Foldable Two

Interesting that the Encino Velodrome was on your route.

We spent many Fri & Sat nights out there in the 70's with our young daughter watching the likes of Jerry Ash, Ron Skarin and on one occasion Jack Disney (then in his 40's). That experience is definitely the major reason our 10 yr old grandson is now involved in the summer youth development classes at the Marymoor Velodrome in Redmond, WA.

Sounds like you had a good time.

Pine Cone

I was there as well in 1973 and 1974. This was before bicycle computers and Ron Skarin would ride his Teledyne Titan with a Huret analog speedometer in road races.

Don't forget Fast Freddy Markham and his bicycle babes! Those were good times . I remember ordering my first hardshell helmet in 1974 from Bell directly since they weren't selling through retail stores yet.

I mostly rode the westside since I was living in Santa Monica and didn't have a car. I can remember many nights at the Encino Velodrome. Were you there when the 6-day races were in LA in 1973? The sprints between American Jackie Simes versus the Frenchman Daniel Morelon? The Australian John Nickonson with his shoes bolted to his pedals on his track bike.

Good memories from Encino.... Got my first folder a year later in 1975 after I moved back to Berkeley to go to university...

mulleady

Seems better weather than London at the moment in the group shot but that's not difficult!

nekohime

Pictures are up! https://picasaweb.google.com/nekohime...oldingBikeRide

I'll post them to the ride website and to midnight rideazz sooner or later...

v6v6v6

Great job Nekohime! I look forward to our next folder ride soon. Here are some pics:

At Union Station... Alan's Swift in the foreground


John and Jackson on the train


At North Hollywood getting ready for our ride to Balboa Park


Balboa Park


Encino Velodrome

roadfix

Neato! Thanks for the report!
I've always thought of owning a folder one day, fixed gear, of course.

nekohime

Check out LittlePixel's brompton/merc fixie!

mulleady

Good photos, some very interesting folders. You can see the fascination on the train towards the folding bikes in one pic! The virus will spread, long live foldinitis lol!

Have to say Nekohime your Kent suits its purpose and although its subjective on whether people like the side colour panels they are actually very good side reflectors passing by junctions at night, a neat idea.

v6v6v6

Let me just say Nekohime is a very good example of how folders serve as utility, commuting, and recreation, and in her case it's also very cost-effective at just $150. From what I understand her commute is from West Covina to Westwood via a combination of bike, train, and bus--lots of people along the way to learn from her example. What a trooper!

Foldable Two

I don't think we got involved until a yr or two after the Morelon/Nicholson race - I remember the announcer talking about it though. I am only familiar with Fast Freddy Markham now because I have read about Bike Friday's Rob English who also attempts speed records in Human Powered Vehicles.

We sure didn't ride with helmets back then, and neither did our young daughter who spent several years in a seat on the back of my bike.

You were definitely an early adopter of both helmets and folders! We were just switching from 5-speed Schwinn Collegiates to 10-speed Schwinn Varsitys back in those days.

Ov3rTheHill

Thanks Nekohime for organizing a charity ride on a nice day with nice pix as a bonus! Note the pic of my son sitting on his foldie in the Red Line subway car. I've done that many times on busy days when no seat is available; use a foldie and make your own! Gets people interested every time.

nekohime

Actually those were Planet Bike stickers. I ripped off the original rather ugly side panels and replaced them. You're right, they do make for good side reflectors!

ZoneRanger

I'm be looking forward to the next. I wasn't able to make it, this time. Not necessarily the first reason I didn't make it, but definitely the end of all possiblities, was me pulling/straining some muscles in my back/side during tennis class. Bummer! I don't know why it happens, but it's the same injury I received a couple of months ago while playing table tennis and racket ball. How much street riding did you all do?

folder fanatic

Great! Another chance to meet and visit with you all! I was afraid that I missed out on my one and only chance at seeing other people and their unique bikes. I don't want to make anymore promises, but I am still hoping things will work out this time(s).

mulleady

You know you can't resist the call of the Socal fold FF Some lovely bikes on the SoCal rude and NH's was a cute little folder too :-D (Not being patronising BTW)


My students are always amused about my enthusiasm for folding bikes and my trusty Downtube VIIIH has ended up in the lecture theatre during an evening session on occasion, ready to go afterwards! However they never laugh and some of them have or want to get one. I even wrote a case study on Yan's company Downtube for my e-business class for their summer exam lol. That should test them!

The foldinitis virus is becoming a pandemic lol.

alicestrong

I hope to make the next one!