BlastRadius

Anyone going to Leap Day Critical Mass? It only comes around once in a blue moon.

Ep3licious

i might come out to this one.

x136 

Less often than that, I'd wager.

spingineer

I'm kinda leery of Critical Mass ... just don't want another riot, cyclists breaking every law in the book, and cars wanting to run everyone on a bike over. Kinda defeats the idea of making bicycling more appealing to the general masses.

msincredible

I agree. I think originally it was a good idea, attract attention to the needs of bicyclists, but now I think it just pisses drivers off.

mtnwalker

What makes this critical mass different from past critical mass in SF?

Besides the Leap Year designation.

Ty.S

Nothing.. I like the philosophy of "Teaching people to share the road by taking it over". Makes about as much sense as a football bat.

I'm glad I check bf.net or I would have ran right into this thing on my way home from work on friday.. phew!

0_o

I guess I'll have to leave work early tomorrow so I can miss CM. I would hate to be mowed down by some crazy mom in a minivan while cycling because CM riders sent her into a rampage...

SanJoseBob

I'll be taking Caltrain 257 up for it, so I have time to cruise over to American Cyclery before it starts, riding my green '69 Raleigh Superbe 3-speed. CM is just a big group ride for me. The only "club" ride I can enjoy without wearing a helmet, that won't shun me for my personal choice. Vive la liberty!

Probably return on the 194 at 10:00. I always just start riding with the group and not look up or think about where I am until I'm done, or it's done, then figure out where I am and head to the train station. It's like being on the train; a continuum of people forming a single "supervehicle", others in cars needing to wait for it to clear the area, a little moment for a minority to exercise their right to a regularly scheduled peaceful demonstration.

Despite the bad rap for CM, the vast vast vast majority of faces seen will be smiling, understanding, patient and tolerant.

BlastRadius

Bob, that's my general feeling about CM. I don't normally go but because it falls on the last Friday of each month, it's not going to fall on a Friday Leap Day again for a long time (at least four years).

Pizza Man

This from timeanddate.com:

The year 2008 is a leap year. If you look at a 2008 calendar, you will see that February has five Fridays–the month begins and ends on a Friday. Between the years 1904 and 2096, leap years that share the same day of week for each date repeat only every 28 years. The most recent year in which February comprised five Fridays was in 1980, and the next occurrence will be in 2036. February 29, the leap day, has been associated with age-old traditions, superstitions and folklore.

https://www.infoplease.com/spot/bluemoon1.html

How Often Does a Blue Moon Occur?
Over the next twenty years there will be a total of 17 blue moons, with an almost equal number of both types of blue moons occurring. No blue moon of any kind will occur in the years 2006, 2011, 2014, and 2017.


A leap day critical mass only happens once every 28 years (this will be the first)
Since the first Critical Mass ride took place on Friday, September 25, 1992 at 6 pm in San Francisco.

Pizza Man

I was thinking of participating this month, but ironically, I will be driving my minivan about the time critical mass starts since I need to pick up a bicycle that's missing a wheel at a friend's house.
I hope I don't run into that CM crowd.

taxi777

"The only "club" ride I can enjoy without wearing a helmet, that won't shun me for my personal choice"


Yeah, I remember my first ride with NorCal and forgot my helmet..they beat the crap out of me and through me and my bike in the bushs!..and took my wallet, do you remember that guys? I know all of you shun people all of the time because you don't believe in freedom.

uspspro

Bob, I know most of the BF'ers here wouldn't shun you fro not wearing a helmet or cycling "gear." It's your personal choice, and most of us are pretty laid back.

However clubs like Western Wheelers, Alto Velo, SJ Bike Club, etc, etc... have an identifiable organization that may be held liable and/or get bad publicity from any kind of accident. BF is not an organization, it is a collection of friends who like to talk bikes, and meet up for rides.

On the North Bay (Mt. Tam) ride from last year, didn't you ride with regular athletic shorts and no helmet? No big deal.

msincredible

Yeah, we didn't shun you Bob!
I've occasionally been spotted cycling around the world lidless too.
And horror of horrors, I wear MTB shorts on my road bike.


The only times I generally roll my eyes are when I see:
1) Someone cycling with their helmet hanging from their handlebars
2) Helmeted kids riding with bare-headed parents

mtnwalker

Hey, I like football bats. I also like my cotton rain cape and playdough front bumpers.

Seriously though I think CM has lost its meaning because making drivers get stuck in traffic caused by hundreds of cyclists is not really a good thing to do. I really doubt any of these drivers are thinking "Hmmm, I will be much nicer to people on bikes from now on and give them more room.", as most of them sit there in their cars, unmoving.

This was really drove home the day we did the Mt Tam ride and a group of us were riding back through San Francisco. A couple of elder pedestrians were crossing traffic and the group stopped to let them through. As they passed by one of them said "So, you guys are not part of that group?"

'nother

I crack up when I see folks wearing their helmets backwards (I just hope *they* don't crack up!). I'm always puzzled as to how someone could screw that up. It just seems so obvious which way it goes. Maybe I've spent too much time as a member of the Helmet Brigade.

BlastRadius

Wow. I wonder if CM will still be around in 2036. I thought it was an uncommon occurance but 28 years? Whew.

Ty.S

Blast... I don't remember what thread it was.. but CM like all things on this earth will be gone in 2012.

0_o

Oh boy you just gave me flash backs from this mornings commute to work.
I saw some lady take your #2 post to the extreme.
I was riding down the lower part of Page St. and I came upon a woman who was riding her bike with out a helmet ...she had had a small child strapped in a child seat on the back of the bike, the kid was wearing a helmet.
Anyway I found myself riding behind her for about 3 blocks. As I rode behind her we came up to a busy 4 way stop. The woman just blew through the 4 way stop, ignoring everyone around her. There were cars driving though the intersection and her actions left me thinking WTF is that woman crazy ... sad thing is she also blew through the next 4 way stop a block later.

BlastRadius

Rats, those dang Mayans have to ruin everything. And the world had to end on Dec 12th too, why not 7 days later so I could have my birthday

BlastRadius

Poor kid.

jonathanb715

Why does that leave me thinking of Peanuts?



JB

taxi777

+ 1, I had to stop doing it in protest...I don't think the intoxication with alcohol or whatever is a good idea. I've seen a couple of people go down pretty hard. Not a great example for the young generation. I'd rather ride with my bike buddies somewhat sanely on the open road, even if they shun me for trying to hit every rock and scattered road kill in the road and being just generally foul and annoying.

Ty.S

I would hope that the event will eventually get back to its routes and the trouble makers will find something else to latch onto. I liked the idea of critical mass, but the actions / philosophy lately have seemed a little off to me.

I'd rather see critical mass make the news for something more constructive and positive for the cycling community, as opposed to the current trend of having the few people with an agenda and flair for the dramatic get out.. and set up a fake car mauling by some poor unsuspecting elderly couple.

Hopefully todays ride went well and nobody, cyclist or motorist was injured.