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Flock of Cycles December Party Ride

December 14th. Meet at 5:30 at Dippy, leave at 6, as usual.


Flock trailer playing ridiculous holiday music. Riders wearing ridiculous holiday sweaters. Bikes wearing ridiculous holiday lights.


It will be awesome. Who's in?


2012-11-20 05:24:13

This sounds like something i want to partake in.


cpollack
2012-11-20 06:42:13

I'll be there. Maybe sometime between now and then I can digitize some oddball 45s of Christmas music. Maybe even a couple of 78s.


Does anyone have "Kill a Tree for Christ" by Celtic Elvis? If not, I'll see if I can scrounge up a copy before then.


stuinmccandless
2012-11-20 09:07:36

I'll be there.


josgood
2012-11-20 13:05:24

December 14th. Meet at 5:30 at Dippy, leave at 6, as usual.



FWIW, I'd like to respectfully request that Flock emphasize the leave at 6. This time of year, standing around an extra ten minutes is frigid spirit-sapping buzzkill. If we're going to say "meet at 5.30", can we really leave at 6.00?


6pm, the Box progresses out of the launch pad, sounds of people clicking in, the assembled advance.


6.05, a late arrival finds an empty park. Hey, that's OK! They've got a route map and we're doing SixMilesPerHour.


Looking forward to it! Got my Highmark-Unity lights on the bike!


vannever
2012-11-20 13:10:59

Yep, Vannevar, the late departure was my fault last time. Won't happen again :)


2012-11-20 13:30:10

Any chance of doing such a ride on a Sunday?


I have this image in my head that I can't get out and can't stop smiling about of somehow, some way, mounting a car menorah to my bike. If I had a ride to do it for I'd have no excuse but to live the dream.


2012-11-20 13:51:09

Or, if we push to 6pm, that would be late enough for Saturday night to work as well.


2012-11-20 13:58:40

Two rides, maybe?


stuinmccandless
2012-11-20 14:58:03

yes, the last ride had a delayed start due to pearman's "memory issues".

(and it will totally happen again. ;) )


2012-11-20 16:19:41

Byogman, I don't know that we can plan a second holiday ride under Flock's official capacity, but I bet if you wanted to get a group together to do that, you wouldn't have too much trouble convincing people from this board to go ride bikes on a weekend... I know you wouldn't have to twist my arm too hard :D Also, your bike menorah idea sounds awesome!


2012-11-20 19:28:40

When I asked about another day I wasn't necessarily thinking of a second official ride.


Ideally it was, can we move the day for the official ride? Does Saturday at 6 work for people?


Non official rides are always cool. Just, to get motivated to do something that will involve money, time/hackery, or both,

I kind of was hoping to do it with the biggest possible group.


Anyways, I'm just one guy here... just feeling a bit wistful I guess about the Friday and Saturday rides I'm missing.


2012-11-20 20:21:36

@byogman unfortunately there are no plans to have rides on different days at this time. We are hoping in the future to have more rides and special event rides. We are still reestablishing Flock and improving the quality of our Friday rides is our priority for now. But we do want to ride with you and we do have big plans for the future so standby.


marvelousm3
2012-11-20 20:47:28

@byogman - are you talking about the menorahs made out of PVC pipe? You might be able to strap the stem of the menorah to the vertical stays of a rear rack and use solar-powered string lights (target has them) for the flames!


pseudacris
2012-11-20 23:02:12

I think a bike-mounted menorah should involve real flames...a 17 lb propane cylinder, regulator, manifold, and a few hoses wouldn't weigh much.


Plus, the joy of cracking the valve w-i-d-e open when someone tailgates..."Can you see me NOW?!?!?!?!"


reddan
2012-11-20 23:37:56

So, I'm new to this, but I have to wonder why the day is inflexible?? If having it on Friday evenings excludes some people from being able to participate, and your goal is to get max participation then wouldn't it make sense to at least be open to trying different times?


2012-11-21 00:29:47

1 Samuel 2:30: "Those who honor me I will honor."


(please see, Eric Lidell, Paris Olympics, 1924)


I am intrigued by the inquiry as to (1) do we always have to schedule this for Friday evening? and (2) the reference to a menorah.


Is it possible that a scheduling policy is having the unintentional, unanticipated, and undesirable effect of excluding somebody who observes a sabbath-day? Which might run sundown-Friday to sundown-Saturday?


Would it hurt so much to ride another day every now and then?


IANARM (i am not a religious man), but it seems like a fair question, and it might deserve a better answer.


But I am very very amused at the way it devolved into discussions of bike-mounted menorahs, and I was waiting to see who could find one in carbon-fiber.


Peace out, V.


vannever
2012-11-21 01:36:41

I support Reddan's idea x47


2012-11-21 01:43:42

Anyone who wishes to can self-organize a ride and post it to this message board and/or submit it to the cycling calendar (see link in the nav bar above).


It happens a lot anyway with the dirty dozen training rides, Coffeeneuring challenges and such: so go for it!


The Flock of Cycles events are organized by a volunteer board and historically the rides have been on Fridays--I doubt it was picked out of insensitivity to Friday Sabbath observers. Maybe it could be changed, by why fix something that's not really broken?


It would be great if someone chose to organize and add a Saturday regular ride to the mix of cycling activities in the Burgh! :-)


p.s. to byogman -- a search for bicycle-affixed menorahs does not turn up much so you may have discovered a niche! I did find a blog post featuring a guy in crown heights who put it on a bicycle trailer. It looked like the candle flames are bicycle lights-- a clever touch.


pseudacris
2012-11-21 01:49:00

There was a build-your-own flame cannon workshop advertised in the city a few years back --


pseudacris
2012-11-21 01:49:52

Pseudacris, I don't think anybody was trying to exclude anybody.

I believe everybody's acting in good faith.


Here's an Olde Schule Pittsburge 1.0 conversation:


Q. How come you do this Friday?

A. Because we always have.

Q. Any flexibility?

A. No.


And I'm thinking Flock is very 2.0, and Flock is about change and adaptation, right?


sorry.


vannever
2012-11-21 01:56:06

We at Flock do not wish to exclude anyone from riding. Fridays were picked for various reasons. We also try to schedule the rides on times and dates that pull the most participation and convenience. Also we are volunteers who have school, work, and family responsibilities. Making the perfect schedule for everyone is difficult and we try hard to accommodate. At this time Friday works best for us, we do want in the future to include rides on other days but at this time we are focusing on perfecting our current scheduling. We do apologize to anyone who cannot make our rides I really do want everyone to have the opportunity to join us.

-Sincerely Marcel Means Flock of Cycles President


marvelousm3
2012-11-21 01:58:57

Hm, that is mildly insulting in a few different ways.

Anyhow, no harm in asking. I will defer to the ride organizers (who have jobs and classes and families).


[edit] my comment is in response to Vannevar's Pittsburge 1.0 comment


pseudacris
2012-11-21 02:04:17

Marcel isn't just a member, he's the President. :P


2012-11-21 02:09:36

@Pseudacris, I apologize.


If I may try to explain what I meant to convey:


I wanted to agree completely with you (Ps.) that there's no intention to exclude, and that everybody is acting in good faith.


And then I wanted to go futher onto a general riff on the general theme with the larger group, but I continued writing on a post that started with your Web-Nomme and I should not have.


I meant no offense, I respect you, and I truly apologize. I am sorry.


vannever
2012-11-21 02:23:38

@V - thanks for the clarification & apology


pseudacris
2012-11-21 02:26:46

@pbeaver,I always mix up that slogan in my head with the "You're going to like the way you look, I guarantee it" guy.


2012-11-21 02:30:20

Well, both PMTCC and WPW have rides on weekends during summer. So I would not participate in FOC on weekends. :) TeamDecaf has everything on Tuesday's nights, PMTCC has OTB ride on Wednesday. So for some people 4 days are out.


But this is just me. :)


2012-11-21 03:11:28

@joanne, that guy does love himself some suits.


2012-11-21 05:03:37

Hey guys. I appreciate the consideration. I know I'm going to miss some rides, so whatever I can do great, and whatever not, believe me that I don't take it personally.


What I'm trying to arrange at the moment is that bikes (with Menorahs affixed of course) should join the car menorah parade on December 9th. Trying to get everything squared away but it looks likely. Dan, I love the real flames idea.


Will post here once I've got the official ok. I may omit the whole real flames thing to simplify the discussion :)


2012-11-23 03:38:37

Handlebar Hanukkah!


vannever
2012-11-23 04:00:24

I may omit the whole real flames thing to simplify the discussion :)


I hear it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission...


reddan
2012-11-23 14:31:07

asking for permission leaves a chance to be told No.

asking for forgiveness is too late to be told No. ;)


2012-11-23 14:58:56

Sadly, I am not in a position to do this. I have people to convince that this is safe if I'm going to do this next year, too.


But I can say, that there is a menorah ride on for sure. So Sunday December 9th, 4:30 PM starting at 2100 Wightman street angling around about 6 miles, ending at Schenley Plaza. More details here.


By the way, if in some different setting (say, a Jewish themed robocop??) you want to do a menorah that doubles as a flamethrower, this looks like an awesome start!


2012-11-27 02:18:39

for once i actually wish i had a ridiculous christmas sweater. may just have to wear a green shirt & red sweater instead.


epanastrophe
2012-11-29 01:19:24

Count me in!


2012-11-29 20:56:10

I'll be there


2012-12-05 13:52:30

Do me a favor if you have Facebook or Twitter or one of those other things and share/retweet info about the ride. (Not into newfangled social media? I suggest going old school: stand on tall things in crowded areas and yell about it. Or maybe send chain letters telling people they will be cursed for 17 years if they don't tell 17 people about Flock.)


Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/250025665124411/


Twitter: https://twitter.com/Flockofcycles


Website: http://flockofcycles.org/?p=346


At this point, we have as many RSVPs on Facebook for this ride as we did for the August ride during BikeFest, in spite of the August ride's supposed advantages in terms of weather and contagious BikeFest enthusiasm. That makes me happy. But let's make it even bigger.


2012-12-06 20:05:44

@ Mr Marvel You want things BIGGER?


The route looks smaller to me.


;)


mick
2012-12-06 20:55:25

On a slightly related note, have there been any discussions about trying to get these rides to end in parks in the warmer months?


I think it would be inline with the family friendly goal, quieter, which would allow for more conversation, and allow for a wider selection of food.


sgtjonson
2012-12-06 21:28:06

I sadly have to work that night, but am going to try and switch with someone. Sounds like fun and I have never been on a ride with anyone on here. If I don't make it, have fun.


2012-12-06 22:05:08

@gg I hope you can make it! If you do end up having to work, depending on how late you will get off, perhaps you could catch up with us somewhere along the route or meet us at OTB afterwards


2012-12-06 22:19:56

@Pierce: Yes. We're still all for ending the rides with outdoor picnic-style parties when the weather allows for it. We started having the post-ride parties indoors in October when it got chilly enough that standing around outside for an extended period of time wasn't particularly enjoyable.


When considering all the factors that are involved in finding a location that can accommodate this type of group on a Friday night, OTB has been our best option for the past few rides, and they have always been extremely supportive of Flock in multiple ways, so we're glad to support them in return. (It doesn't hurt that they are one of the few places that even comes close to offering enough safe bike parking for groups of our size — yay bike corrals!)


However, that certainly doesn't mean every ride will end at OTB from now on. We're exploring a wide variety of ending locations for the monthly rides in 2013, including other indoor possibilities for winter as well as parks, pavilions, and other outdoor destinations for the warmer months, so stay tuned :)


2012-12-06 22:33:37

As I recall, every one of the rides in the warmer months of this year ended in a park...


epanastrophe
2012-12-07 18:28:23

the august ride during bike fest ended with a a picnic in Mellon Park (east lib), and the sept ride ended down @ Point Park.


summer months = park stops.

fall months = indoors.


2012-12-07 18:41:25

top


2012-12-10 11:52:48

yayyyyyy


i still need to get some fancy lights on my bike before friday. i suspect home depot or somewhere like that will have some sort of battery powered stringy light that will work. hmmmm.


2012-12-10 11:56:14

Just found out I can't make this, dagsnabbit. Stupid Xmas parties. Bah.

I don't own any awful sweaters anyway.


edmonds59
2012-12-10 12:27:37

looking forward to riding with yinz on Friday.


vannever
2012-12-10 13:11:21

@pear: I was at homedepot in east lib over the weekend, while they have a ridiculously.ample supply of lights acvailable, I was not having much luck locating any battery powered strings.

Might be worth checking out target as well.


2012-12-10 13:11:49

I found perfect little battery powered led string lights at CVS in the seasonal section, you could try that.


edmonds59
2012-12-10 13:17:07

For battery or solar powered string lights it is worth checking the gardening section of target/homedepot etc. and not just the holiday lights sections.


pseudacris
2012-12-10 13:33:20

thanks for the tips, y'all. hopefully i will be able to track something down at one of those places when i finally get around to it. (i really don't know why they keep making me write papers about languages and stuff this week... i was pretty sure i signed up for the masters in bike bedazzling, and this other stuff has really been cutting into my research time.)


2012-12-10 13:48:06

surely there's still time for a double degree?


epanastrophe
2012-12-10 20:22:21

@pearmask


Language?


Isn't that what they use to make lies with?


mick
2012-12-10 23:32:34

^I think lies are usually made of flimsy plastic these days.


2012-12-11 00:26:57

This is tomorrow! Are you ready?


marvelousm3
2012-12-13 17:28:29

still adding lights, but will be ready tomorrow


2012-12-13 21:22:38

Argh, I may miss this. An almost-a-conflict with an earlier event. I'm about 50-50 on making this, dependent on a lot of chasing around between 4 and 6.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-14 10:52:33

It depends on what time my friend is getting to town. I don't think my bike will be decorated even if I can make it.


stefb
2012-12-14 12:12:06

I'll be there at the start. I have to go home and put on my suit and tie before going somewhere else. It's a shame that I don't have the time to change before the ride. Nothing is quite like a crazed geezer in a well-tailored suit on a bicycle.


mick
2012-12-14 18:17:30

Bring an ornament and a twist-tie




marko82
2012-12-14 21:57:36

Marko I found an abandoned fake tree in my building's basement and was going to do the same thing! Unfortunately I didn't have time, but I'm glad a tree-bike will be there! It looks great!


2012-12-14 22:09:33

Beautiful night for a ride


dbacklover
2012-12-14 22:17:36

Too lazy to go. Too many hours coming up in the next week to go :(


rubberfactory
2012-12-14 22:36:19

Sad that I missed this, but one of my best friends is coming into town tonight. I want to see pictures please.


stefb
2012-12-15 00:16:12

Dang, totally forgot about this tonight. Definitely want to see photos!


swalfoort
2012-12-15 00:55:14

We are at OTB now, come and join us


marvelousm3
2012-12-15 01:32:35

Marcel got rip roring intoxicated. Among others. We gad santa in a sleigh And a christmas tree. And a menorah good time was had by all


dbacklover
2012-12-15 04:14:27

Me intoxicated? Please


marvelousm3
2012-12-15 04:24:15

Haha, Marcel. Tonight was awesome. Thank you everyone!!


2012-12-15 04:31:15

The escort home was appreciated.


marvelousm3
2012-12-15 04:48:40

:) Twas a pleasure--all the lovely rides Flock organizes are even more appreciated.


2012-12-15 05:30:53

The Flock ride tonight was really a good time. A friend accepted my invitation and brought along his daughter. We all had a great time. Let's do this twice a month! Hope to see everyone at the Icicle Bicycle ride (if not before). Thanks to Marcel and Sarah for making it happen.


josgood
2012-12-15 05:45:36

I'm really glad I made it, and stuck around to the end. I then biked home, via escorting two ladies up through Panther Hollow, and a side trip downtown. Total almost 30 miles on the day.


And yeah, seeing Marcel get sloshed was most entertaining.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-15 09:26:31

Well I hoped you guys enjoyed it because that was a first and last time for me. I now return to my alcohol free lifestyle. Next time I want to let loose I'll ride my bike.


marvelousm3
2012-12-15 12:54:21

Always a pleasure to hang out and ride with good people & friends.

Such a good turnout too for a chilly Dec night.

Had a blast, can't wait for the next one.


2012-12-15 16:50:15

Time to plan the route for the next ride


marvelousm3
2012-12-15 17:55:37

I had a great time as usual! It was very cool going through downtown :)


2012-12-15 21:58:27

Proposal for summer rides (since we don't pick up a lot of "novice" riders during winter) -- bicycle store ride. Kranick's, Free Ride, Iron City, Thick Bikes, Performance, Bicycle Heaven, Trek, Bike Tech, Pro Bikes, REI, etc. All of them are at the places that do not involve a lot of hills. So people learn about those bike stores and would not struggle with bike needs.


2012-12-16 01:57:36

^ nice idea!


pseudacris
2012-12-16 03:51:52

Building on the bicycle store ride idea...


Perhaps make it an official BikePGH event to promote membership with stores that offer discounts to members; try to get the stores to promote the ride ahead of time to new riders.


headloss
2012-12-16 05:28:07

Great, graet ride!


I left the flock as theyt entered the Armstrong tunnel.


The bells and whoops and hollers in the tunnel sounded magnificent and glorious as the echoes change.


mick
2012-12-16 21:33:43

BTW, a friend of mine evidently passed me going the other direction as I was going down commercial at roughly free-fall pace in my banker-type suit after leaving the flock and changing clothes.


He found it not quite believable. "At least one of us must be on drugs."


mick
2012-12-17 00:35:37

if anyone has the bus number of the that one that caused some of us to have to stop I would really like to get the information. and if those who were buzzed can PM me here that would also be good. I am going to write up what happened on my blog as well as post the pic of him hiding his face from us. but I need the bus number before I report him.


dbacklover
2012-12-17 03:49:24

dbacklover,

I believe it was bus number 5361.


2012-12-17 12:14:11

i think that's right. i definitely recall the 5, 3, and 6, though time + dyslexia are playing havoc with the ordering.


pretty sure the 61B was 3207. it was an artic.


epanastrophe
2012-12-17 21:07:59

Glad we got a menorah in there even if it couldn't be mine.


2012-12-18 18:13:41

^it was mine. Non-kosher, but definitely got some smiles and nods.


pseudacris
2012-12-18 18:17:27

Whoa--what are the pitchforks about, I wonder? The footage looks like it's from Fargo--I had some surreal brain mash-up watching it.


Why aren't Nick and Reddan allowed to hang out together?


2012-12-20 00:42:24

joanne Why aren't Nick and Reddan allowed to hang out together?


We're not entirely sure they would use their powers for good instead of evil and we don't want the world to end.


That's just a guess.


mick
2012-12-20 01:00:22

@buffalo^2 - I have video of the entire ride. Roughly where were the two bus incidents? I might have the buses on the video.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-20 10:39:40

One was on fifth. In oakland near construction. A 75.


dbacklover
2012-12-20 13:01:59

The 61 was on Fifth sometime after Robinson.


epanastrophe
2012-12-20 16:10:51

Can't check now. I'll go through them when I get home.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-20 17:53:07

I finally got the videos posted. This took a bit of doing. My camera starts over every 15 minutes and 41 seconds, but YouTube only lets you post 15:00 tops. So this is split into five pieces, with a chunk off of one end or the other. I think I have the buses in question, though.


Part 1, start to Fifth and Craft

Part 2, Oakland to edge of Downtown

Part 3A, about 90 seconds near Macy's (brief convo w/co-worker who rides to work)

Part 3B, Forbes at Smithfield through Market Square

Part 4, Liberty at Tito Way to Blvd of the Allies at Grant The group was badly split at the end of this, so I took out a big piece where my head is swiveling around, trying to figure out how far back the later group was, then went back to join them.

Part 5, near Armstrong Tunnel on Forbes to end at OTB


stuinmccandless
2012-12-25 12:04:06