Red Riding Hood Productions

MOVING!!!!!!

2008-12-01T14:34:00.000-08:00

I just moved my blog and updates to:

www.redridinghoodproductions.com

Keep in touch and check out what I'm up to over there :)

Thanks blogger, but I'm moving on uppppppp!!!

Come out for Cranksgiving 2008!!

2008-11-10T16:21:00.001-08:00

Come out for Cranksgiving 2008!!
Originally uploaded by RedRidingHood sheds skin.

Possibly the best annual alley cat race LA has to offer, the Cranksgiving charity race has raised money and donated food to Para Los Ninos every Thanksgiving season for the last SEVEN years!

Cranksgiving was originally concieved and promoted by NYC bike messenger Tone Rodrigues as a way for the New York Bike Messenger Association (NYBMA) to give back to people less fortunate than themselves, over 10 years ago. In 2001, a couple of LA messengers went to Budapest, Hungary for the Cycle Messenger World Championships (CMWC's). They met Tone there, heard about the race, and decided to organize their own Cranksgiving race in LA that year.

Cranksgiving is now held in cities around the world sparking donating to various charities and causes just in time for Thanksgiving. Come out, race for a great cause, and be a part of the Cranksgiving spirit!!

Come to my art exhibit Sat night!!

2008-10-07T04:07:00.000-07:00

I have lots of new work!! I've been super busy since getting back from the Hudson River. I was planning on having a slide show presentation of the photo's I shot on "Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea" but that will have to wait until I am done with installing my 1/4 of this show opening on Sat night.

I'm going to be displaying pieces in all my favorite media including painted and printed wood panels, image transfers, and glass over welded reused bicycle cogs. I'll also have a self-published edition of my first photo zine (with the help of an inherited printer). It's the cream of my crop of bicycle photo's from over the years and over the country. I'm really, really excited about it because I've been wanting to do this for a-w-h-i-l-e. And of course I'll be wearing my favorite smock to the opening ;)

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!!

Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea.

2008-08-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

There are seven sister boats of Switchback Sea.

Althea is the steam boat built by Kinetic Steam Works from the Bay Area. A crew of KSW people came out and will be with us throughout the journey. I can't wait to learn about steam!!

Maria is next to Althea in the photo below. She is operated with a GASIFIER, and is supposed to run on stuff like coffee grinds and eggshells. Right now it still is powered by gasoline but that will be fixed soon! This is the boat that will host the majority of the performance, written by Lisa D'Amour. Alas I do not have a solo part but I will be singing my heart out in the group songs!

This is Alice. She is unbearably beautiful. I will grace you with photo's of her insides soon! I'm tempted to travel on this boat but am weary because of the lack of shade. I have a feeling though, that I will get to crew all the boats...

Speaking of crew - that's me. Deck hand. Today is filled with knot learning and water safety training and other important stuff. We even had a lecture on the history of the Hudson River. And amazingly - it is - mostly - safe to swim in these days!! (except after a rain storm or near sewage treatment plants of course)

Amira's new bag!

2008-08-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

Whipped this sucker up for Miss Amira right before I left for Troy. It is now home to Ruffy (as in Ruf Ruf dog bark), as you can see.

Best way to get to school!

2008-08-12T06:11:00.001-07:00

Nestled in Bed-Stuy is my Fook Hing favorite chinese take out sign ever.

2008-08-12T06:04:00.000-07:00

I wasn't planning on selling any of these right away but...

2008-08-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

Shawn saw this one and really really really wanted it and who can really say no to Shawn? So now it's his wallet.

New York, New York!

2008-08-12T05:57:00.000-07:00

One of my housemates rode his motorcycle from LA to NY where we hung out together and ate free pizza with every drink at a bar in Brooklyn. Now he's on his way motorcycling back to LA! and I'm running off to the Hudson River... with a sprained wrist... I fell last night and smashed my hand.. it is stiff and sore and painful and I'm hoping that it gets better within the next couple days... Arnica all the way baby.

found this photo in my friends flickr..

2008-08-01T19:46:00.001-07:00

It's a scan of a spoke card I made for C.R.A.N.K. Mob a few months ago. The spoke card is made from printed and hand painted paper and laminated in .5mm with an iron.
sc_crank_mob.jpg
Originally uploaded by ingipet

Thanks for the scan, Ingipet and Barleye!

I forgot..

2008-07-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

that I took a picture while Felix from Rudy's was cutting my hair yesterday.

In preparation for Switchback Sea,

2008-07-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

I cut off all my hair!!!

feels SOOOOOOOOOOO good.

it's short short and I'm sending my hair to Locks of Love. I probably should have taken before and after shots but I was anxious to cut it off already so I didn't.

yup.

yum.

yaaaar.

leaving for a long time.. and so much to do...

2008-07-25T00:40:00.000-07:00

Suddenly right before I leave my laundry list of special items to accomplish gets large and very very demanding. It's hard to prioritize. Do I make smocks for the shop? Do I make smocks for the boats? Do I make belt bags for my nieces, or friends in NY who I was supposed to make stuff for the last time I was there? What about the silkscreening press that needs to be fixed? What about the posters I want to make before I leave? Then there's my room to deal with; Cleaning and straightening and clearing out space for my sublet/friend.

Between this ^^^, family in town who I haven't seen for a year plus, and a part-time day job, next week is going to be a very very very hectic week.

Being away for six weeks is being away for a long time.

MMMmmmmmmm...... it's gonna be SO GOOOOOOD!!!!!!

Then when I get back, I want to look at studio opportunities. I'd like something close and cheap/free, with access to water, and open air/ventilation...

Word.

Tomorrow... and photo exhibit..

2008-07-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

I will be at Smockshop in China Town from 12 - 4pm.. my turn to sit the shop.. I'll be finishing up two smocks and trying to sew pants for the boat trip..

If you're around East Hollywood and happen upon the best ice cream shop, Scoops, check out my photo exhibit on the walls. It's a compilation of some of my best shots from the last few years of my bike life. It features various aspects of everything I've been around bike-wise, from messengers to Midnight Ridazz, to Black Label, to velodrome racing, and freak bike builds.

If you can't make the actual show, you can check out the photo's here.

Probably Something New Would Be Good.

2008-07-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

I love my sewing machine.

I mean I love my Mom's sewing machine that I am never giving back to her. I've been sewing small bags and patches, and printing stuff...

I love Smock Shop and the fact that we now have a storefront for 3 months in China Town!

Also - I love Swoon. And I am ridiculously excited to be a part of SWIMMING CITIES OF SWITCHBACK SEA, her latest art project/floating installation/life choice. We're going to take a fleet of seven alternatively powered rafts down the Hudson River for three weeks in August/Sep.. I think I get to be a singer in the performance that goes with the boats.

I will wear sunscreen everyday.

I will wear sunscreen everyday.

I will wear sunscreen everyday.

Timbuk2 + Ashira = minutes to pass

2007-11-14T01:07:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty excited about this one.

Money from the sales of the bags goes to the Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund, and I really learned so much during the process of making these.

I always thought I hated painting, that I'm super uncomfortable with it, that the commitment of putting a mark on a blank space is overwhelming and difficult for me to get right. But with this project I had no choice but to paint. I mean, I guess I did have a choice and I chose to paint. And I guess I've been painting for a while now that I think about it, considering spray cans/stencils/andotherthingsI'vedoneovertheyears. It's just that a brush never felt right in my hands; always uncomfortable. But sitting for hours and hours and hours on the floor of my room, or downstairs on the porch couch, with a brush, dish of water and some little plastic salsa containers (swiped from El Pollo Loco and) filled with paint, somehow the brush got more comfortable and I just started to enjoy putting color and slick wet on a blank surface.

You know how certain moments in your life play over and over again in your head? How sometimes they're these giant events that stick in your brain, but other times they're just these few seconds of existance shared with other people that seem to common thread through the years?

When I lived downstairs from the Chicken Hut, at El Paradiseo/Guido's Paradise, I was up late one night (as usual) and heard a ruckus upstairs, like people screaming and banging and yelling. That wasn't too unusual, but I was curious and besides, I wanted to hang out for a minute anyways. I took the freight elevator upstairs and found B and J yelling at the world, each other, and no one at all.

"I DON'T WANNA PAINT" B screamed at the top of her lungs.

"MMMMMMM PAINTING IS SOOOOOO GOOD!!!" J yelled back calmly.

"AAAAAARRRGHH! I DON'T WANNA PAINT" B screamed in frustration of a painting assignment.

"BUT IT'S SOOOOO GOOD!! PAINTING IS SOOOOOO GOOOOOD!!" J yelled laughing, paintbrush stuck between his fingertips.

I hung out for a few minutes and then went downstairs to my bed to sleep. I think J was really happy painting. And he was always painting whereever and whenever he could. Literally.

There were other things I felt like that about, but definitely not painting. I didn't paint often and when I did, I was impatient with it, and I couldn't get my head or hands around it. It bothered me.

This bag project broke that. All of a sudden, I slowly got happy painting. I got happy sitting, hanging out with people or just by myself, feeling the brush in my hand, finding the right one and figuring out the right way to use it, how much paint to allow the tip, and where I wanted my lines to start and end. It all happened pretty organically, but now I'm really glad for painting.

Sewing by machine came a little different.

I think the glass work that I was doing last year, combined with past collage and book making projects, played a part in the way I was making the bags. I kept cutting pieces and pinning them together, trying to figure it out. I was planning on stiching the pieces on by hand, which was potentially feasable, except I definitely didn't have enough time. I originally thought that since I hand stitch Smocks, these wouldn't be so bad. Yeah right.

I had my Mom's sewing machine but I was scared of it. Everytime I tried to use it, the thread got all jammed up and tangled inside. Despite my attempts at figuring it out, it mostly just sat in my room for the better part of the year, untouched and collecting dust. Other people had been able to use it from time to time. A friend of mine once came over and hemmed his pants for a wedding he was going to, but I stayed away from it.

The bags were in need so I frantically called my friend K, a master sewer/designer/amazingperson, and left a hyper/sing-songy/sorta lightly (I hope only lightly and not heavily) frantic message about helping me machine sew. She called me back and we planned for me to go to her house. In the mess of my exaustion and running latedness, I was - well - late, but she was able to both set me on the right sewing direction by sewing the pieces on one of the bags most superbly, and helping me find more sewing help for the next day. We called another master sewer, J, who agreed to lend sewing skills to the bag cause. We made plans to meet. I was late again. Twice. J came over early afternoon and I was still piecing bags together. But she checked out my machine and showed me that it was working all right and probably wouldn't eat me. She also showed me how to thread it. Very important skill. Especially when the manual goes from step 'A' to step 'D' completely skipping steps 'B' and 'C'.

I went to J's house later that evening and she was able to help me with 3 bags before it got insanely late to be keeping her up. At this point I had worked all day Fri, worked all night Fri, slept for 3 hours Sat morn, worked all day and all night Sat and all day Sun. It was now Sun night. I worked until 3:30am and while I slept, my new baby nephew entered this world. I went to meet him for the first time and caught his first smile, and his first shit. And I fell in love holding him tiny and sleeping in my arms.

Back to the bags I left, went home and knew they had to be mailed out in a few short hours. I was determined. I turned the machine on, and got the test strip I had pulled out for J the day before. It seemed to work so I started to sew the medium bag that needed to still be finished. I was sewing nervously, and waiting for the thread to jam but still I was sewing. It worked. The thread broke and I managed to re-thread it the way I saw J do it and I continued to sew. It was so awesome to watch the thread fix the pieces onto the bag but then the needle broke. I had more needles but I had left them at J's house the night before and there wasn't time to go and get them and make it to Fed Ex by 6pm. So now I was screwed. I asked my roommate if she had any but she hadn't sewn since her own machine broke and she didn't have any needles. I called another roommate who I thought might have needles. She didn't have any but she suggested I go to Matrushka, a shop up the street. Matrushka is a wonderful and beautiful clothing shop with all handmade clothing. They sew stuff in the store and rumor has it they will alter clothes for you while you wait. A while back, in the summer, they hosted a BICYCLE POWERED Build Your Own T-Shirt night. It was so cool.

I ran - literally ran - the two blocks over to Matrushka and burst in the door. "This is gonna sound nuts," I began "but I'm working on this project and I'm sewing and my needle broke and I can't get another needle before I have to send it in 30 minutes -" I took a deep breath into my panicked lungs. "Might you have a needle I could buy or borrow or beg from you?" I looked at her. Dark hair and sort of startled I think, or maybe amused - I couldn't tell. But she took me seriously and went to hand me a needle. "Wait - is it an industrial machine? What kind of needle does it take?" Oh man - "I don't know - it's a regular machine, not industrial, and I don't know anything about sewing." My heart sank as she told me about the round headed needles that she had for the industrial machine on the table in between us, and the needles that I probably needed which were flat on one side. "Well here - take this needle and this one." She handed me two needles after putting them in a plastic needle case. "If it doesn't fit - which I'm pretty sure it won't," she said calmly "you can usually make it work." I thanked her profusely and hurried back to my house. Back at my machine I saw what she meant about the flat edge, but I fit the needle in and carefully continued to finish sewing the rest of the bag.

I picked up my needles from J's house on my way home from Fed Ex and started on the last, and late, bag. All of a sudden it made sense. The thread was getting jammed because I hadn't been threading it right. It actually works when it's threaded right and I can simple sew! I am so excited to be sewing.

Anyways - you can find 'process shots' here. And more info about the show/sale here.

Has It Really Been This Long?

2007-09-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

All sorts of neat things have gone on the last few months.

The Bicycle Film Festival came to LA. It was awesome. We threw a block party that rocked LA's Bicycle District. The Bicycle Bell Ensemble played. I wrote an article about the BFF for the Dazed and Confused blog.

I've been making 'smocks' for Andrea Zittel's Smock Shop. There is an east coast opening at Susan Inglett Gallery tomorrow night, which I am sadly missing for lack of funds. Clearly I haven't made enough smocks. It's just that things move a lot slower when you're hand stitching each piece.

I also made a shirt for the Fuck Yeah Fest's T-Shirt Project. 60 artists were given an XL white t-shirt to use as a canvas. 60 kids under 22 were supposed to wear these 60 shirts for the length of the festival - 5pm to midnight. 30 kids on each day. Jeremy and Claire Weiss were supposed to take before and after photo's of the kids in the t-shirts.

I made mine a mixture of spray painted stencil work, water soluble crayons, water color paints, washable markers, and pens.

The idea was that whoever got to wear my shirt would have a key part in the creation of it since the way (and how much) they would sweat while dancing or doing whatever at the Fuck Yeah Fest would affect the way the water colors, markers, crayons and pens morphed and bled around the spray painted stencil work.

I'm not sure what the results were since I haven't been able to reach anyone at Fuck Yeah about what happened to the shirt or the photo's.

It's only been a couple weeks, but still, it's been a couple weeks.

I'm impatiently curious since it was designed to not be finished until after the shows, and I didn't get to see it after the shows.

killing freeways

2007-06-22T16:47:00.001-07:00

killing freeways
Originally uploaded by urbanlegends

I really like this one.

The Bicycle Fim Festival in Los Angeles!!

2007-06-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

Slacking on the Blog thing.

2007-06-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

But here is why:

City on Lockdown 2 (photo's here)

North American Cycle Courier Championships (photo's here)

LA Blessing of the Bicycles!!

2007-05-14T17:15:00.000-07:00

I didn't make last years and I was bummed.. my bike could use a good blessing.. so this year I'll hopefully make it :)

also - I ran out of coffee beans yesterday and won't have time to make it to the store today so free coffee with friends will be nice..

coffee, juice and bike blessings for all!

--------------------------------------------------

Good Samaritan Hospital presents:
The 4th annual Blessing of the Bicycles

Tuesday May 15th
8am-9:30am

This event will be located in front of Good Samaritan Hospital @
616 S. Witmer Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
90017

Religious leaders from different faiths will bestow blessings for safe cycling as they bless bicycles and cycling gear.

There will also be a recitation of the names of recently injured cyclists and a moment of silence for cyclist who have been injured or killed.

Cyclists will also be invited to ride a lap around the hospital to honor the healing in the city’s health care facilities.

FREE GIFTS AND ON SITE BIKE SAFETY CHECKS!!!

There will also be free breakfast (including juices and coffee)!!!

Visit www.goodsam.org for more info and details on how to have your loved ones honored at the event.

This event is sponsored by:
The Bicycle Kitchen
The Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition
REI
LADOT Bike Program
Metro
Bike to Work Week 2007
And
The good folks at Good Samaritan Hospital

(Written by: James Singer - thanks James!)

Tonight in DTLA!

2007-04-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

OK - so this is actually the second race of a three race series. At the first race, a couple weeks ago (Fri the 13th), the second place winner Nick, called the first place winner Jack, a cheater. There was tons of controversy about the whole thing and a lot of nasty things were said. Without going into all the petty details, the organizers decided to keep the cash pot for this race.

Then a messenger friend got into a bit of a mess on a Wolfpack ride, so that cash is going to her to help her pay for medical expenses and such.

In any case - word is that Jack and Nick will duke it out on the streets tonight. It's going to be crazy. Guaranteed good times. You'll be sorry if you miss it. I swear.

After that Hollywood Midnight Ridazz takes to the streets, or you can hit up the Contra-versy afterparty..

This Weekend - East Side (Bike) Polo Invite!

2007-04-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

That's "East Side" as in NYC not East LA.

The first time I saw Bike Polo played was in Seattle in 2003 at the CMWC's. I've never played (cuz I'm lame) but I've watched a couple tournaments over the years and they are super fun!

Here's the info if you're in NYC and want to check out the action this weekend

Schedule of Events

Friday
Party and Registration: Bushwick Country Club
618 Grand St, Brooklyn
Happy hour until 10:00 for contenders.

Saturday
Qualifiers: Game play starts at 10:00am sharp.
Chrystie/ Broome St. Court.

Polo Sprints: After competion.
Three Sparks Night: Polo Alleycat. Starts at 8:00pm at
Chrystie/Broome St. Court.
Bonus points for drunkenness and Prom costumes.

Bike Prom: Get dressed the fuck up!
Prom at the Chunk Shack! 794 Broadway #2, Brooklyn.
Lloydski and Stachemaster DJing until the morning.
Prom Photos!
10:00pm on.

Sunday
Finals. Game play starts at 10:00am sharp!
Chrystie/Broome St. Court.
BBQ at night. Location to be announced.

Also - the New York Times published an article (and a video) about it today. For archival puposes - here it is:

Their Kingdom for a Bike: It’s Polo on Two Wheels

photo by: Andrew Gombert for The New York Times

A bike polo game last month in New York. The East Side Polo Invite tournament will be held this week in Lower Manhattan.

By KATE TORGOVNICK
Published: April 27, 2007

You do not have to be a king to play polo. You do not need a 300-yard grass field, a long-handled mallet or a helmet. In fact, you do not even need a horse.

On asphalt courts and parking lots in cities throughout the country, bike messengers, bike-shop employees and assorted cycling enthusiasts are playing bicycle polo. The game dates to the 1800s, but it is being transformed from its prim beginnings to a rough-and-tumble sport as it mixes with bike-messenger culture.

Urban players ride fixed-gear bikes, the kind messengers often use to zip through traffic and dodge pedestrians. They set up orange cones in lieu of goal posts and knock around street-hockey balls. Because wooden mallets often break when hit against concrete, players make their own mallets, attaching a handle from an old ski pole or golf club to a piece of industrial-strength piping.

In downtown New York, on a court shaped like a large asphalt bowl, a group meets every Sunday for pickup games. When Doug Dalrymple, a former bike messenger who now is a food deliveryman, started playing last summer, 10 players regularly showed up, he said. The number has at least doubled since then, with many more 20- and 30-somethings going to watch.

“My first game was like learning to ride a bike again,” said Corey Hilliard, a messenger who started playing four years ago. “You have to hold a mallet, the handlebars, follow the ball and be able to change direction quickly. It’s almost like the pinnacle of intense cycling.”

Hilliard’s team and others from the United States and Canada will compete in the East Side Polo Invite this weekend at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Lower Manhattan. The tournament will be composed of 10-minute games and will feature social events like a bike prom. Hilliard’s team is called the Broad Street Bullies. Dalrymple’s is the Ratkillers.

On a recent Sunday, the two teams played an unofficial preview match, the three players on each team positioned at the far ends of the court. They rested their mallets on the ground and slid their feet onto the pedals. After a cry from the sideline of “Three, two, one ... Go,” the teams raced for the ball in the center of the court.

Hilliard, the only player who wore protective gear — his sticker-covered helmet and white sunglasses obscuring most of his face — came away with the ball. But Dalrymple cut off his path as he plowed toward the goal. Hilliard whacked the ball through the wheels of Dalrymple’s bike, and their mallets tangled. Hilliard’s snapped in half.

“Mallet, mallet, mallet,” Hilliard yelled, and a player on the sideline tossed him a new one.

Contact is allowed in urban bike polo. The rules of the game — which are few — have been adapted from equestrian polo to work in the small spaces available in big cities. The most important rule is that the players’ feet cannot touch the ground.

If a player’s foot touches down, he must ride to the sideline and touch an orange traffic cone with his mallet before returning. “It’s kind of like a power play in hockey,” Hilliard said.

The United States Bicycle Polo Association promotes a grass-court version of bike polo in which collisions are discouraged. The organization’s director, John S. Kennedy, said there were competing stories regarding the origin of the sport.

“The legend is that the British government sent a bunch of bikes to a ruler in India,” Kennedy said. “He gave them to his stable boys, who had always wanted to play polo but couldn’t afford it. They cut down mallets and started playing.”

As the story goes, British soldiers stationed in India took the game back to Britain, where it became so popular that it was played as a demonstration sport at the 1908 Olympics in London. According to Kennedy, bike polo has enjoyed several bursts of popularity through the years.

“I hear from people all the time, ‘We played with croquet mallets or hockey sticks and we thought we invented the sport until we found your Web site,’ ” he said.

Dalrymple said, “For people who love bikes, who work on their bikes, it’s just another way to live the biker’s lifestyle.”

Back on the court, Dalrymple charged toward Adam Staudt, a 27-year-old messenger who had broken away with the ball. Staudt lifted his mallet, hoping to strike for a goal in the split-second window of opportunity. But before he could make contact, Dalrymple knocked the ball away from behind. As Staudt leaned his bike to try to recover the ball, Dalrymple’s mallet got stuck in his spinning spokes. Staudt was sent flying onto the pavement.

“They’re really, really physical,” he said.

The Ratkillers won the game, but the competition may be different at the East Side Polo Invite. Dalrymple said that he expected teams from others cities to show off moves he had never seen.

“It’s not like baseball or soccer or tennis where it’s homogenized,” he said. “Bicycle polo lives in bubbles, and it leaves a lot of the interpretation up to the player. The guys in D.C. might play a totally different way than the guys in Philly. It’ll be interesting to see how the different styles compete.”

----------------------

here's a link to the vid - it's the one titles "No Need For Horses"

TODAY!! (sorry for the short notice)

2007-04-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

My friend, roommate, and Editor of OrganicFoodee.com is hosting a fun but powerful action against climate change:

Step It Up 2007 at The Hollywood Sign

April 14, 2007 01:00PM to 03:00PM

Event Description:

Take a hike to the Hollywood Sign!

Location:

Hike up there through Bronson Canyon, from Canyon Drive in Hollywood.

Directions:

Drive or cycle north up Bronson Avenue until it bcomes Canyon Drive. Continue up Canyon Drive until it becomes Brush Canyon Trail. At the end, the road enters the gates to the park which is at the bottom of Bronson Canyon. Either park / chain your bike up here, or keep going on Brush Canyon Trail until you reach the car parks on the right or later on the left. Now it’s time to take a hike up the dirt trail until we’re all under the Hollywood Sign.

Key Facts about Step It Up 2007:

1. This is the largest day of action against global warming in the history of America.

2. It’s a nationwide campaign, with 1100 actions in 50 states, ranging from a rally of thousands in New York City to a community of senior citizens in Ohio holding a global warming awareness day. Go to StepItUp2007.org to find out more.

3. We have one unified message:

For Congress to cut America’s carbon emissions 80% by 2050…

(less than 2% reduction per year, something easy for us to do!)

Ysanne Spevack, Editor of OrganicFoodee.com says:

“Let’s have fun while raising awareness about climate change… And what could be more fun than a hike to the Hollywood Sign? We’re hoping OrganicFoodee.com readers and their friends will bring delicious organic goodies to share under the Sign, and that the whole hike will have a fun party vibe. The press will be watching, so let's make sure there's a whole bunch of people out having a good time and making their views about climate change known to the world.”

Catch Monica Henk's cowardly killer.

2007-04-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

My friend Ki'ke's sister, Monica Henk, was struck by an SUV in Brooklyn a couple days ago. The killer fled the scene. She was taken off life support yesterday. The funeral is today in Queens.

I only met Monica a few times over the years I've known Ki'ke. She radiated light and warmth, and had a smile to match. She was a very fine woman and a very skilled tattoo artist. I can't believe the world is now without her physical presence.

Please help us find her killer by reposting this everywhere (myspace, friendster, your blogs, any news sites that you have access to, etc). Email me for the full size version at: info@redridinghoodproductions.com - please put "Monica" in the subject line.

Ki'ke - my heart goes out to you and your family. I love you tons.

"Scrounge" by the Barnstormers

2007-04-06T04:54:00.000-07:00

this is a couple years old but it's so awesome I had to share it...

more about David Ellis and the Barnstormers later..

SSPT = Shameless Self Promotion Time

2007-04-06T03:33:00.000-07:00

I got interviewed by Filmed By Bike (out of PDX) about 'Even the Girls!'

you can view it here if you like.

and also - I wrote an article for www.cicle.org about the first Wolfpack Midnight Drag Race, which happened in the 2nd St tunnel a couple weeks ago.

It's still on the front page right now.

Cycle Slaughterama

2007-03-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

For the last 3 years there's been this killer Cutthroat's event/party/weekend of madness in Richmond, Virginia called Cycle Slaughterama.

Every year so far, for whatever reason, I have not been able to make it and unfortunately for me, this year is no different.

Every year I regret not going.

If you can make it and you don't go, you are out of your mind.

Here's a link to Santana's flickr set from last year so you can see the awesome insanity that Cycle Slaughterama is.

Here's the Cutthroat post and this years flyer:

A major part of the slaughterama this year is the best in show competition! we wanna see all those gnarly rad bikes you huys keep all locked up in your cribs. bring 'em out, show em off, you could win radical prizes and be the envy of all RVA!

++++++++++++++++++++PLUS+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bring out those fancy lil' boombox's ya'll be playin'. we're gonna have low frequency radio....so with enough boombox's we can blow up any spot we ride toooo....let's do this! we need you guys to make it happen, so come one come alll!!!!!

People are starting to arrive, a million bands want to play and we have 600 dj's....i bet you wanna be here for this!

The 30-31st of March marks the 4th annual Evil Fool's Day Cycle Slaughterama. You'd have thought this shit would be totally played out by now, but you have absolutely no idea. Quit your job, sell blood for a bus ticket, and come bro the fuck down.

Friday the 30th - Scavenger Hunt. 5pm Oregon Hill Parkway.
Teams of three or more, if you don't have friends we'll make you some. This isn't some pseudo messenger circle jerk. This is an open invitation for any and everyone that likes to ride their bicycle and do stupid shit. Guaranteed fun and prizes. The fastest may not win, and only the tight shall endure the challenge!

Saturday the 31st - Belle Isle - Hangover O'clock

Better, Bloodier, and way more sweet than it's ever been done before. Come to get down, or just sit back and witness the spectacle.

I seriously love Flickr.

2007-03-22T09:16:00.001-07:00

maybe someone doesn't like him?
Originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Click on the photo to check out the comment debate that people have been having on Flickr over the content of this photo.

Yes, that does really say "You go girl!"

2007-03-21T00:20:00.001-07:00

Yes that does really say "You go girl!"
Originally uploaded by everyday_i_live.

Tod Seelie rocks. For more reasons than just this photo. But this photo is the reason for this current 'Tod Seelie rocks' bit.

He documents constantly. This photo was taken during the maiden voyage of Miss Rockaway Armada this past summer.

**edit 3/24/07 - Tod Seelie still rocks - But recently it was brought to my attention that this photo was actually taken by the lovely and amazing Miss Antlers!

For some reason it was posted on Mr. Seelie's flickr page and not Miss Antlers's flickr page.

Go figure :)

***edit 3/26/07 - OK - last edit for this post:

Tod Seelie and Ms. Antlers both rock even harder because they both took the same shot! But - the one I have here is the one that Tod Seelie took, which is why his copyright is on it. Duh..

I love Los Angeles.

2007-03-14T23:03:00.000-07:00

On the way home from getting pie ingredients, we stopped at a gas station. I saw these kids the instant we pulled up. They had their bikes and their Dad. I asked if I could snap some photo's. Sometimes I have terrible manners. They asked me to say the magic word. I said "Pretty please?". They were getting air for their tires. They let me snap photo's. Turns out their Dad is a messenger downtown. He had his cruiser bike rigged up with gears. It was sweet.

I am so glad that Andrew woke me up to go get pie ingredients with him this morning because I think this is may be my favorite shot that I've ever shot in LA so far.

Pi = 3.14 so 3.14 = Pi(e) day

2007-03-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

Andrew made so many yummy pies it was ridiculous. We had apple pies, triple berry pies, peach pies and vegan strawberry pies. All with homemade crusts.

Andrew is the master baker.

NYC! Help a Yeti out!

2007-03-09T12:12:00.000-08:00

Our boy Drew got t-boned last week. His bike and his body are all banged up. If you're in NY - go race this race tonight and give him some money.

Afterparty at Bushwick Country Club at 618 Grand Street between Leonard and Lorimer in Brooklyn - 9pm.

Farmlab Presents: Psyched on Bikes!

2007-03-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

Pedaling a Two-Wheeled Solution in the Capital of Cars is a talk by bicycle activists Monica Howe (Bicycle Kitchen, LACBC) and Liz Elliott of (cicle.org and bikenow.org). They’ll explain how “an urban bicycle culture will make this a better place to live.”

Farmlab Salon/Under Spring, 1745 N. Spring St., dwntwn.;

Fri., March 9, noon; free. (323) 226-1158.

http://farmlab.org

Police seek minivan that hit and critically injured bicyclist in Newport Beach, CA

2007-03-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

Bicyclist critically hurt when hit by Toyota Previa on Dover Avenue in Newport Beach.

By KIMBERLY EDDS
The Orange County Register

NEWPORT BEACH – Police are looking for the driver of a light-colored minivan who drove off after hitting and critically injuring a bicyclist on Dover Avenue this morning.

The bicyclist was riding north on Dover near Cliff Drive when he was hit by a Toyota Previa about 6:20 a.m., Newport Beach police Sgt. Jeff Brouwer said. Police found him lying in the brush with traumatic injuries after he was thrown from his red Bianchi 10-speed.

Officers are trying to identify the victim, described a Hispanic man in his 40s, who did not have any identification on him when he was hit. He is at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where he remains in critical but stable condition.

Police haven't located any witnesses to the crash, but traffic investigators are hoping a broken front grill and other van parts left behind at the scene will lead them to the driver. The parts are from an off-white or silver Toyota Previa made between 1991 and 1997.

Anyone with information about the accident or the suspect vehicle was asked to call Newport Beach police at 949-644-3746

CANCEPTUAL [v.2] opens tomorrow night!

2007-03-02T17:26:00.001-08:00

This show is going to be AWESOME!! I got a sneak peak at some of the cans today and let me tell you - the can's that Cache did are out of this world. Particularly the cans that he turned into a chicken spinning records on turntables with speakers that actually play music!!

Here's the deets from the website www.crewest.com

A huge group exhibition showcasing original works created
on actual spray paint cans. Some of the globe's hottest artists
recycle old and rusty aerosol cans into unique and exquisite
pieces of art.

Opening reception:
Saturday, March 3: 5 to 9 pm

Downtown Artwalk:
Thursday, March 8th: Noon - 9pm

Closing reception:
Saturday, March 31: 5 to 9 pm
DJ's and Live painting by select artists.

This show is SO GOOD that it's been extended and will be up for another 2 weeks!!

2007-03-02T17:26:00.000-08:00

This show is at New Image Art Gallery. It was supposed to be taken down on Feb 24th but was so succesful they're leaving it up until March 17th. Which means - if you haven't seen it yet, you still have time!!! Aren't you lucky.

So now I ask you -

Why are you still sitting there??

Get off your butt and GO SEE IT ALREADY!!

Fixie Bill Introduced!

2007-03-02T11:50:00.000-08:00

This article was sent over the messenger email list by Joe Hendry who runs messmedia.org

Inside the Capitol

The Oregonian, March 02, 2007

By Harry Esteve

Attention all you fans of "fixies" out there -- yeah, you know who you are. You ride stripped-down road bicycles or track bikes with fixed gears. You disdain brakes. Occasionally, you get nailed for it and find yourself explaining to a skeptical judge how you can stop really quickly, even going downhill, in the rain, just by pushing back on the pedals.

You feel like outcasts -- and that's the way you like it.

No more. You've now got a friend in the Oregon Legislature. And he might surprise you. He's no liberal bike-riding Portland Democrat who thinks cars are evil.

He's a conservative bike-riding Southern Oregon Republican who knows pelotons from velodromes.

Sen. Jason Atkinson, who ran for governor last year in the Republican primary, has introduced a bill that would explicitly exempt fixed-gear bikes from a law that requires all bikes to have brakes capable of bringing a bike to a skid on dry pavement.

"I've got a lot of friends in the cycling community," said Atkinson, who used to race internationally. "When I was racing, I used to train with messengers for speed work."

Bike messengers, who zip around downtown Portland rain or shine, prefer the single-speed, no-brake bikes for their simplicity, feathery weight and, let's face it, outlaw cachet.

Atkinson cops to riding one as well. "When I campaigned, I always had a fixed-gear with me."

In Portland, that might have been enough to get him a ticket and a fine. Last year, in a case that outraged a hefty segment of the two-wheeled set, a Multnomah County Circuit judge found four cyclists guilty of riding bikes without brakes. The fines were about 70 bucks, but that still hurts.

A bicycle attorney argued they weren't breaking the law, that their leg muscles were brakes. The judge had none of it. Some fixies staged a demonstration of how fast they could stop, including jamming a stick between the rear wheel and the frame.

Like I said, outcasts.

Atkinson's bill, Senate Bill 729, would settle the issue for good. It would change Oregon law to require all bikes to have brakes EXCEPT fixed gear ones.

Woo-hoo, said Jonathan Maus, an activist who runs BikePortland.org, an all-things-bicycle blog.

OK, that's not a direct quote. He did say it's a good idea not to criminalize a perfectly legitimate form of transportation. But he also cautioned against inexperienced cyclists hopping a fixie without some serious training. They're difficult to ride. And, yes, to stop.

"Everybody would agree, there's a safety issue," Maus said. But, he said, the popularity of the cycling style is growing fast and
addressing it in state law is a good idea.

"It's a fashion thing," he said. In the bike world, there's always some new twist to spark riders' interest. "The fixed gear is definitely in the running to be the next big thing."

Atkinson also is behind a bill that would set aside state parks money and matching grants to build two velodromes -- banked tracks for racing fixed-gear bikes -- one each in Portland and Southern Oregon.

Whether his bike bills get traction is anyone's guess at this point. The Legislature has plenty of bigger issues on its plate. In the meantime, Portland's fixie community must put its hopes in probably the only man in the Legislature who knows how to shave his legs.

Read Harry Esteve's Inside the Capitol blog and other coverage of the state Legislature at oregonlive.com/legislature.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The background deal is this: A while back (this past summer) this girl Ayla in Portland was stopped by a cop and ticketed for not having a brake. She took the matter to court saying she could prove that she could skid to a stop just like a bike with brakes, that her legs were her brakes.

here's the vid that Dan Kaufman of Crank My Chain did for pdxk.tv showing how nicely Ayla can stop her fix gear bicycle:

The judge said no-go even though she could prove that she could skid to a stop. The Judge wanted to know what she would do if her chain broke and suggested that maybe if she had a stick to rub between her frame and wheel to use as a brake, maybe then she would have a case.. (to which many people replied: what would someone who has a coaster bike do if their chain broke? or what if someone's brake cables broke? etc etc) So some kids in Portland held a contest to see who could stop with a stick as the Judge suggested..

here's the video of the competiton directed by the legendary Rev Phil:

Jim C's benefit party was all heart!

2007-02-28T15:29:00.001-08:00

Jim C's benefit party
Originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Jim C (on the left), ex-bike messenger and Orange 20 bike shop owner, was hit a few months ago by a dumb kid who ran a stop sign at high speed. He has big medical bills because of this so his friends threw him a benefit ride and party at Bar 107!

It was MEGA FUN. There were vegan burrito's, great bands, raffles that I wish I won, mad dashes to the photo booth (that stopped eating our money after a while), and lots and lots of beer.

You can donate funds to Jim C through The Bicycle Kitchen.

Triple Chicken Foot at Jim C's benefit party

2007-02-28T15:23:00.001-08:00

Triple Chicken Foot at Jim C's benefit party
Originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

They rocked the house Sunday afternoon into the evening at Bar 107!

Amgen Tour of CA

2007-02-28T15:04:00.001-08:00

Amgen Tour of CA
Originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

I made it out for the last stage in Long Beach..

2007-02-26T18:18:00.000-08:00

CICLE.ORG is awesome!!

I write for them sometimes, and curated the "Life Can Be So Car Free" film night for them last year!

They have organized with the City of Pasadena and Patagonia and will be hosting this event tomorrow.

Come and hang out with me (cuz I'll be there too!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Feb.27, 2007 "One Mile at a Time" Kickoff Event 6pm Patagonia Pasadena Free

Join Patagonia, C.I.C.L.E., Metro, and the City of Pasadena as we kickoff a month long celebration and promotion of Car-free Commuting “One Mile at a Time”. A wide array of speakers including 4 commuter testimonials and the Mayor of Pasadena, Bill Bogaard will host an evening of casual discussion on car-free commuting. Light refreshments and Prize Giveaways as well.

Check out “One Mile At a Time” Calendar of Events - Promoting Car-Free Commuting
All events are at Patagonia Pasadena
47 N. Fair Oaks Pasadena, CA 91103
PH.626.795.0319
Contact: Aimee Gilchrist or Sean Carter

Christian Death played at my house Sat night!

2007-02-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

Sat night was legendary fabulous!!

Honestly (and I hate to admit this) I did not know who Christian Death was before Sat night (I'm not so goth - y'know?) But my roommate is friends with them from when he lived in Berlin, and this past Sat night they played their first show since they got back together - in my backyard!!!

They were lovely rockstars, and Eva O sang beautifully and then I danced with her during DMT's set... (Also - I think DMT might be one of my new favorite bands. I couldn't stop dancing while they were playing, and I always love a band that does that!)

Tommy from Sky Parade (another amazing band!!) and my roommate Peter spent hours on Sat morn. setting up a great sound system and we rocked the fuck out till the break of dawn.

All the bands were amazing!

Death By Bass had this incredible home designed, crafted and built instrument that combined all these different electronic toys and keyboards on a sheet of wood. It was really colorful and great!

The range of musical genres was insane.. Drum/Bass Rock, to Electric Party Rap, to Indy-Emo, to Goth, to Reggae, Dancehall, Dub.

That's the way - uh huh, uh huh, I like it!

Thanks Mee and Dion, for bringing in the bands!!

Thanks Peter and Tommy for setting up all the sound and lights!! The tree looked beautiful lit in red!

Thanks to the fire stokers who kept the fire pit lit all night!

Thanks DJ Papalotl for DJing some of my favorite music so late in the night!! You are awesome!!

Thanks to all my amazing roommates!

Thanks to all the bands and DJ's including:

Death By Bass
Sky Parade
Christian Death
DMT
DJ Papalotl

Thanks to all the people who came out and drank all our beer!! We had a really, really good time, and we know you did also!!!

photo's to come!

LA - Here is your Friday night plans!

2007-02-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

POLITRIX 101 Presents: Saint Valentines commUnity ride!!

This benefit alley cat/ride will raise funds for...

KILLRADIO.ORG
CASA DEL PUEBLO
FOOD NOT BOMBS
SOUTH CENTRAL FARMERS

THIS IS ALSO A BENEFIT FOR CESAR, A DTLA BIKE PUNK/MESSENGER WHO HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED WITH SPINAL MENINGITIS!!

Join hundreds of bicycle riders as they come together to celebrate community building across LA!!
Monies raised at this event will support the above organizations as they network and coalesce to create self-subsistence, self-sufficiency and self-determination!!!

CONVERGE UNDER THE BRIDGE in DOWNTOWN LA
4th Street & Flower @ 7pm
RACE STARTS @ 8pm
5 CHECK POINTS THROUGHOUT LA!!

AFTER PARTY...
with live bands & dj's (tba)
dfl race
bicycle film screenings (by local cyclists/filmmakers)
*FOOD *ART EXHIBITS *INFO BOOTHS
(byo... stuff to grill & share...)

Click on the photo below or go to www.xmmp.com for more info!

POLITRIX 101 is a radio show coming to you live every WEDNESDAY nights
on KILLRADIO.org from 7-9pm... It's political gabber/diverse music/bicycle culture & news

OK New York - Here's your schedule for this weekend:

2007-02-16T15:00:00.001-08:00

Friday, February 16 6-9pm - New York Alleycats Book release party & Monster Track Preparty. Grand Central Bar - 659 Grand between Manhattan & Leonard in Williamsburg.

THEN:

Friday, February 16 9pm - Goldsprints. Lost & Found Bar (formerly Lulus). 113 Greenpoint Ave & Franklin, Greepoint.

THEN:

THEN:

Saturday, February 17 2pm - Regsitration begins for Monster Track 8. Houston & Chrystie, Manhattan. More details at nycmassive.com
Sunday, Febraury 18 Noon - Side events. Skids, Polo, Trackstands, Backwards Circles, Rampant Boasting, etc. Lost & Found Bar (formerly Lulus). 113 Greenpoint Ave & Franklin, Greepoint. Hosted by KingKog.

NYC Release Party for Amy Bolger's new book!!!

2007-02-14T15:19:00.001-08:00

alleycatsthebook_flier
Originally uploaded by bicyclelove.

Amy is a great photographer.

She has been photographing the messenger world for many, many years and is *finally* releasing a book with illustrations from the amazing artist, and NYC messenger, Greg Ugalde.

If you've seen some of the flyers for NYC alleycats over the last few years with crazy amazing illustrations, it's probably one of Greg's.

I got a sneak peek at the book when I was in Vegas for Interbike. It's pretty darn awesome!

If you are in NYC, you should definitely go to this party, and buy the book.

also - there will be GOLDSPRINTS right afterwards at LuLu's!!

If you are not in NYC, you should still buy the book.

THIS PARTY TONIGHT!!

2007-02-10T19:09:00.000-08:00

Ripped right off the BikeBoom Calendar.
-----------------------------------

East Side Bike Winter Party and Bikey Fashion Show.

The fantastic fun of the Spoken Art ride will start at the Space Arc Gallery this month where there will also be a party celebrating Bike Winter.

The rides will leave in waves starting at 6:30 pm and leave every half hour until 8:30ish. At the Space Arc there will be an art show featuring the art of Tony Zaldua, Ben Mook, Jen Diamond, Melissa Manful and the Space Ark artists,D.J.s for your dancing pleasures all night, a live band, The Primos, playing at 9pm, a bikey fashion show at 9:30 by Jen Diamond, a raffle with excellent bike related prizes which you can enter for $2. which will be awarded at 10pm, an alley rat race and a whole new crop of Bike Winter T-shirts.

BYOB no entrance fee.

Don't forget to bring your moola for refreshments, the raffle, to donate a little to the Arc, Bike Winter, to buy a sleek new jersey, a t-shirt or a piece of art.

All money goes directly back into bikela.com 's ride fund which sponors rides throughout the year.

RAIN DOES NOT CANCEL. DON'T BE A SISSY!

SPACE ARK is at: 106 South Avenue 58 Highland Park, CA 90042

"Getting Fixed" - a video on track bike 'culture' in LA

2007-02-10T18:58:00.000-08:00

click here to watch it...

Starring Jim C., Orlando, Ozzy, and a couple hundred LA hipsters on bikes..

Video by: Andrew Vontz

Brought to you by: Bicycling.com

UFO.

2007-02-05T17:42:00.001-08:00

IMG_6360.jpg
Originally uploaded by jakedobkin.

Jake Dobkin took this photo..

I remember one night in NY right before I left for LA. A certain Gumpster was yelling so much I went to see what the hell was going on. She was having a very hard time working on a painting for school in Mr. UFO's studio and was yelling out her frustrations on the top of her powerful lungs. Mr. UFO was in painting mode. He kept right on painting under the voice of her yelling, calm and certain, as he just kept saying to her over and over again 'Art feels soooooo good' and 'Just keep doing it' and 'Art is sooooo fuuuuuuunnn'.

When I get really frusterated with something art-wise, I hear his voice from that moment of calm and certainty and it inspires me to just keep on doing 'it', whatever 'it' is...

Thanks Mr. UFO for that big little lesson... That truck looks tiiiiight... Especially the eyes in front..

I like this.

2007-02-04T12:45:00.000-08:00

This video is from Graffiti Research Lab and Eyebeam

I visited Eyebeam a few years ago, probably in 2002 or 2003, with a friend of mine who was taking an art/tech class.. His teacher had something to do with Eyebeam, but I forget his name.. he brought us into his studio. It was a pretty sparse room with a bunch of tech-looking equipment. He said the installation project he was working on was sort of like a video game, and he invited us to walk around the room.

I took a step to the left and something that sounded like a machine gun went off behind me. It was a little unnerving. I walked forward and it sounded like I was being chased by dogs. Every step we took seemed to trigger an aggressive sound. Like we were being attacked.

He finally explained that we were inside the video game. That we were the ones being chased, and hunted. That our steps triggered the sensors that set off the different sounds based on where in the room we were.

It was only the preliminary testing (for the installation) that we had walked into but it was really cool.

Go Graffiti Research Lab. Go Eyebeam.

One of the reasons why I love Cache..

2007-02-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

why I love Cache.., originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

He takes care of his work and doesn't let his pieces go to shit...

This area was smeared with nasty yellow paint a few days ago but now it's just a fresher shade of black.

LA Bike Winter opening party TONIGHT!!

2007-02-02T00:51:00.000-08:00

This is from the Bike Boom Calendar:

There will be a big party to celebrate the start of Bike Winter 2007 and the 2 year anniversary of Santa Monica Critical Mass, that great West side ride.

The ride starts at the corner of Ocean and Colorado (just north of the Santa Monica pier sign, near the cannon), in Santa Monica gathering at 6pm, start riding 6:30pm.

The party will be on the West Side at The Green Party Head Quarters in S.M. a.k.a. the Bikerowave 2811 Pico Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90405 directly following the SMCM / 9pm.

Don't forget to bring your dance shoes and some dough for refreshments, commemorative t-shirts and the raffle where you could win a plethora of bike related stuff.

You will also be able to get a Bike Winter event card. You can have the event card stamped at every Bike Winter Event. At the BW Eastside Party the top 10 persons with the most stamps will be entered in a raffle to win prizes. All ten will win something.

This is Brilliant.

2007-02-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

SUBMIT!!

2007-02-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

SUBMIT!!, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

The Bicycle Film Festival is my MOST FAVORITE film festival!

We have extended the submissions deadline and...

WE WANT YOUR MOVIES!!!!

So keep sending em in..

Wanna help The Bicycle Film Festival? We'd really love for you put some flyers up around your neighborhood, or in your school, or on your blog/website.

We need your support!!

Download the Submissions Form from the website www.bicyclefilmfestival.com

Or contact me for more info :)

Just So You Know!

2007-01-31T22:53:00.000-08:00

ulockmob, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Be out here for this.

Just So You Know!

2007-01-31T22:52:00.000-08:00

ulmcityonlockdown, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

With plenty of time to plan and get yo' shit together.. get out here for this. It's going to be a freakin BLAST!

(um - BREW TOUR???)

Translation...

2007-01-31T11:04:00.000-08:00

In Beirut, and in settlements, children want to live!, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Photo of a stencil I saw in a neighborhood of Jerusalem called Nahlaot.

It reads:

In Beirut and in settlements, children want to live!

**

lame.

2007-01-30T02:20:00.000-08:00

lame., originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

lame lame lame.

Lame.

2007-01-30T02:19:00.000-08:00

the culprit., originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Some dumbass must have thought that Cache's mural and also the trees would look better smeared with mustard yellow paint.

They were wrong. It looks lame and shitty.

I wish people wouldn't make good graffiti look bad.

Yeh. Me and Nelson Vails.

2007-01-29T02:12:00.000-08:00

Yeh. Me and Nelson Vails., originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Nelson Vails was at the velodrome this morning.

In case you don't know, Nelson "The Cheetah" Vails was a bike messenger in NYC back when a bike messenger in NYC could make really good money. Basically before fax machines were invented. Then he won the silver medal for cycling (1000m sprints) in the 1984 Olympics.

He was also in the movie "Quicksilver".

Boo.yah.ka.shah.

bad jelly belly's.

2007-01-29T01:56:00.000-08:00

bad jelly belly's., originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Jelly Belly's. Especially the buttered popcorn flavored Jelly Belly's. But these ones are N-A-S-T-Y. And not in a good way. I don't know who came up with the brilliant idea to add vitamins c and b, and electrolytes to over-sized, Gatorade flavored, bad textured, gritty sugared, jelly candy, but I urge you to never, never try these expecting good Jelly Belly's.

However, if you do decide to try them, please follow the directions for consuming the 'Sport Beans' and "eat one packet about 30 minutes before exercise with 1-2 cups of water". You're also urged to "eat as needed" during your workout, and "eat to help replenish" after your workout.

Um.. Ok..

Talia's portrait of my pink baby girl

2007-01-28T11:48:00.000-08:00

Talia's portrait of my pink baby girl, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

circa 2003 I think..

Talia Lempert's Bicycle Portraits at Interbike

2007-01-28T11:47:00.000-08:00

my bars on the left, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

those are my old bars (circa 2003?) on the left...

Talia painting at Interbike

2007-01-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

Talia painting at Interbike, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

I got an email from Talia a couple weeks ago. She was selling the painting that she did of my bike bars (the one in the picture above this picture, with a blue background). She told me that some asswipe in SF has been directly copying her art work and selling his lame copies on ebay. He started by listing SIX direct copies. She contacted ebay and they removed those but he only listed more.

I just did an ebay search for him and it looks like he's not selling anything at the moment, but here's the link to Talia's documentation of his complete crap, and the link to Talia's wonderful paintings.

My bars went for a steal at $395.

in memory of a wall..

2007-01-27T15:45:00.002-08:00

, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

that got completely buffed a couple days ago..

in memory of a wall..

2007-01-27T15:45:00.001-08:00

, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

that got completely buffed a couple days ago..

in memory of a wall..

2007-01-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

that got completely buffed a couple days ago..

in memory of a wall..

2007-01-27T15:44:00.001-08:00

, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

that got completely buffed a couple days ago..

in memory of a wall..

2007-01-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

that got completely buffed a couple days ago..

Ho' Tell Am*damn

2007-01-27T15:14:00.000-08:00

DSCN7979.JPG, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Fxx, who is an old friend of some of my best friends in NY, took this photo. It was my last night in Amsterdam. I was finally heading home the next day after a total of six weeks of traveling.

Amsterdam is a city that melts my heart. I love it there. The city was so beautiful and crisp. People ride bikes everywhere. Coffee shops sell weed. The Van Gogh museum is there. Really nice messengers live there.

The first night that I was in Amsterdam I called Rxx. I had never met him before, but Dxx and Mxx were friends with him. He is super cool and picked me up from Dam Sq. and rode me Dutch style (think 'side saddle' with my feet dangling daintily to one side) over to a bar.. I was a mess from traveling but he put me in touch with Jxx, who I had met at the Worlds in NY, and sent me over to find him at The Doors.

I spent the rest of my time in Amsterdam doing tourisy things during the days and hanging out with Jxx and other people at night.

I made this sticker in honor of Jxx, Fxx, the other Amsterdam messengers I met, and all the messengers they have hosted in this amazing town.

I know that's a lot of weight to put on one sticker, but it is a one of a kind.

I love my friends.

Ho' Tell Am*damn

2007-01-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

Ho' Tell Am*damn, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Close up of the sticker I made for Jxx...

Megan built a bike!

2007-01-27T14:34:00.000-08:00

Megan built a bike!, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

You really can't tell how beautiful this bike is from the photo, but this is the bike that Megan welded and brazed (I don't really know the terminology but she built it from scratch dammit) in her A-partment, venting out the window or something like that!

She's building it up at the Bicycle Kitchen and will hopefully have it ready to ride to the Velodrome in Carson tomorrow for the Swap Meet!

Yes - those are pink Keiren grips, on gold drops, on a gold stem. HOT!

SWOON

2007-01-26T11:59:00.000-08:00

SWOON, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

On Beverly Blvd

SWOON

2007-01-26T11:58:00.000-08:00

SWOON, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

on Alvarado

SWOON is one of my favorite artists ever.

2007-01-26T11:43:00.000-08:00

SWOON, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

She is also a friend, a super rad person, totally into bicycles, and really fun to hang out with. I was thrilled to hear she was installing a new collaborative show with Faile and David Ellis Over at New Image Art Gallery on Fairfax and Santa Monica Blvd. The installation was going great and they had been working non-stop for days when I finally dragged them out of the gallery, into the sunlight, and a few miles down the road to Scoops for an ice cream break.

I try to take all my out-of-town friends, and basically anyone I can, to Scoops (Heliotrope off of Melrose) because it's the most amazing ice cream on earth. Besides that though, I also wanted them to see Orange 20, and the Bicycle Kitchen.

Scoops of course was awesome, and it was neat that they got to check out the Bicycle Kitchen and Orange 20 because LA has such a bad rap when it comes to bikes (which I think is only because people don't know!!). They got to see that this type of bicycle goodness not only exists in Los Angeles, but is kicking strong!.

SWOON wanted to hit the streets of LA with a few pieces before she left (see Alvarado south of Olympic Blvd. and a certain pink door on Beverly Blvd east of Rampart). She had one very complicated piece and said she needed a good few minutes of safety in order to put it up. She asked for suggestions, so I took her back over to Orange 20 :)

I can't tell you how excited she was to leave this present for the LA Bike Community. I can't tell you how excited I am that she put it up there.

And in the (paraphrased) words of TJ (one of the Orange 20 owners) 'It's not everyday that a shopowner comes to his store in the morning and is really happy to see a piece of graffiti up on his wall!!' Or something like that...

Anyways, SWOON - you're welcome in LALA anytime.

French racer crash at UCI WorldCup Classics..

2007-01-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

DSCN8942.JPG, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

At the velodrome in Carson, CA

French racer crash at UCI WorldCup Classics..

2007-01-25T16:16:00.000-08:00

UIC World Cup Classics at the velodrome in Carson, CA, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

At the Velodrome in Carson, CA

French racer crash at UCI WorldCup Classics..

2007-01-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

UIC World Cup Classics at the velodrome in Carson, CA, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

This French racer had crashed on the velodrome a couple hours earlier during a race. He went down really hard. His skin-suit was shredded and ripped all up the side. He had patches of raw, bloodied skin and black friction burns all up his side, back and butt.

He was finally getting cleaned off by the first aid people when I started brazenly snapping pictures because he seemed so brave and I liked him. After a couple shots he looked at me, gave me this hammed up look and a grin and then went back to screaming in pain from the antibacterial sprays they were cleaning him with.

I told him to blow on his scrapes, that it would take the sting away. He said 'yeah?' and he started blowing on his elbow...

I told him 'that was a great race' and walked away as an official told me not to take photo's of him 'like that'..

Pride in Jerusalem

2006-11-12T02:59:00.000-08:00

Pride in Jerusalem, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

the Hebrew words "Loh G'Vuloht" means "without borders"... On some level maybe it worked cuz all the religious people of all the different religiouns finally agreed on something...

None of them wanted the International Pride Parade to happen in Jerusalem...

So the Ultra Orthodox protested and were rioting in the streets, and Hamas was threatening to bomb stuff, and the Pope just basically said he was dissapointed in Jerusalem and that he didn't want it to happen.

The Israeli army said they didn't have the ability to protect the Parade from the violence threatened by the Ultra-Orthodox, and also deal with potential Hamas bombings, so they put it in a corner of the Hebrew University campus on the edge of the track field and called off the actual Parade...

The Israeli band "HaDag Nahash" played and had the crowd jumping around for a while... They were fun, even though I was mostly irritated by the whole thing...

The "Green Party" was there too.

2006-11-12T02:52:00.000-08:00

Pride in Jerusalem, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

and that's 'Green' as in "Legalize It"

Israeli Critical Mass sticker

2006-11-07T15:41:00.000-08:00

Israeli Critical Mass sticker, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

I was walking around a few days ago and came across this sticker..

It says "Critical Mass" spelled phonetically in Hebrew (actually it says "Mass Critical" but who's getting specific?)

Jerusalem tall bike!

2006-11-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

Jerusalem tall bike!, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

Today was successful and unsuccessful. I did not do any of the things I set out to do today mainly because I was nausous the whole day from eating Krembo's last night (see posting below).

Tthis morning I was going to go meet some old friends and visit a gravesite of personal importance but somehow I missed my bus even though I was standing right there. Since I was feeling sick anyways, I decided to come back home and sleep for another couple hours. On my walk home from the central bus station, and only a couple blocks from the place I'm staying at, I came across not only a bike shop, but a bike shop with a freak bike outside!!

I went inside all excited to talk to the owner of the bike shop and find out about the tall bike and I saw a photo of the same peice of graffiti that I took a photo of the last time I was in Israel almost four years ago.

The graffiti was an addition to a 'no parking' sign. Someone had added a question mark to the no parking sign, painted a big bicycle and added the words "Ride a Bike!" in Hebrew. Simple. No parking? Ride a bike!

Yesterday I walked past the spot where that graffiti used to be (near the old Jerusalem train station) in the hopes that it might still be there but of course it was gone.

I asked Ilan (the bike shop owner) about the tall chopper bike outside, and the photo. He said he built the bike last winter when he was bored and showed me another recumbant freak bike in the shop (that he also built). This one was adorned with a styrofoam head in he front. The kind that religious women use to sit their wigs on when they're not wearing them. It was awsome!

He was excited that I knew about the bike graffit and told me it took him years to find out who did it. Turns out it was this girl and her brother. He said that they painted it one crazy night while drunk or stoned or something. He said now she's religious and doesn't ride bikes anymore.

He gave me a flyer for Critical Mass in Jerusalem. Last Fri of the month at noon. Maybe I'll postpone my stay by a couple days so I can ride with them...

I told him I'd come back tomorrow and talk more.. he said he has more bikes to show me... and I want to take more pictures of him and his shop.

Ophney Nitzan

2006-11-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

is my new favorite bike shop in the world (besides all my other favorite bike shops of course).

surf bike?

2006-11-07T14:38:00.000-08:00

snowboard bike?, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

apparently you ride this bike like a surf board and go really really fast...

krembo

2006-11-07T14:35:00.000-08:00

krembo, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

A Krembo is an Israeli treat that my gross sweet tooth habit has a true love for. It is a marshmellowy cream puff surrounded with chocolate, sitting on a little cookie. It is also the reason why I was nausous all day today (I ate two of them last night!)

I'm gonna lay off the Krembo's...

Yeterday.

2006-11-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

The Kotel (western wall aka wailing wall), originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

I walked for 7 hours today.. all around Jerusalem.. visited memory spots.. didn't really set out to do it.. just sort of happened.. went past the house I used to live in when I was 18/19 yrs old.. went into the building in the old city where the Rabbi who fancied himself a marraige counselor told me that it was probly a good thing that I was about to have a miscarraige since he didn't think I was capable anyways... walked past the spot I sat in across from the Roman ruins in the Old City the night we found out that the Prime Minister, Yitzack Rabin, was murdered. That night, through my one good eye (bc the other was covered with a patch from an operation I had to have bc of a crazy car accident), I watched people crying histerically and pulling their hair out in mourning. I also watched people dancing with joy through the streets because they were so happy that he was killed since he was pro-peace and 'giving away' land. And amidst all this, I watched 2 friends come to blows over heated words and chase each other down the street drunk and violently.

I'm trying to peice it all together.. I really wish I could just take it out of my head so I could look at it.. I feel like every step I take leaks memories..

um...

2006-10-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Billboard Subvertising Series, originally uploaded by ! INSPIRE !.

Yes!

2006-10-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

DSC00467.JPG, originally uploaded by ngolebiewski.

I love E.T.
I love bikes (and eliott).
I love puppets and shadows and shadow puppets.

Ko`s masterpiece

2006-10-15T01:21:00.000-07:00

Ko`s masterpiece, originally uploaded by sexysushi.

preeeeettty...
pulled this off a flickr page from Japan!

love vs. the subconcious art of graffiti removal

2006-10-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

love vs. the subconcious art of graffiti removal, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

I love this peice of graffiti. I love this photo. This was one of those shots that I rode by, thought 'wait a minute', turned around and went back to take...

I was with Ho Dari (who is visiting from NYC). We were on our way to an event/experiment called 'bike inside' at this place.. it was cool - like a giant shadowy, weirdly lit, acoustically bizzare, rollerskating rink for bicycles...

I would have had shots of the actual experiment if I wouldn't have run out of room on my camera dammit... but Lars got some great shots..

Also - this photo made me think of one of my favorite movies. Hence the title...

none of the photo's that I took in Vegas could do justice to the debaucherousness that went down..

2006-10-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

trust me it was grand.

Mike Dee gives Kim a (um) lapdance

2006-10-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

Mike Dee gives Kim a (um) lapdance, originally uploaded by pinkfixie.

vegas alleycat checkpoint.. although I don't think Mike Dee was really racing...

I'm really not so good with this blogging thing but...

2006-10-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

Camera crew - 2006 NACCCs, originally uploaded by IvanMawesome.

Philly was awesome!!!

2 days of rain and then blue skies for the main race and bike polo..

shooting in a Belinky tandem/cargo/recumbant is the best thing EVER!!

Thank you Belinky for letting us borrow this bike - it was super fun!

life with out... dissed

2006-09-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

life with out... dissed, originally uploaded by LA Scumbag.

I have a whole commentary in my head about 'art' vs 'guerilla marketing' and where they meet and overlap and combine. The message or the medium.

I am off to PHILLY.

2006-08-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

For the North American Cycle Courier Championships.

See you there Biotches.

This seriously lifted my spirits today ;-)

2006-08-23T15:40:00.000-07:00

Bronx Jon - RIP (Ride In Peace)

2006-08-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

"Bronx Jon is in the hospital in critical condition" The instant message came in on my computer screen from Ken in NYC just after 11am this past Thursday. "He had a real bad accident last night at S4th and Roebling." My heart skipped up into my throat. This didn't sound good. "What's the deal??" I typed back as fast as I could. "I haven't heard anything since this morning but he's not in good shape whatsoever." The words flashed on my screen and my breakfast suddenly felt like a ton of dead weight in the pit of my stomach. "Is he gonna pull through???"

"We don't know" Ken wrote. Those were not the words I wanted to see. Bronx Jon was one of the old school messengers. He'd been around since long before I ever was and he was always present on the streets of New York and in the community. He'd been working as a messenger on his bike for over 10 years and was truly one of a kind.

I got Squid on the Nextel radio. "What's the word on Bronx Jon?" I asked. Squid radioed back right away. "Not sure - I gotta call the doctor back at five. We gotta find his family" Weird how you can know someone for so long and not know how to reach their family. I guess no one really thinks of it until they have to.

I spoke to Squid again a few hours later. "They're going to do another scan tomorrow." He told me. I wasn't sure what that meant but it sounded bad. Still, I was sure he'd eventually be OK, even if it took a while. Other people got into bad accidents and pulled through OK and in my mind Bronx Jon was one of the invincibles. He was the type of person you thought could probably sleep through a nuclear attack and wake up looking for the beer he left by the side of his bed. Except in Bronx Jon's case he would probably be looking for a can of Sparks.

My head raced back to the last time I saw Bronx Jon. I can't remember when it was, maybe at Monster Track 7 cuz that's the last time I was in New York. I remember thinking he looked really good. Better than usual. His face looked clear and he seemed as relaxed and grounded as I'd ever seen him. He gave me a gross sweaty hug and a signature cracked-lip grin and called me 'Shakira' on purpose, like he always did, just to see me smile. His energy was high. I was happy to see him like that. He looked light.

I called Mike Dee on Friday. He was at the hospital visiting Jon. He was still unconscious and in a coma. "Lemme call you right back." Mike said. "I'm about to go in." Mike Dee had just had a bad accident himself a couple weeks ago and cracked his scull open. He called me a few minutes later. "He looks broken." That's not what I wanted to hear. "Like he took the windshield out with his body." I was trying to remember to breath. "You're so fucking lucky you didn't fuck yourself up worse than you did." I told him. "You know, I didn't feel lucky about my accident until I saw Jon just now." His tone was quieter than usual. "Listen." He told me "People have pulled through worse."

I used to see Bronx Jon all the time when I delivered food to the hipster-yuppies in Manhattan's trendy meat packing district. He'd always shout me out from across the street or down the block on 9th Ave or around 14th St. Sometimes he was smiling, sometimes he wasn't. But whatever his expression was, it was always from his heart. He'd cryptically fill me in on blips of his life but never with much detail. It was always about the now. He didn't want to talk about the past.

Jon once told me that he was raised orthodox Jewish but he wouldn't tell me much more than that. I'm not religious anymore but my Dad is. I gave him Jon's name and asked him to say a prayer at the synagogue for him. He did. I asked the friends I was camping with all this past weekend to stand together in a moment of prayer for Jon on Saturday morning. We did. When I left the woods on Sunday and got service back on my phone I had six messages. Before I had a chance to pick them up my phone rang. It was Chris Kim. His voice broke and my heart sank. "Bronx Jon is gone... they took him off life support yesterday." Chris told me that they finally found his Mom, that the doctors said he hadn't improved since they brought him in Wed night, that he'd have been a vegetable even if he did ever wake up from the coma, that his Mom had no idea of the extent of his messenger family or that he was loved by so many.

The shock of losing someone so vibrant, in such a sudden manner, is hard anywhere. But to lose someone like this while living across the country in LA with no one who knew him to share this grief with is harder. Doesn't everybody know Bronx Jon? I wish I could curl up on the couch in Mike Dee's apartment and cry into his shoulder. I wish I could join the memorial ride tonight for him and the other bike messenger who was killed last week, Darren Lewis. I wish I could hug all the members of my messenger family who have been there over the years and whose hearts I know are so heavy right now.

I spoke to Amy Bolger last night. I was grateful just to talk to her. She told me Jon's Mom said they'll give him a Catholic burial. This confused me because I thought Jon was Jewish. Amy said that there were a couple things that Jon said that didn't seem to match up. I found myself laughing when I heard that. For some reason it struck me as funny and not out of character for Jon. "It's Jon." I heard myself say. "It doesn't even matter."

In truth, it's not like I can say Bronx Jon was all that good a friend of mine. In all the years I knew him, I never took down his phone number. If I didn't see him for a while, I didn't stress it because I knew I'd see him again sooner or later. Bronx Jon may not have been my best friend but he was my buddy and I loved him. Bronx Jon was like the crazy cousin who you thought would always just be there. Everyone knew he didn't fuck with alleycats or racing, but he'd always be at the after-race parties drinking Sparks or beer or whatever. If he was feeling playful, his curly black wig would make an appearance and it suited him fantastically. Bronx Jon would let out a freestyle flow of words on a whim, and I'm glad we have a glimpse of that to keep in the movie "Red Light Go". Bronx Jon would sometimes make people mad but usually he would make people laugh. Most importantly of all though, Bronx Jon was family, and I'm going to miss him terribly.

*photo by Ash (not Ashira :-) (circa 1999)

And now for something enirely different...

2006-08-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

I don't know who he is - but he's got guts. And a mean sprint!

..>

And they're off!

2006-08-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

Miss Rockaway Armada!!

gas guzzlers...

2006-08-02T13:01:00.000-07:00