Cruiser Ride Checklist
You will not want to miss the LiveOnBike performances on the bike ride between our venues. To truly experience a social ride, you have to take in a LiveOnBike performance! A LiveOnBike performance is an amplified music performance that takes place on a mobile stage in front of a large group of riders.
Cruiser Ride Checklist/Guidelines
1. Your Bike:
Pump air in the tires, put oil on the chains, tuck in your pants leg so you don’t get a stain.
2. Check your Quick Releases:
Learn how to use them properly, they are essential for bike safety. Many people get this wrong, so watch this video to see how to use a quick release.
3. Check it all over:
• Take a quick ride to check if derailleurs and brakes are working properly
• Inspect the bike for loose or broken parts; tighten, replace or fix them
• Pay extra attention to your bike during the first few miles of the ride
4. Supplies:
• Helmet, gloves, comfortable layered clothing, footwear, bandana (makes helmets more comfortable and absorbs sweat), hair tie for long hair.
• Empower yourself not to need help: a patch kit, mini-pump, a knowledge of tube patching and/or a spare tube. Patching a tire is a skill that comes with practice, but worth the effort. Then when a cute somebody is broken down you can help them out!
• Sunglasses/eyeglasses
• Lip balm, sunscreen
5. Safety:
• Lights (front and rear) should be in working order with fresh batteries.
• First Aid Kit – This is the type of item that is often neglected. My rule is = “Its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.”
6. Hydration:
Bring WATER or your favorite beverage in a reusable container.
7. Food:
Snacks to share, an energy bar, Cliff bar, fresh fruit is always good, vegetables, nuts, trail mix, goodies of your choice.
8. Camera:
A great way to record and share your experiences! Shoot pics of riders, bikes, and the places your go! At the end of the event, be sure to add them to the Rock the Bike Flickr Group or on our Facebook Page!
We want these rides to be safe and law-abiding so that our festival keeps a positive reputation in the community. We will have experienced route marshals identified by patches and armbands, who will help keep our group together and safe.
Please follow these simple rules.
Cruiser Ride Rules
– Some of the bikes in our group ride will be carrying live performers. These bikes generally require more concentration to ride safely. Please give these performance vehicles extra space so that their riders can maintain focus on safely guiding them through our route.
– Look for Route Marshals who will be identified by BMF patches.
– Do not ride in the oncoming lane of traffic!
– When we are on a multi-lane street such as Oak, stay to the right, keeping one lane open to allow cars to pass.
– How we handle stop signs: We roll through stop signs unless route marshals say to stop for safety or pedestrians. This reduces the amount of time our group spends in intersections and minimizes the delays we may cause to other road users.
– How we handle red lights and major intersections: We approach red lights and major intersections slowly, gathering our group and waiting for a green light. We try then to ride through as a single group. If the light turns red halfway through, we try to continue moving our group through the intersection unless it is unsafe to do so. Please defer to route marshals!
– Be careful of car doors opening if you are riding close to parked cars.
– Please ride predictably and in control.
– Try to stay with the main group, it’s safer and more fun for everyone.
– HAVE FUN! SING! REJOICE! SAY “YEAH!”
Read MoreRolling with 88 weighted keys — preparing for a Live On Bike performance
Some interesting scenes from the workshop this week, preparing for BMF. The musical part starts at 3:05. It was awesome to see the expressions on our neighbors’ faces as we cruised around West Berkeley with Janaysa singing and playing.
Folk / Soul singer Janaysa came by the workshop on Tuesday to test-ride the piano mount on the Mundo. She was initially ‘concerned’ but left on a high after a good try out.
Read MoreCruising with ElliptiGO inventor Bryan at sunset along the Embarcadero
Click “more” below to see the video.
I met Bryan at Maker Faire, and immediately got the idea to get some DLG under the foot platforms of his invention on a sunset cruise. It was the first time we’ve mounted the DLG in a way that it moves relative to the frame of the bicycle.
Bryan invented the ElliptiGO out of frustration with driving to the gym to use the Elliptical trainers.
Read MoreMundo with lighting
The Mundo is fun at night. I added two headlights, Plush Red Down Low Glow, and a Cateye taillight.
Read More
Weird coincidence
This afternoon in the workshop I got a call from Joel, the drummer from Afrolicious and Pleasure Maker (Thursdays at the Elbo Room). I met Joel when we were on the 2-Mile Challenge tour together. He said,
“Sorry I couldn’t make it to your gig last week, I was working.”
“Doing what?”
“Moving.”
“Moving? Like for cash?
“Yeah.”
“How much they paying you?”
“18 an hour.”
“Dang, I’d offer you work at Rock the Bike, because we need help with assembly and packing and shipping right now, but we normally pay only $12.”
“That’s OK man, I’d totally work for you, because I believe in what you’re doing.”
“Really? Thanks Joel.”
“No problem. And you should come by the Elbo tonight.”
“Thanks, I’ll try to make it around 11. Can you put me on the guest list?”
Then I got home, had dinner and got a text from Julia about an event at Cellspace.
“OK I’ll swing by, but I’m going to Elbo later.”
The exhibit at Cell Space was an incredible cardboard city about 20 feet by ten feet, with a miniature helicopter floating around. There was a miniature remote control helicopter flying through the skyscrapers of the cardboard city. It’s up until April 17. Gotta go see it!
Anyway, after checking out the city, I suggested a cruise so we left. It was me, Julia, and Tyson, whose chain sounded like a chorus of crickets. We had a great ride up to Billy Goat hill, and watched the city. It was late so I had to coax them to come with me to the Elbo Room. But it was a downhill cruise awaiting us so it wasn’t that hard. Three abreast on Cesar Chavez was really nice. Julia was saying we felt like a bike gang. The Plush Red Down Glow on my my mom’s Electra was sweet. Sometimes it’s good to ride a totally simple bike. I can see the appeal of fixed gear bikes. I just love me knees. Anyway, we roll up to the Elbo Room. The woman at the door let all three of us in. Sure enough, Joel was in his element playing along on traps with Afrolicious. During a set break I got to introduce him to my friends and catch up a little. We danced until 1 or so and then cruised. I sprayed Boeshield on Tyson’s chain and said goodbye.
I headed upstairs and parked in front of the computer like I normally do when I should be sleeping. I checked the What’s Hot page on Rock the Bike. I noticed a comment on my post about JoyRider clothing, entitled bicycle fashion:
“Bravo! A clothing line that is not centered around spandex! At Velo Vogue, we also applaud cycling in normal fashionable clothing. Clothing lines such as Joyrider will help de-marginalize cycling for transportation! Looking good!”
So I clicked the link and sure enough it’s a hip little blog about San Francisco bicycle fashion, with lots of fun photos. And there at the bottom of the page, ladies and gentlemen, was Joel Elrod, riding with a companion in Golden Gate park, wearing a black hat and a cool T-shirt:
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