Lookin forward to it! I just did a portion of the ride tonight.

BTW, I noticed your route description mentions the Rose Bowl but I think we decided to stay on the east side of Pasadena?

Oh, and the date still says April 19th!

Wait, date on where? I shall fix immediately...

http://socalfolderride.freehostia.com/

Fixed! I thought I typed August, but put April instead... :o

Slightly adjusted route, in particular:

- starting/ending on the eastern side of the Sierra Madre Villa station (Halstead St.)
- cutting across Orange Grove Blvd. from Altadena Dr. to Sierra Madre Blvd.

http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=19493#

Slightly adjusted route, in particular:

- starting/ending on the eastern side of the Sierra Madre Villa station (Halstead St.)
- cutting across Orange Grove Blvd. from Altadena Dr. to Sierra Madre Blvd.

http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=19493#

Yay, thanks for all the work, v6! Sorry about this morning. I only woke up when you called the second time...:twitchy::o

Y'all better sign up by this Friday if you're going to lunch at Sun's because I have to call them on Sat/Sun to make a reservation.

Ok, I'm going to call Sun's and make a reservation for 10 people...based on last time I think that will suffice.

Sorry, but I will be forced to miss this folder ride. When is the next one. One of my girlfriends is making me go out of town with her this weekend.

Sorry, but I will be forced to miss this folder ride. When is the next one. One of my girlfriends is making me go out of town with her this weekend.

Next one will probably be over winter break, early December maybe. I'll start planning for that once I get settled in during the school year. Hope to see you on that one!

Is it okay to to skip the train ride and meet in Pasadena? I live closer to Pasadena.

Is it okay to to skip the train ride and meet in Pasadena? I live closer to Pasadena.

Yes, that's perfectly fine; we had Captain Spalding meet us at North Hollywood station instead of at Union the last time around. We will arrive at Sierra Madre Villa station around 8:50-9am. See you there!

Looking forward to meeting ya, demasoni. Hope others can make it, too, especially non-Dahon owners. :) I wanna check out yer rides!

Looking forward to meeting ya, demasoni. Hope others can make it, too, especially non-Dahon owners. :) I wanna check our yer rides!


If all goes well, a bromptonite and an R-20 owner are coming!!!:thumb:

Just signed up so I imagine it's too late for restaurant reservations for us, but we (John, Kim and Jackson) will be going on our Dahons - one Speed and two Speed TRs.

Just signed up so I imagine it's too late for restaurant reservations for us, but we (John, Kim and Jackson) will be going on our Dahons - one Speed and two Speed TRs.

Actually, when I (Folder Fanatic) made the reservation for the restaurant, I made it to be a little flexible.

Date: Sunday August 31, 2008
Time: 11.00 am
Place: Second Dining Room, far table with extra space for the folded bikes.
Method Of Payment: "dutch" using cash, credit cards (all major ones are acceptable, but ask first), no personal checks accepted

I said 10 people are going to show, but allow for around a possible 15. I will not bring my bike with me to make more room so someone(s) else can take theirs. I can walk like I mostly do to get there. So feel free to show up if you wish. So welcome John, Kim and Jackson. There is room for a few more. The restaurant can seat around 60 or so people-minus bikes. If you can arrive at the appointed time (11:00 am) and not much later than that), there should be room.

Looking forward to seeing you guys again!

Actually, when I (Folder Fanatic) made the reservation for the restaurant, I made it to be a little flexible. I said 10 people are going to show, but allow for around a possible 15. I will not bring my bike with me to make more room so someone(s) else can take theirs. I can walk like I mostly do to get there. So feel free to show up if you wish. So welcome John, Kim and Jackson. There is room for a few more. The restaurant can seat around 60 or so people-minus bikes. If you can arrive at the appointed time (11:00 am) and not much later than that), there should be room. Is there any reason why we wouldn't just park the bikes outside and lock 'em up?

Hi FF,

I realize you're trying to make this as pleasant an experience for all riders by coordinating with the restaurant and all, but I'm a little worried when you say: This area is not a great place to ride bikes. If this is such a heavily gang-infested area, is it wise for us to be riding and meeting up here? And I'm not trying to be trite here--I'm genuinely concerned about our safety since I'm not familiar with this area at all.

Why would anyone with a folding bike want to lock it up for? I feel for just as many reasons why a person might purchase a folding bike in the first place. Not everyone has the same exact purpose for their folding bike. For me, I'd rather not bring in my bike when I have to negotiate narrow or crowded aisles in stores or restaurants. The folds on different bikes vary, too, whereas mine folds down fast but takes up more space because of the bullhorn bars. For example, I'll make a quick run into the local drug store, lock the bike up quick without folding it down, and then run in and grab what I need to. Also, I'd rather not bring my bike into a restaurant--just my personal preference. I feel it can be portrayed as rude by both patrons and staff. Again, just my personal preference. But in this case, it'd also work out well since I'd also like to provide more room for any additional riders we have!

FF, it's really not good to wind people up like that. In one post you caution participants that they should bring their bikes inside because it would be unsafe not to do so, owing to the fact that the restaurant is in gang territory, and then in a subsequent post, after someone questions the wisdom of taking the ride to such a place after having read your remarks, you treat them like a chicken little, describe your experiences riding in the area, decry that the restaurant is often populated by police officers, and emphasize your point with an emboldened "it is fine."

I appreciate your cycling advocacy and all, but c'mon now . . .

My sister really thinks this is a real waste of my time. She thinks that people on the Internet are not to be trusted or idiots. I hope she is wrong about this.
She's right. I'm an untrustworthy idiot. I admit it. :thumb: Ask the folks who went on the last folder ride. They know. They'll tell you . . .

I am not intending to treat anyone like chicken little,belittling them or winding them up.

I simply will state that I live here, own property passed down from my own family. I ride my bikes for many years, I bring my bikes into places I go since I don't want to be victimized, and I will continue to do so yesterday, today, and tomarrow. I chose to use folding bikes and I patronize places where they are welcomed. I did not mean to hurt or scare anyone. Or even lie and say it such a wonderful place-not anymore for old timers. I live in a place where I now learn to adapt. I simply tried to answer honestly. I would not have suggested Sun's if I thought it was not worth it or safe to go to. And many people here don't have money to blow that old town Pasadena assumes you have even if they don't want to admit it. I would have been just as happy to stay in Pasadena. But since it is necessary to mention it, I am not the only one who had to adapt to a changing enviroment. I think all of you should visit the family home of Jackson Browne while you are riding down Figueroa St,. It is right in the direction of going to Sun's so you will not go out of your way. I will tell you all how to find it, without leaving Figueroa St, The family has did their own means of dealing with this in their own way as mine has. Then draw your own conclusions.

My sister really thinks this is a real waste of my time. She thinks that people on the Internet are not to be trusted or idiots. I hope she is wrong about this.

Yikes. New to this thread. Seems like your sister is correct.

Dang. I always feared that deep down I'm an idiot. I had hoped for better, but now I know. This must be where foldinitis comes from too.

Very nice to meet everyone this morning! In hindsight, it might've been a little too hilly for our casual group ride (and there were some traffic lights that raised the anxiety level for some), but you were all troopers and I hope at least the downhills were fun. I'm sure the many roadies we came across were impressed (not). :lol: Well, we did have Dave on his road bike and nekohime was looking pretty fly in her new bikeforums jersey--that gave us some street cred, right? :p We had good folder representation today: 12 riders on Dahon, Downtube, Brompton, and KHS (and Dave on his Giant).

Lunch was nice, sorry I couldn't join you for the 2nd leg of the tour--hope you had a pleasant ride around the Highland Park neighborhood.

The Metro riders have arrived
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/darthsauce/musl/2008-08-31-002.jpg

Negotiating a turn on the mean streets of Pasadena
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/darthsauce/musl/20080831004.jpg

Breaking a sweat early up towards Sierra Madre Blvd
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/darthsauce/musl/20080831006.jpg

Our steeds
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/darthsauce/musl/20080831008.jpg

Looking forward to next time!

Edit: FF, I hope you'll gladly tell your sister that us Internet-folks aren't idiots (well, at least not all of us)! nekohime, do we want to do this more often maybe like once a month or every other month? Also, do we feel it's more appropriate to label this the "LA" vs. SoCal folder ride? I hate to tease our SD brethren down south!

Nice day, nice ride, nice to see y'all again and talk foldies. Thanks to nekohime and friends for organizing!

Hi everyone, This is John - Thank you to every welcoming face this morning. It was great meeting and riding with you all. Looking forward to the next ride! :ride:

Edit: FF, I hope you'll gladly tell your sister that us Internet-folks aren't idiots (well, at least not all of us)!

I can say on her behalf that she was really impressed that most of you showed up at Sun's and seem to enjoy yourselves (I sure did!). In her own way, she was suprised that I actually physically attended-even briefly-as I am tend to be a bit shy and retiring in person plus I wanted to keep an eye on elderly parent at home too. While I can't talk her into riding one of my folding bikes, she is going to take her old mountain bike in for servicing and some serious riding afterwards. That is a big start for her.

Then I just might quietly invite her for to attend the next ride-I will pay her way too (but don't tell her what I am up to-yet).

I really enjoyed meeting all of you even for just 2 brief periods yesterday. I am still a bit sore in my left knee and might have to rest a couple of days off any bike. This caught me off guard as I thought I was fit enough to ride with a group. I am going to condition myself to ride longer periods of time actually on the bike as I did when I was in my 20s & 30s. I thought of the length of time I usually spend on a bike at any given time. It usually a short 1-6 miles generally to connect with some sort of public transit. And I think I tend to be on the slow side in riding speed. So I am setting some goals to be more ready next time:

Schedule more actual riding time, rather than using buses/trains. I am going to ride like like did back before the acceptance of bikes on board. Either public transit or bikes. I take the bikes on board when I must do so.

Riding faster. I think I will gradually quicken my pace and maintain it for a long period of time before group riding. My little bikes are not that slow!

Do knee stretching exercises before and after riding for any length of time. I have my sister to thank for this suggestion. She does not limp after her car accident because she did this exercise.

See my doctor for a physical examination soon.

Well if I am good enough to pass muster, I hope to see you all again at the next ride!

Come on are you all camera shy? Where are more close-ups of the bikes and where are half you hiding lol?

Come on are you all camera shy? Where are more close-ups of the bikes and where are half you hiding lol? Yeah, I'm sure we had a bunch of photographers so I'm hoping to see some more pics, too!

Yeah, I'm sure we had a bunch of photographers so I'm hoping to see some more pics, too!

I came away with something far more important than photos. I came away with a good positive experience and meeting great people that I look forward to ride with again.

Even my sister changed her rather jaded view of the Internet-for the better. We all must have the opportunity to learn what is really going on whether in cyberspace or the real world.

Well, my photos weren't as great as last time. I think Ov3rTheHill and the two Daves had better pics. I'm in the process of uploading them to http://picasaweb.google.com/socal.folder.ride so check there a bit later. If anyone has more pics, send them to me please!

Update: just sent in the check to world bicycle relief, and we got $120, about the same as last time. I got 95 from the ride, plus I bullied some relatives to donate too so the check I sent would be over 100. Yay!

Still waiting for more pics to put on the website...c'mon people, I know you have em!

Hi V6, do you know much about adding the electric motor to your folding bike? How much does it costs and do you know of any good websites and resources?

Hi V6, do you know much about adding the electric motor to your folding bike? How much does it costs and do you know of any good websites and resources? Hey, check out the electric bikes forum (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=258) or a site like V is for Voltage (http://visforvoltage.org/). Lots of good resources and and others who can answer your questions better!

i wonder when will be the next one... im definitely joining you guys... your last ride was close to my work... hehehe

i wonder when will be the next one... im definitely joining you guys... your last ride was close to my work... hehehe

There's another new thread for the next ride in december. Search for the socal folder ride thread that has the poll and long term plans. Hope you make it to the next one! :D