Midnight Mass, my mixed relationship ride. While, I enjoy riding into the night, and don't mind creating a few of our own laws, I don't like people being left behind or having the safety of the mass compromised. Nor do I like going up big hills as not everyone can ride up them.
classic case of bike versus gravity. lungs and legs burning and blowing out everywhere, sometimes it is better that these things happen in the dark, that way your friends cant see your tears in the dark!! that was an interesting night...
I can appreciate that Midnight Mass goes faster as night makes cycling come alive.
I didn't have a problem keeping up, however, this was a Mass ride, not a competition endurance ride, so the emphasis should have been different. It was not about competition or endurance but about bicycling together as a community.
If I wanted to compete, Saltcycle post would mention athlete development, cyclo-cross, tours and spandex jerseys. It doesn't, and it won't. That would be better served here or at many of the organizations that sponsor races.
"Lungs and legs burning and blowing out everywhere" was not the situation. It was never that dramatic. It was more like "alcohol and egos leading the mass to stupid situations."
If anyone wants to be a badass and conquer Salt Lake City on their bicycle for a mass ride I suggest riding one of these.
I think it's a little unfair to say where the emphasis should be. Mass rides are about a lot of different things for a lot of different people. It's that flux that makes the community as interesting as it is.
And what happened yesterday was a great example of how organic a mass can be. We got up to the top of that big hill, some kept going up, others didn't want to, so they bombed down the hill. The ones that went further made a concerted effort to find the other group, and the mass was re-united.
Granted, It's great to stick together as part of that community, that's why it's so cool that we do have these events and forums and picture pools and everything, but it's also fun to do something crazy on a bicycle every once in a while. I think letting the crazy out is a big part of midnight mass, it's why I look forward to it every month.
That aside, drunk-asses are a bit annoying... especially that crossing 7th stunt.... hooligans!
thats what makes mass so fun, lots of ideas, people, and bikes. MASS is a great time for bicycle unity and should be embraced as such. i never realized that there was such a soft, sensitive side to the macho, cool guy tight knicker wearing wearing underground. great to discover this side of the straight-edge bike culture. i hope that next month we have a itinerary, and rule list that goes over the flat route, and non FUN inducing rules, so new comers know what they are in for.
here's my two cents. midnight mass is a bike ride that is in the spirit of critical mass. midnight mass is a different way to see the city around you. also it does not have any set rules, only the time, date and location is set.
critical mass might mean different things to different people. the ride was originally created to remind drivers to be aware of cyclists. this was done by riding in a group also the riders could rely on, their safety in numbers. some see it as a protest and to show people there are other forms of transportation.
midnight mass is a different way of seeing the city, showing people alternative forms of transporting ones self, being a community, looking out for one another and of course having fun.
i like the social aspect of midnight mass. i like the energy that is created between the riders themselves and on-lookers. the coolest thing is when people see the tall bikes or the chopper bikes or any other bike that is not the norm or common. i also like it when people ask questions like, what are we about, were did we get those bikes or if we are riding for a cause or something. they ask that because we are in a group , united and strong.
bringing out the different bikes is cool and us who are not riding one of these beautiful creations needs to be aware that these bikes, like people, are not built equally. not all can go fast, climb hills, turn sharply, go over curbs, and stop on a dime.
i've been trail riding, alley cat races, sunday sprints and u-bombs. all of these events are different and each of these are named after the the reason for having the event. so, i hope that everyone can see what Midnight Mass means.
nothing but love to all my multi-wheeled sisters and bothers
Emilio, you're my hero. I had a blast at midnight mass on Friday and I can't wait for all the events coming up this week! And uh...I don't know who Chef Al is, but I'd like to say that though I'm not an avid alcohol drinker myself, I've never seen anyone in the bicycle community judge someone else on their level of intoxication during rides as long as it's kept positive. This was the first ride I've felt a negative vibe inside the group, and it started because some intoxicated riders were being dicks to other riders. So...if you're going to show up and cause trouble inside the community, don't come because that's not what we're about. And if alcohol is what makes you a dick, sober up before you show. Otherwise we welcome all riders, AA members included.
Midnight Mass, my mixed relationship ride. While, I enjoy riding into the night, and don't mind creating a few of our own laws, I don't like people being left behind or having the safety of the mass compromised. Nor do I like going up big hills as not everyone can ride up them.
ReplyDeletemy bad :)
ReplyDeletemidnight mass is my yang to the yin of the daytime rides. A battle with the monsters of your own psychoses, if you wanna get all into it.
classic case of bike versus gravity. lungs and legs burning and blowing out everywhere, sometimes it is better that these things happen in the dark, that way your friends cant see your tears in the dark!! that was an interesting night...
ReplyDeleteI can appreciate that Midnight Mass goes faster as night makes cycling come alive.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a problem keeping up, however, this was a Mass ride, not a competition endurance ride, so the emphasis should have been different. It was not about competition or endurance but about bicycling together as a community.
If I wanted to compete, Saltcycle post would mention athlete development, cyclo-cross, tours and spandex jerseys. It doesn't, and it won't. That would be better served here or at many of the organizations that sponsor races.
"Lungs and legs burning and blowing out everywhere" was not the situation. It was never that dramatic. It was more like "alcohol and egos leading the mass to stupid situations."
If anyone wants to be a badass and conquer Salt Lake City on their bicycle for a mass ride I suggest riding one of these.
I think it's a little unfair to say where the emphasis should be. Mass rides are about a lot of different things for a lot of different people. It's that flux that makes the community as interesting as it is.
ReplyDeleteAnd what happened yesterday was a great example of how organic a mass can be. We got up to the top of that big hill, some kept going up, others didn't want to, so they bombed down the hill. The ones that went further made a concerted effort to find the other group, and the mass was re-united.
Granted, It's great to stick together as part of that community, that's why it's so cool that we do have these events and forums and picture pools and everything, but it's also fun to do something crazy on a bicycle every once in a while. I think letting the crazy out is a big part of midnight mass, it's why I look forward to it every month.
That aside, drunk-asses are a bit annoying... especially that crossing 7th stunt.... hooligans!
"the mass was re-united"
ReplyDeletetrue. i suppose it boils down to that i want some sort of a reassurance that we won't leave anyone behind, and I suppose we did re-unite in the end.
thanks for lending an ear to my concerns.
thats what makes mass so fun, lots of ideas, people, and bikes. MASS is a great time for bicycle unity and should be embraced as such. i never realized that there was such a soft, sensitive side to the macho, cool guy tight knicker wearing wearing underground. great to discover this side of the straight-edge bike culture. i hope that next month we have a itinerary, and rule list that goes over the flat route, and non FUN inducing rules, so new comers know what they are in for.
ReplyDeletehere's my two cents.
ReplyDeletemidnight mass is a bike ride that is in the spirit of critical mass. midnight mass is a different way to see the city around you. also it does not have any set rules, only the time, date and location is set.
critical mass might mean different things to different people. the ride was originally created to remind drivers to be aware of cyclists. this was done by riding in a group also the riders could rely on, their safety in numbers. some see it as a protest and to show people there are other forms of transportation.
midnight mass is a different way of seeing the city, showing people alternative forms of transporting ones self, being a community, looking out for one another and of course having fun.
i like the social aspect of midnight mass. i like the energy that is created between the riders themselves and on-lookers. the coolest thing is when people see the tall bikes or the chopper bikes or any other bike that is not the norm or common. i also like it when people ask questions like, what are we about, were did we get those bikes or if we are riding for a cause or something. they ask that because we are in a group , united and strong.
bringing out the different bikes is cool and us who are not riding one of these beautiful creations needs to be aware that these bikes, like people, are not built equally. not all can go fast, climb hills, turn sharply, go over curbs, and stop on a dime.
i've been trail riding, alley cat races, sunday sprints and u-bombs. all of these events are different and each of these are named after the the reason for having the event. so, i hope that everyone can see what Midnight Mass means.
nothing but love to all my multi-wheeled sisters and bothers
Emilio, you're my hero. I had a blast at midnight mass on Friday and I can't wait for all the events coming up this week! And uh...I don't know who Chef Al is, but I'd like to say that though I'm not an avid alcohol drinker myself, I've never seen anyone in the bicycle community judge someone else on their level of intoxication during rides as long as it's kept positive. This was the first ride I've felt a negative vibe inside the group, and it started because some intoxicated riders were being dicks to other riders. So...if you're going to show up and cause trouble inside the community, don't come because that's not what we're about. And if alcohol is what makes you a dick, sober up before you show. Otherwise we welcome all riders, AA members included.
ReplyDelete