Ah, Wilderness!

A weekend in the greatest out of doors, Austin, Texas.
Friday was a lovely day- I honestly do not recall what I did with the day, worked probably. I do remember the night! I decided on a last minute whim to head to Barton Spring Pool for free night swim from 9pm-10pm. I pulled up to the empty bike racks right at 9pm and realized that I had forgotten to bring my lock by some freak accident. I sat and pondered my options, (I am not about to practice the honor system when it comes to the safety of my favorite bicycle!) when a flood of cyclists encompassed me! Critical Mass finished at the springs as the Grande Finale of the Beach Party themed ride. I searched the crowd for a familiar face to buddy up with and lock my bike with but all in vain. I didn't recognize a soul. After the mass had meandered through the gates, a lone wolf of sorts rode up and I knew this was my chance. He grudgingly obliged to lock up my bike, and I had a great long night swimming, eating P.Terry's veggie burgers and conversing with an absolute stranger. How real, life, Austin!

Saturday was a work day, then wrapped up at my pal, Clayton Kalman's art opening at the Birdhouse Gallery on East Cesar Chavez. I saw many a familiar face and it was a wonderfully chill night drinking beer, sitting on the porch, talking with old and some new friends(ahem, Rachel Love and Jason!).

Sunday started off a bit rocky. I had some appointments that had to be rescheduled due to the horrifying temperature of my house (AC broken for a solid week- house hovered around 93 degrees F). That said, I had to get the hell out. I had my regular walk/jog with Nancy first thing that morning, then packed up and headed to my summertime haunt, Barton Springs Pool. What a wonderful lazy Sunday spent all by myself with a book, a bottle of suntan lotion, several sporadic laps in the pool, and many a boy to look at! I was there for a good four hours (NO SUNBURN!!!!!), had a smoothie at Daily Juice, then headed north to Polo!

What a turnout! The boys said it themselves, there were a ton of new faces and good times had by all. I was unprepared for my ex-boyfriend to be there, but as chance would have it, we played a game on opposing teams and I rammed the shit out of him and his bike during a play where we were both going for the ball. Talk about a cathartic crash. I'm sure he had a good time in spite of his newly aquired road rash!.
The Fast Folks Femmes were out in force! Nat was showing off her freestyle skillz on her Sword track frame and Annie P came out to play. Jasmine has been playing since the beginning and that makes her one badass babe! I played a fair amount- I think my defense is getting pretty good, now time to work on the offense (still haven't scored a goal!). Speaking of goals, Heather came out for her first time and scored a goal her first game! Go Grrrl!
Andy brought out his new tall bike and let everyone have a go at riding it. So much fun! I was totally freaked about the mount and dismount process, but it is such an experience to ride! I finally get the Tall Bike craze!

I had a blast and look forward to Polo this Thursday! Daniel, way to go with your photo up on Chicks and Bikes! That certainly did not take long at all! Try sending your pics to Girls on Bikes! as well! Hey! Let's see Sunday's photo session soon!

I start an early morning fitness routine tomorrow so it is well past my bedtime. Goodnight to you all.

Ladieeeez! Ride this Friday?! Meet at the Ped Bridge around 6:30pm, ride around a bit, watch some free Shakespeare in the Park at Zilker, skinny dip somewhere! Who's in!? Heather was talking about a Ladieeeez Night Out with the Uncle Billy's Brewery Pub Crawl that happens next Monday as well. Holler for all the deets, mo.grady@gmail.com.

Pleasant dreams of beauties on bikes and tailwinds.
x's and o's,
Mo

re-post: Attention [always] Required!

As seen on Jason's, ATXBS.com and Les', onelescar, I thought I should re-post and spread the word.
Remember cyclists and everyone else- always keep your wits about you! Get in the habit of being aware of your surroundings, notice the cars around you on the road. Make EYE CONTACT with drivers. Follow traffic laws when you are riding with and as traffic on the road. Look at license plates, practice remembering the numbers. Notice drivers. You must be able to provide this info in order to get any action taken if you happen to be in an accident. It sickens me to think of the number of accidents I have been in, heard about, and witnessed that involve motor vehicles hitting humans on bikes and then driving off. I definitely believe in Karma, and also hope that somewhere in the guilty parties cold hearts that they do have a conscience that will punish them until the day they die for the crime against humanity that they have committed. I hope the cyclist involved in this particular accident is on the mend. I also hope that the young cyclist who passed away over the weekend, and their family is finding peace. Stay safe out there.
Love to you all,
Maureen

Hey Fellow Cyclists,

This is the third case we have received over the past year where a cyclist was seriously injured and the offices eiher failed to take a report, failed to gather witness informtion, or failed to take driver insurance information. This is such a huge problem.

In this particular case, on May 4, 2009 at approx. 5:30 PM, a young man was riding his bike in the bike lane. As he neared the intersection of Academy and So. Congress, directly in front of Docs, an Audi moved from the left turn lane crossed over and made right hand turn into the cyclist. There were no less than 50 witnesses including EMT and Fire personnel having lunch at Docs. The officers responding to the call: Bloodworth #5117 and Johnson #6461 failed to follow a single protocol for an accident injury. They did not take the drivers information and they did not even write a report. The young cyclist was taken by ambulance to St. Davids, he sustained a broken hand, a complete and open broken collar bone, AC tear of his shoulder, back injury, and various nicks and scrapes as well as a mild head injury. They knew of all these injuries at the scene, yet APD did not even bother to write down the driver's information much less take a single witnesses' information.

This is so ridiculously unacceptable! If anyone has witness information, please forward it to our office. If you are on a blog and see any information about this incident, please let us know. I am amazed and overwhelmingly disappointed in the APD and their carlessness for the citizenry, specifically those of us on two wheels.

"I truly believe that in making honorable choices about our lives, we can acknowledge sacrifices we make and the risks we take and recognize that what others view as losses and foolhardiness are the nourishment upon which our spirits thrive." Derrick Bell, Ethical Ambition

The Shefman Law Group
604 Mission Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
T: 415-357-3681
F: 415-357-3682
http://www.shefmanlaw.net
http://www.cyclistlaw.com

In Austin:
4015 Marathon Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78756
T: 512-386-8117
Toll Free: 877-366-7677
www.thelonestarattorney.com

I think I'm in LOVE

Well it's official, I think I'm in "like" with everyone who plays bike polo.
Definitely everyone who plays in the Austin, TX Bike Polo Social Club anyway.
I went out to Eastwoods Park on Sunday for the weekly match and finally got up the nerve to play- it is a daunting task to join in to a game played by people who are all friends and teammates especially when you are new to the sport!

I was HORRIBLE! A disgrace and an embarrassment. I definitely created a blackhole affect in the games I participated in. But, no one seemed to mind too much; people still had fun (i think/hope). Everyone was accommodating, helping me out with rules, giving me space now and again, throwing me a bone- and the ball. I had a fantastic time! Luckily for us the weather turned slightly sour and decided to rain but that didn't stop the game. I absolutely love playing -of any sort- out in the rain! I love riding in it (cautiously), swimming (when lightning is at bay), sitting in it, whatever. I can definitely add playing polo in the rain to my list of top tens.

After polo, a group of players decided a swim and a soak in a local hot tub was in order. I had a great night, met a handful of cool new peeps, and developed a love for a new sport. Next step, practice, practice, and practice some more. Polo happens at Eastwoods Park on Thursdays at around 5:30pm and Sundays around 4pm. Bring your bike, beer, and buddies. Thanks to all of you ATXBPSC members, I am your new biggest fan.
Thanks, Daniel, for taking lovely polo shots and sharing them on your site!

Hey! Come eat and drink at my house!

I just made an "invite" on my facebook page. I hate to be redundant, but here goes:

Nancy and I host a potluck dinner once a month. This is that dinner, only bigger. I am also celebrating my trip to Croatia, my new Grrrlz Rule! Bike gang, spring, and a weekend off of work! Come! Party!
Bring something edible, if you need a theme, think Mediteranean. Bring beverage, especially wine (Croatia apparently makes their own tasty grape brews so I need to develop my palette!).

Critical Massers, come by after your ride! Coworkers, come by after your shift! Bike Polo boys, come meet future lady polo players! Friends, neighbors, lets have a merry time outside, away from the bar for a night!

Here's where I will be the first of May:

Jealous?!
Come to my party, wish me "bon voyage"!

xo,
Maureen Mo Grady
mo.grady@gmail.com
Email me if you have interest in attending! I really want everyone to come, I just don't want to write my address on my blog.

Weekend Wrap-up

Well ladies, I lied about the Friday ride being rained out. I assumed it was, I understand the lack of desire one feels when thinking about getting soaked, being cold, and being in danger on the roads while riding in less than ideal weather. I went to the bridge just to make sure I wasn't standing anyone up who was planning to ride and to my happy surprise I met a crew of babes waiting for me! There were a handful of ladies who, frankly my dear, just didn't give a damn about the rain!

Our maiden GRRRLZ Rule! ride included Anne D, Lace, Jessica S., Jasmine, Sarah, and me!I fretted over a route earlier in the day, but we decided to nix it due to the weather and thought a quick little cruise to grab a bite and a beer somewhere would be divine. We rode to north Lamar and 35th where we checked out the new P. Terry's Burger Stand restaurant. Very swanky natural fast food joint- definitely a restaurant, not a stand at all like their South Lamar locale. Then we chose to keep truckin' so we headed over to Shoal Creek Rd. and rode north to Anderson and then back down Shoal Creek, to 35th, east over to Guadalupe (where I got a flat at about 24th and had to use a spoon for a tire lever, Doh!), then we made our way back to the Ped Bridge to watch the boys compete in Brian's latest Cyclocross Club race. Many familiar faces, under layers of mud, sweat and tears! Andrew from ATXfixed, James from Cyclebum and Daniel from ThyNeighborsBike. I also ran into long lost Patchen, met Brooks who is a photographer and a part of the Austin Bike Social Events (hosts Thursday night bike social rides that meet on the bridge), and I met some cool new bike riding babes. I had a great time on the ride- my first real ride since my accident, some tall boys on the bridge, met some wonderful new acquaintances, and had a swell night. I trust and hope everyone else did too!

Sorry ladies if I made it seem like the ride was off. All in all, canceling it was a very safe and wise sentiment. However, many cyclists do not have the option of sitting out their daily commute to work or school on rainy days.
It can be very good practice to ride in the rain. Let some air out of your tires, get equipped with a nice rain jacket, avoid puddles, take turns slow, wide, and easy, and develop a heightened sense of awareness and communication with all other vehicles on the road. Next rainy day go out and get wet and muddy. Have fun and experience a different riding condition!

Lovely Ladies, lets talk turkey about our next ride! What days/times work for people this week?
Is anyone interested in volunteering at the Pink a [Love] Courier Service interactive art installation this upcoming weekend? It is downtown at City Hall as part of "Art City Austin" and runs Saturday(10am-11pm) and Sunday(11am-6pm). Email michael81686@yahoo.com with your name and contact info and title the subject line "volunteer cyclist" or "volunteer factory" depending on whether you wish to deliver notes or write them up, respectively. What a great concept and it's sure to be a blast! I plan on participating, you should too (lads and ladies alike!)!!

Also, any ladies interested in participating in the bike polo games they always read about on Jason's blog, ATXBS.com, or Daniel's over at ThyNeighborsBike.com need to just come out and play! I have wanted to soooooo so bad since the first post I read on Jason's blog. I have been super intimidated about it though because I've never played and don't know any of the people involved. I went today for the first time with super awesome bike babe, Jasmine, and had a great time meeting new folks and watching a really fun game! I still pulled the "Yella" card and stayed on the bench, even though many folks insisted I go out and give it a try. It can be a slightly aggressive and physical game, but only to the point where I was worried about my still mending shoulder socket and rotator cuff. I will absolutely get out there and give it a go next Sunday, for sure! Everyone there was so super friendly, and they love the game! Come! Join! Woohoo! They meet between 4 and 6pm every Thursday and Sunday at Eastwoods Park, just north of campus near JPs Java. Let's get enough gals out there (we need at least six if not more!) for a women's league! Woohoo!

Email me (mo.grady@gmail.com)so you can be added to the GRRRLZ Rule! Bike Gang email list. Tell your gal pals to email me too! Ladies unite, ride, play polo, race, session, DIY projects, bike, potlucks, anything, everything!! Yeah!

I sure hope everyone enjoyed their weekend as much as I did!
love to all,
Maureen Mo Grady

Ride Off!

It's rainy, doesn't look like it's going to let up....
We definitely do not need anyone getting injured on our maiden voyage!
Stay tuned/ holla as soon as the weather clears and everyone is free for a ride!

If you feel like getting wet and muddy, Brian is hosting a Cross Club Race tonight! Meet at the Lamar Ped Bridge at 8:30pm tonight, the ride happens on the Shoal Creek and Hike and Bike Trails- pretty intense, but seem pretty damn fun. (Especially since this will be the first race with proper cyclocross conditions!)

Ladies, don't lose momentum! Stay in touch via the email list (mo.grady@gmail.com) and lets make a ride happen as soon as the weather permits!

x's and o's,
Mo

Lovely Ladies

Henri Thiriet, Omega Bicycles ad, ca. 1897
Originally uploaded by Gatochy

We ride!

This Friday evening! Show up to the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge at 6:30pm for a quick meet and greet then we cruise. Bring lights!, water, ID, beer/food/whatever money for post ride extravaganza! Rock your helmet if you got it!

A gal on the email list mentioned a party happening on East Riverside, Nancy and I entertained ideas of Rio Rita post- ride (I know I said "no booze focus", but thought a social stop would be nice to get to know each other for the first session.). Feel free to shout out ideas and we can decide as a group! I am also always down for ending at free swim at Barton Spring Pool, that will especially rock during the middle of summer!

Call me, email me so you can be added to the list. Create a facebook.com account and find me (Maureen Grady) and Annie Gunkle and "friend" us. Join the "Babes on Bikes" group and keep checking me out for up to date ride/social info.

mo.grady@gmail.com

Love,
Mo