Northern California - Critical Mass was a Blast!

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View Full Version : Critical Mass was a Blast!


RapidRobert
08-01-09, 01:49 AM
Big crowd again tonight. Got there off the train from Santa Clara about 5:50 and hung out with a few other old timers on classic steel. One guy, and I forget his name right now, has a really nice all chrome '68 Dawes ... all very British and mod. Along with my '69 Raleigh, you could smell the, ahem, patchouli in the air!:50::thumb:

All was very peaceful and with great riding weather. This is a very diverse group, pretty evenly attended by 20s to 60s. Not the overwhelmingly young crowd at the San Jose Bike Party, and a whole lot more sedate on the road (despite riding through the lights). I have to believe the continuous riding of Critical Mass keeps the group much more sober than the frequent regrouping stops made by the SJBP. Both rides enjoy the presence of a number of "boom bikes". I absolutely lllllllloooooooovvvvvvee riding my bike with loud music playing in the air!:love::love::love:

So thanks to the naked guys, the topless girl, the group of young tourists going down the coast, Joshua on the customized Raleigh fixed three speed (with left side drive!), Bubbles, all the wacky bikes and every-day cruisers, the stuttering fixie going down the hill, the drivers waiting patiently and smiling, the cops keeping the way open, and everyone on a bike there tonight for a GREAT ride!


prathmann
08-01-09, 02:36 AM
So that's what was in the air! I must have been mistaken before.

I posted the route and some pictures at:
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=295907

Also took some video of the Lombard descent and should get that posted somewhere soon.
Update:
video clips of the Lombard hill descent are at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27ES0qpVWHc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL-x-8-EZHc

BlastRadius
08-01-09, 03:22 AM
Sweet. Pelikan made it to his first CM too.


pelikan
08-01-09, 06:34 PM
Yup, was very cool to finally see it. I loved 99% of it and the people, but that 1% (like the jackass who was DUI [imho] and crashed into a car in the tunnel) leaves a bad taste overall. Sad.

I really really dug all the tourists with rentals just for that purpose.

RapidRobert
08-01-09, 08:21 PM
Yeah, I saw him hit it then leave despite a few yells to leave a note. I saw maybe three other wipe-outs too. One tumbled over going around a corner, another's wheel was eaten by the trolley tracks, a third crossed wheels with a stopper. None wearing helmets, all OK.