kate_fulton

Kcet.org's Social Nets issue of its online magazine features the bike community Midnight Ridazz. The segment includes an article by LA Times contributor Stephen Krcmar and a whole slew of multimedia extras: photos and video of the rides and interviews with some of the original ridazz. I highly recommend checking it out. It's really well done and it serves as a great introduction for anyone who is interested in biking communities. You can check it out at https://www.kcet.org/explore-ca/web-s...s/midnight.php.

merider1

Thanks, Kate, I'll give it look over for sure. Welcome, by the way.

1955

whatever

merider1

Ouch. I'm being sincere.

Chucklehead

what's midnight ridazz? i'm too lazy to check that link.

merider1

Midnight Ridazz are a group of urban riders that I will not ride with since some of their members drink and ride (as in alcohol and buzzed while doing it) as well as not wearing helmets, etc. However, SOME of their members are responsible, safe riders. I never know which will be arriving on their various rides, so I steer clear. However, it was nice of Kate to come in and share the article with the rest of us. It's always nice to know who are out riding, IMHO.

1955

Whoops, my snide reply was for the OP, sorry ME! We posted at the same time.

merider1

No worries, and I kind of figured. MR doesn't carry a great reputation among true roadies, but the OP didn't know that and may very well be one of the responsible members of that group.

Surferbruce

that's cause a lot of "true roadies" are really uptight. do some ridazz drink? sure, but i know domestic pros who smoke crack so...it's all relative.

voltman

Why must ridazz be phonetically challenged?

merider1

Drinking and riding are both dangerous and illegal - and something I personally want nothing to do with. It's dangerous enough on the roads as it is, and I don't think it "uptight" for us roadies to not want to be around that. As for pros smoking crack (another ), I'm not a pro and don't ride with them. You can find them there pros and take that up with them if you've got an issue. In the meantime, safe riding.

Surferbruce

you're totally right, I don't drink and drive, nor do i endorse anyone doing so. i just think a lot of roadies roll their eyes at something like midnite ridazz cause it's outside their narrow scope of what cycling should or can be.
i'd still rather be around a slightly buzzed cyclist than many of the sober car drivers out there. i mean really, if someone is that drunk, they're not going to get far on a bike anyway, unlike a car.
and likewise, SAFE (and fun) riding!!

merider1

Well, Bruce, I'm willing to debate this issue (but of course, because I feel strongly about it and have been vocal about Midnight Ridazz before on this forum - yet, I was very kind and respectful to the OP of this thread). I'd say riding and drinking is the same offense as driving and drinking (which, by the way, the law views it the same as well). As for the scope of cycling and what it should be, please consider that many roadies are neither uptight nor narrow minded - I being one of them. I'll ride with anyone at any level (on any type of bike) and encourage them as long as they are safe, responsible and willing to follow the laws of the road as we as cyclists are bound by law to do, just like the motorists. I will NOT ride with ANYONE who drinks while riding (or who is proven to be an unsafe rider).

As for the motorists out there who are unsafe and/or aggressive with cyclists on the road, I have no control over their behavior but put my own life on the line and ride with great risk when near/around them - per my OWN choosing. I do not need any additional hazards added to that risk - i.e. the cyclists around me drinking!

And last but not least, I will reiterate, it is my understanding that not all Midnight Ridazz are drinkers (while riding) nor unsafe (sans helmets, common courtesy to other riders, etc.). Although I will not join them, I realize there are some very responsible members among them, even if they are not your stereotypical "roadies."

Surferbruce

totally fair. i just had to speak up because i've had some really great experiences riding the midnite ridazz, and i would recommend it to anyone looking for something fun and different to do on a bike, but i see your point and respect it.

1955

I reiterate, whatever.

1955

Name them.

Allez Oops

'55, I take it you have had first-hand, negative experience with the Midnight Ridazz? Or perhaps know someone who has? If so, I would be interested to hear the story.

Re: biking and intoxication. I prefer to keep a clear head. The activity is fun enough in itself; plus, being a grade-A dork, I need all my (limited) faculties, unimpaired, just to keep the rubber-side down.

Question, though, re: the mention of the drinking-factor* in the MR rides:

Do those of us (me included) who consider it not-Ok to ride drunk, consider it A-OK to ride clear-headed, but then meet up for beers apres...load the bikes in the car...and tootle on home?

I've done it. I don't condone it.

Also, has anyone else here driven Under The Influence of Exhaustion? You know: driving home after serious exertion: bonked, disoriented, dehydrated, seeing double?

Yep. I've done it. I don't condone it.

I guess my point here is...oh, heck. Forgot my point.





* I understand and appreciate that the booze-factor was mentioned with the disclaimer that it ONLY applies to SOME of the MR participants.

iamtim

I really don't think the problem with Midnight Ridazz are those that ride drunk. With the pace that is taken and the amount of riders, I just can't see a few drunk (or high) riders as an issue.

Over 1000 riders totally shutting down roads, on the other hand, is a bit of an issue.

Of course, it might have changed quite a bit since the last time I did Ridazz, which was the ride that had like 1200-1500 riders and was followed by police cars and helicopters alike.

Surferbruce

mmmmmmm..........no.

maddmike

Ride hard, THEN drink....

alicestrong

Thanks for posting that, Kate. I already saw it somewhere else...love the idea of the rides, have friends who do them and someday I'll have to stay up late enough to go on one...

kate_fulton

I hear that--staying up late would be the challenge for me as well. I actually knew very little about the group until I saw the KCET story on them (I have never done a ride), I was just very attracted to the idea of fostering bike communities and stressing a communal and social bike experience. Whether it is Midnight Ridazz or another bike collective, I appreciate groups that encourage people to look at biking, not as a solitary activity, but as an attractive social outlet. Clearly, there is a lot of controversy (which I can understand) surrounding the group, and it is good to hear all sides.

merider1

Kate and Alice,
Why don't you two ladies come join on a BF ride? Many of them are very social yet excellent workouts. I ride with others 95% of the rides I'm on. Rarely do I ride alone these days. I love the idea of fostering cycling communties and am trying to do so IN THIS ONE. Thus, the reason I constantly provide ride reports with pictures and organize rides. My point is, Midnight Ridazz is one avenue for you to enjoy, and So Cal BFers are another. Roadies sometimes get a bad rep due to a few riders who prefer hardcore rides (and they should enjoy them), but there are many of us who can ride hardcore at times, but kick back on more "social based" rides when one presents itself. I hope you both will come out and play with us in the future. Just for thought, there is a GMR ride next Sunday with various levels joining and a River Ride on June 10th - for which both threads can be found in this forum.

EDIT: Oh, and there is our night ride in Griffith Park (once it opens back up) that is only 17 miles max. It doesn't keep a rider out past 10pm.

iamtim

And there is nothing stopping you from enjoying both.

roadfix

I've done both! I'll do any ride where there's posing.