R-e-s-p-e-c-t , R.I. P.

I love this town. I love cycling. I love the cycling community here. There are many different cliques within the throng of self-proclaimed cyclists here. That is really my favorite part of the Cyclocross events and the Annual Harvest Moon Ride, and the many other bike-related goings-on. So many different kinds of riders, from different backgrounds come together and unite. We can have fun and revel in the fact that we do have one very important commonality: a love and appreciation for all things two-wheeled. A love for the road, and riding, and the people, and breathing fresh air, admiring and enjoying the great outdoors, healthy competition, and general goodwill towards our fellow humans and our lovely planet.

This recent story I read on NPR about a car involved in a hit and run, killing three of the four passengers, got me riled up and thinking, "what about all of the injustices cyclists, especially the daily commuters, have to face and deal with on these treacherous roads?". Every death is a tragedy, but it truly seems like the newsworthy stories are only ever about drivers. Before I continue,allow me to state that I was deeply saddened by the loss of this young man and I ache for his parents. Just as I feel grief for the loss of two of my family members who died in and at the mercy of motor vehicles. I am in no way discounting this tragedy because it is about car drivers. This story simply re-opened my own car vs. bike wounds and I just need to rant a minute. That being said...

There seems to be a bias against cyclists involved in motor vehicle collisions. One rarely hears about accidents involving car vs. bike. Yet, you can't throw a rock in this town without hitting a cyclist who has been hit by a car. Usually from behind or T-boned, and usually in a hit-and-run situation. From what I gathered today, searching stories and opinion forums online, most people, cops included, are completely IGNORANT about the rights of cyclists on the road, and they feel that cyclists hit were probably impeding traffic (and the unsaid sentiment is that they deserved to get hit!). There needs to be more press about car vs. bike encounters. Harvey Milk style! Put a name, face, and life story on each and every cyclist on the road if that's what it takes to make drivers finally see us and respect us as peers and fellow human beings.

I understand that drivers have to deal with misfortune and "accidents" and danger as well, but at least they are surrounded by steel framing and aluminum, plastic, and air bags. We are flesh and bones, blood and tears. No extra padding other than hopefully a helmet on our heads. Nothing to take the impact of the car's inertia. Just our spinal cord, muscles, cells, nervous system, and maybe our back wheel. We [hopefully] have families and friends who love us and want us to come home safe and in one piece every day from our commute from work or school. For some reason though, the standards of law don't seem to be in the little guy's corner. Procedure when assessing the scene is not the same when ticketing a Car vs. Car collision and a Car vs. Bike collision. Majority of the time, the driver of the motor vehicle gets off with minor tickets, citations, a slap on the wrist. The drivers involved in Car vs Bike fatalities barely seem to rack up "Negligence" citations let alone "Involuntary Manslaughter". I am stumped, baffled, and utterly amazed at that FACT (check these stories from a few years ago). It seems so cut and dry in my mind, if you hit a biker with your car, you should suffer some consequence so you won't do it ever again. Pay a hefty fine, do bike related community service, apologise to the victim and their family in person, something that will have lasting affect on them so they will tell their acquaintances about their recent burden and why it's so important not to hit bikes and the humans riding them. That sounds good right? It seems like a no- brainer to determine that if a human driving a motorized vehicle strikes and kills a bicyclist (or pedestrian, or another driver), that person must suffer the consequence. Period. They just stole a life from someone and that some one's family. That is not ever acceptable. That doesn't go away. That act can't be erased. You can't call that a simple, innocent accident. That was negligence on their behalf. They were not present in that moment, not aware of all of their surroundings. They did not have the foresight to consider the fact that they are in a lethal weapon and the cyclist in front of them in traffic is a human too, just on a different set of wheels. I don't care who you are. I don't care what you drive or ride. We all need to be safe and responsible on the road. We all need to own our actions and all repercussions. We all need to take a different perspective and put ourselves in other people's shoes. And we all need to agree that to take a life is the ultimate offense against humanity. It is wrong. No apology or prayers or legal jargon will be able to turn back time.

The Immortal Class

Yesterday sure was a dreary day. I got back on my bike for the first time since my shoulder injury an it felt great! (well, until the end of the night when I could feel I definitely went beyond my limit and I think I strained something along the way....but I digress.)
I rode around east for a minute, had some coffee and bagel, rode to campus and checked out the Fritz Henle: In Search of Beauty photography exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center and saw The Black Balloon at Dobie Theatre. I ate a light dinner at Veggie Heaven, then headed south to the Lamar Ped Bridge to watch the start of Brian's regularly hosted cyclocross. Many a man came out to compete, and watch. There were a few ladies in the stands. I saw Les supporting the racers and being friendly and stoked about bikes as usual. The DoubleA Caps Duo, Annie and Andrew showed up and made me smile. PJ shared a Lone Star tall boy with us while discussing his new exciting adventure into bike building! Keep an eye and an ear peeled for Avenue Bikes (I am pretty sure that is his company name!)We also met a chap who was spreading the word about his new product, the raddest wearable light system I've seen! His company name is Flash Back, and it is a battery operated strand of blinking lights the you can clip on to your camel-bak, or messenger bag[back pack] or even onto your shirt. Look for them soon at Bicycle Sport Shop, and hopefully other locations around town. About the race, I will leave the details up to Brian's email re-cap, but I have to shout out to Eardie for taking first place, as usual! Kudos.

Show Tonight

When Cerridwyn and I were riding down the coast, we met lots of new people and had the pleasure of riding with many of them, or reconvening with our camping partners at the next days campsite. One of the duos (well trio if you consider the poodle that was tagging along!) that we met under the majestic Redwoods was an Uncle/Nephew/Poodle duo. The Uncle was riding on a recumbent, pulling a hand-crafted trailer with a tent on top of it where Poodle just chilled out. Uncle was a legally blind man. He could see shapes and some colors, but no details. He had toured the coast once or twice previously, and he rides at home for his commute since he cannot legally get a driver's license.

Speaking of blind piloting bicycles down the Pacific Coast Highway...

The band, Blind Pilot, who toured down the PCH on their bikes- with their instruments in tow, playing impromptu shows in the MANY small towns that dot the coast- are playing a show tonight. They will be at Mohawk at 912 Red River Austin, TX. Show costs $7 in advance, $9 at door, doors at 8pm.

Come out, Cyclists [and drivers alike], and shake their hands! Hear some pretty tunes, see some pretty people.

Love to you all.
Mo

Standing on my Soap Box

I recently had a minor crash in which I landed on my frontal bone (that's the forehead in layperson's terms), only to walk away with a cut and a black eye....and other injuries. NO CONCUSSION. No dizziness. No black out, not even for a minute. What dumb fuckin' luck. Talk about having a new lease on life.

You've heard it countless times. You're gonna continue to hear about it. I do not believe that there should be a law demanding this of me but I do believe in protecting myself, and by default, my family and loved ones. What am I talking about? Just read it here folks.

Love to you all.
Maureen

Cars are coffins, cowards, cut-n-run, chumps.

Maureen
Originally uploaded by BUH-LAKE

Ouch.

For those of you who don't know, I was involved in a spill on Tuesday at around 6pm. (Thanks Blake for the sweet pics!) This happened on my way home from the Fast Folks Cyclery ladies race team photo shoot. I was cruising on my fixie, and had to avoid getting t-boned by a car, and my reaction was the wrong one. I froze up, and then was flung over the bars (only I brought the bike with me. Stayed strapped onto the pedals, and held onto the bars til i hit the concrete. With my face.)

I have some bumps and bruises and a grade one separated shoulder to mend, so no biking [or working] for me for the time being. Bummer. Ladies who have only responded to the call to arms on this blog, please email me so I can add you to the email list. I definitely encourage the rides to begin ASAP, even if I am not able to participate just yet.

Sunday I am meeting Jenn, a contributor of one les car, and other ladies to discuss her new baby, a campaign to get ladies [and everyone else on bikes] to wear helmets when riding. My motto on the tour was a daily mantra of "brains before beauty", we are going more for the message of "brains equal beauty!". I am excited to meet, and greet, and brainstorm slogans.

Anne Dunckle is hosting a LADIES ONLY RACE on May 8th benefiting Mothers Milk Bank of Austin. Sadly, I will be out of the country, but PLEASE COME OUT and make this a success!!!! Check out the boys at ATX Fixed blog for the flier.

Saturday, April 4th, Clown Dog Bikes is having their anniversary party at Scoot Inn. This is a Yellow Bike Project Benefit, so be prepared with cash for the door donation. Great bands, great people, this party is always a good time; a great representation of many different kinds of cyclists in town. Check out Jason's jem of an all things cycling blog, ATXBS.com for more info.

Peace out for now. And remember kids, "Buckle up those brains for safety!".

Love,
mo

LADIEEEZ!!!!

I was spitting out ideas about a Ladies Only Alleycat for the longest time. I was putting feelers out to friends and strangers alike, talking up sponsors for donations, thinking out a route, location, etc. But all the while this nagging whisper in the back of my mind kept getting louder and louder....

NO LADIES RACE IN THIS TOWN!

Ok, a few race. A FEW! Like THREE, MAX! Come on sisters. Represent already.

I am not writing this to hate on my gender. I am writing this to inspire, to enlist.
I want you, Babes on Bikes, Bombshells on Two Wheels, BMX, Recumbant, X-tracycle, Cruiser, Roadie, Fixie, Tall bike, Tandem, Single Speed Goddesses, "Get on your bikes and Ride" for Spring's sake!

Instead of hosting a race that pits women against one another, I have a better idea. Unity.
I am calling on ladies only, young, old, gay, straight, fast, slow, new to cycling, old pros, to join me in a weekly cruise about town. I want you all, and your mamas, and your friends. I want you to be safe, have fun, and get your legs under you! Wear a helmet without being embarrassed. I am comfortable with being sexy and showing the world the respect I have for my lovely brain. I wear sneakers, pedal pushers, short shorts, and spandex and feel comfortable in them all! I love my strong body, and I want you to love yours too!

My goal is to get ladies comfortable about riding their bikes. Getting sweaty and dirty. Leaving the house with practical attire on (or rocking their fly styles to the 9th degree by accessorizing with their ride!) and maybe even *gasp!* no makeup! Let's ride around, get loud, make new friends, see new sights, get some exercise, and get empowered! I also want to nourish a sense of sisterhood amongst Austin's fairer sex. Generally speaking we can be a downright catty bunch and I want that to stop. No need for rivalries, insecurities, superiority complexes. Those sentiments will be checked at the curb, or you will be asked not to join in future rides. I have no beef about speaking my piece and am very firm on this point.

I envision starting small and growing with demand. Maybe a casual pub-crawl, movie outing, dinner mixer type thing. I really want this to be accessible to any and all lady riders and kept on a positive/feel good note, so maybe a "no booze" focus. A simple ride around town followed by night swim at Barton Spring Pool perhaps? Poker/scrabble/trivial pursuit somewhere? Just a bike ride? We can talk it over, change it up, decide as a group.

Any questions, comments, concerns, please feel free to contact me (mo.grady@gmail.com). I want to know what kind of interest this peaks. I need to get a feel for possible ride days and route ideas. Right now I am thinking Monday afternoon/evening because it is an off day for evenings out, and I am OFF that night. I also think it would be great to do like a 20-30 mile ride or something and then end at the Springs for a refreshing dip during free night swim. What do you think?!
Men who read this blog (does anyone?!), please pass this post/the info on to your ladyfriends and give them any support they need.

Everyone can agree that cyclists are all hot, especially ladies!

Mount up!
xoxo,
mo

Racers, take your mark...

their bikes
Originally uploaded by faster panda kill kill

my bike in there somewheres....
great shots panda. nice to finally shake your hand!