over while fleeing.  When pressed about it, Allen and Williams were unable to square their version with the fact that the motorist did not call the police.  Allen and Williams failed to do the basic credibility check and ask - who has the incentive to avoid a collision?  A cyclist has every incentive to avoid a collision, whereas a motorist has little.  Had they done that, the whole report would have looked suspect.  The apparent lack of critical thinking smelled like deception to me.

After Simmons’ comments, we all stepped out into the hall to discuss the incident and the photos.  I dug out the photos on my iPhone, and Williams alternated between listening intently to Simmons recall the incident, and peaking over at my iPhone to see if the photo had fully loaded.  That’s not the behavior of someone who is interested in deceiving you, but rather the behavior of someone trying to better understand a situation.

Is it possible that a Commander and a Captain have been hoodwinked by a prejudiced officer?  I think that it is.  More and more as I attend these hearings I get the sense that the officers are dispatched to City Hall to report on incidents they have no prior knowledge of.  It seems to be LAPD policy that these officers defend LAPD’s actions at any cost, sacrificing their personal integrity for that of the LAPD, so that LAPD can remain independent.  In essence, they’re fed to the wolves.

Many of us saw Deputy Chief Albanese’s vitriolic report on the Hummer Hit N Run in Council in late May.  At the time I just chalked it up to hatred.  The Thompson family has a wary attitude toward law enforcement, and for good reason.  When officers have motivation to lie, it is my reflex to assume they will.  Perhaps, I was a victim of my own prejudice.  Consider this:  Albanese has a reputation for being aggressive, abrasive, and unapologetic - a kind of Alex Thompson of the LAPD.  Where I saw prejudice, perhaps there was only a police officer defending his department based on what he read in the report - albeit in his acidic style.

In other words, maybe Cho threw Deputy Chief Albanese (two stars) under the bus too.  A bad report by Cho and a bad LAPD policy put Albanese at odds with Hahn, whose district makes up much of his command area.  Just as I was a victim of my own prejudice, perhaps so is LAPD.  Cho’s superior officers failed to question whether his report is fair or accurate.  In doing so, they accepted Cho’s anti-cyclist prejudice as their own, and reaped embarrassment in the public eye.

We condemn prejudice for the unjust personal suffering and pain that it causes, but we forget that prejudice often causes dysfunction within organizations.  Where prejudice is present, players cannot make rational decisions, and that leads to truck loads of dysfunction - in this case the stalwart defense of indefensibly bad policing.

Many motorists out there harbor a disabling prejudice against cyclists, and some of them are in LAPD.  A consciousness within LAPD that some prejudiced officers badly mishandle cycling incidents could go a long way toward sparing command staff further embarrassment.  If such a consciousness existed, officers summoned to report on such incidents would be less strident to defend the indefensible, and more inclined to take a second look at the details.

Instead, LAPD is getting pwned by Officer Cho’s prejudice against cyclists.  As a result of his report, we’ve now seen three high level officers at odds with council.  Distrust between LAPD and cyclists has been aggravated, and is perched at an all time high.

• Hummer hits cyclist. Officer Cho sympathizes with the driver, adding “and I carry a gun in my car.”
• LAPD Officer: “I have a lightsaber” (Hummer follow up)
• Storm The Bastille: Friday, May 1st, Cyclists visit LA City Council
• Guess what? LAPD didn’t get the memo.

(photo by Justin Jakobson)

Last Tuesday was the one year anniversary of Taco Tuesdays.  EVERY week for one year Taco Tuesdays has met and left from CRANK MOB PARK at 8pm, and every week XL, the ride leader, has put together an awesome ride and spokecard.

That’s an extraordinary effort, and that effort has earned a huge and faithful following.  When I went on my first Taco Tuesdays, #17, there were around 30 riders.  Now the ride pulls between 60 and 80 riders on weekly basis.  When we left CRANK MOB PARK on Tuesday for the one year anniversary ride, I estimate there were about 200 riders.

Since I started riding bikes in West LA there have been a handful of rides or entities that changed the face of the West LA bike scene.  The first ride I ever went to was Westsidazz, created by Alec, Brian and Max from the Southbay.  That ride created the West LA bike scene, where before there were only a handful of people who rode east a couple times a month for LA Critical Mass and the 2nd Friday’s Midnight Ridazz.  Next, Zack Beatty founded Santa Monica Critical Mass, which broadened and deepened the scene which Westsidazz created.

Out of that scene emerged Bikerowave, creating a physical center for the West LA bikers, and giving them a reason to hang out more than once a month.  And Cub Camp followed nearly instantly on it’s heels.  Cub Camp quickly grew into a whole new kind of ride - an unholy synthesis of hustle and party.  From Cub Camp and Bikerowave sprang a community of Cubs, who took party riding and FUN to a whole new level.

In the way that SMCM took what Westsidazz had done and made it available to a broader audience, CRANK MOB came and turned the whole Westside into one big Cubbie Puddle, introducing Cub Camp and Cub Campery to the masses.  CRANK MOB injected a new reckless and youthful abandon into party rides, not just in West LA, but in Los Angeles in general.  It turned inclusivity on it’s head, and where once anyone was welcome, now anyone was welcome to come to CRANK MOB and be involuntarily jumped into a life of hard bike partying.  With the problems of today’s CRANK MOB looming the last year, we forget what the original CRANK MOB was - a joyous forcefully inclusive orgy of fun that produced the best riding scene we will probably ever experience.  After 1 year we learned what the phrase “too much of a good thing” really means when accidents and too much rowdiness showed us that many new CRANK MOBsters didn’t understand what CRANK MOB was really about.

Taco Tuesdays is the next thing.  It’s belongs in that line of rides and organizations that reshaped how things are done in the West LA bike scene.  Each of the above entities taught us lessons about how to pull off good rides, or make a good organization.  XL and his team have humbled me and others with their no nonsense approach to Taco Tuesdays.

What’s special about Taco Tuesdays?  To me, the most standout aspect is the team work.  No other westside ride organizer has built a stable team of riders to execute a ride week after week.  Some have a handful of people who collaborate haphazardly, but the team behind Taco Tuesdays has defined roles and consistent participation.  That team has found ways to raise funds to pay for special events and sound system repairs.

XL and his team also dialed back the CRANK MOB atmosphere back a notch, cultivating a chill but fun atmosphere.  By pulling back from the one million percent party level of CRANK MOB, they found a great niche and owned it.  The relaxed tone is perfectly suited for a weeknight ride where you need to be ready for work in the morning, and it creates a welcoming atmosphere where people get to know each other.

Taco Tuesdays riders don’t take shit.  Lately most rides have had problems with tagging, stealing, and even fighting.  Taco Tuesdays is no exception.  But, while other people have thrown e-fits about it, XL and his team have confronted problem riders with courage and empathy, and thought carefully about simple, direct ways of dealing with it.

Most importantly, Taco Tuesdays is a consisten big weekly ride on a week night.  No one has done that yet, except Roadblock with Wolfpack.  That’s impressive.

Congratulations XL and Taco Tuesdays on an amazing year, and great vision!

• 50 Cyclists Take to Ballona Creek . . . for Tacos
• Friends of the Friendless Will Tell You of Chet (pt. 2)
• Cyclist hit (?) and injured on Main St in Santa Monica
• AWESOME July 4th Rides, and other events in July

• Old Photos: Bikerowave, Ilia Pankin, et al
• Photos: 2008 Winter Polo Picnic
• PARTY: BikeRoPARTY 2.0 - Bikerowave throws a party!
• Bicycle Film Festival Seeks Volunteers for July 17th-21st

I propose a simple solution: withdraw the award.  If you agree, sign this petition! (after signing the petition will ask for a donation - the donation is to the website hosting the petition, not to us, and is not required whatsoever.)

If the League were to withdraw the award it would send a message that local cyclists control the playing field, and only they can determine what is safe and bike friendly.  In the interests of diplomacy, another option is given: appoint a review board of local cyclists who will review the award in 2010 and determine if it should be withdrawn at that time.

The more I think about it, the more that second option becomes desirable.  In talking with League insiders, I learned that they view the bicycle friendly community awards as the hook in the fish’s mouth - motivation for communities to continue aggressive progress toward bike friendliness.  They speak of times when a community has lost an award after 4 years, and scrambled to regain the award.  If the awards functioned that way, it would be a brilliant strategy for pushing change forward.

Except this award doesn’t work that way.  It cites the 19 miles of bike routes in Santa Monica, but one of those bike routes is Lincoln Blvd, one of the toughest places in the county for inexperienced cyclists to ride.  It cites 16 miles of bike lanes, but fails to realized that the vast majority of these lanes are located adjacent to perpetually occupied street parking, and that the right hook in the Main St bike lane is amazingly common.  In short, the award seems to be given based on paper facts, but missed the on the ground realities of West LA county.  It gives the impression that little has to be done to become bike friendly.

However, if the League partnered with local cyclists to review the award, it would benefit from local knowledge, and strengthen it’s connection with the local movement.  Effectively, it would solve an informational problem for the League, offering them a pipeline of local information they would not otherwise have.  Suddenly, local activists would be able to say to the city, “these are the specific things you must address to be more bike friendly”, with the authoritative backing of a national lobbying organization.

It could be a good collaboration, if the League can first acknowledge and respect the priority of local opinion.

• Santa Monica is bike friendly? How the League of American Bicyclists undermines local cyclists
• We need a Bicyclist Bill of Rights
• Cyclist hit (?) and injured on Main St in Santa Monica
• Recap: LA Bike Master Plan Meeting