BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I just noticed that the Major Taylors are having an evening ride that leaves at 7:30 in front of the Performance bike store. Would there be any interest in taking the first leg over there, just to meet up and say hi, maybe do a lap of the ELB with them, then split? I would be into that.

Also, shirts!!

Plus any latecomers/eastsiders could just jump in at Performance.

+1 for saying 'hi' to the Taylors.

I would but I am meeting some friends at Double Wide Grill that night.

T-Shirts! I'll bring them all to dippy. I'll try to carry the extra around in a pannier incase more people join up along the way. (thanks to swalfoort for the photo!)

The shirts look GREAT! I think I may need one in several colors....!

I'd also like to vote for meeting up with the Major Taylors.

I have to miss it this month! So have fun you all and BE SAFE! Looking forward to the next one

Yes! Also for meeting up at 730. I want a t-shirt

I received a message from Lou about this. FOC will be meeting the other rides at 8p.

I'll be missing this ride because I'm shooting the mattress factory urban garden party, but I'll see most of you next friday I'm sure

I can't weasel my way out of work for this, but I did put in an order for a shirt (I'll talk to you about that, dwillen). Bummer though, it would be cool to ride with the Major Taylor dudes a bit.

rob, what's next Friday? CM?

Just to clarify, regardless of when we're meeting up with MT, we're still leaving Dippy at 6:30, right?

Correct. Dippy at 6:30.

Meet at 6 though.

will there be much of a vegan selection at the picnic? i want to go and i'm trying to convince my special lady friend to go, but she'd be turned off by 25 miles, and more likely to go if she's not the only vegan there.

I'm bringing tabouli! Veg friendly.

If I remember, I'll bring couscous and marinated garbanzos.

It will probably be more like 20 mi, and I'm sure there will be vegan options--these are urban cyclists after all.

"Green is what food eats." --an urban cyclist

The current plan is to meet up with the PMTCC ride at Performance before they leave at 8. I am waiting for a reply to make sure the club is not opposed to us--i don't want them to feel like their ride is being crashed by the Flock.

We may also meet up with Venture Outdoors ride--also waiting on a reply.

There is a third ride going on in the area, but it has come to my attention that we are not welcome there, so we will not be joining them at any point.

If anyone plans on bringing something to the picnic that requires refrigeration, let me know, and we can work something out.

Aww, I would love to crash a ride where we're not wanted, but that probably isn't in the spirit of FoC.

I would be up for the challenge of hauling around a big cooler, if anybody has one. I do have a medium sized lunch box thingy, that I could probably keep stuff semi-cool in also, if need be.

Huh. Wonder what the one is we're not welcome, Anti-anti-CM?

Anyone who has a better selection of oldies music appropriate for the ELB neighborhood is encouraged to bring them along on an MP3 player. I'll have an 80's mix, but not sure how 14YO's from that area view this in light of the 'gentrification' angle.

I'm bringing my salad in one of those silver colored thermal bags. I'll have some room in there if anyone has something that needs to be cool, but not kept at a critical temperature.

I'll probably just pick up a jug of juice at Big Bird or wherever we stop. Or should I show up at the start with it already in hand?

Hey Nick, are you running the sound system? I could email you some MP3s that would be totally cool (in my geeky opinion) for the ride.

Hi all, while I'm a member of the PMTCC I can't speak for the group in an official capacity but I think I can safely say that anyone and everyone (of all cycling abilities) is always welcome at PMTCC events. If FOC shirts are brought I will totally buy one (color not important). Do you know what park you're finishing at and when(ish)?

Edmonds, let's not talk about it--at least not here.

Marko, I'll be on the tall bike. Who can care about gentrification when they see that thing.

However, I loaded a bunch of hip-hop (not rap)--Flobots, Atmosphere, Sage Francis, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Cyprus Hill, Common, etc... I didn't do this because of the area--I've just been on a Flobots kick recently. (Most of the 90's/2000's punk/pop-punk/ska is still on there)

Stu, we will be stopping at a Giant Eagle on the way there.

I was planning on bringing the grill/cooler trailer I am working on, but it won't be done in time.

Blankets might be a good idea too!

88MS88, I received a call from someone from PMTCC and it seems we will be welcome.

The final destination is know, but I don't think I am going to release it to the Flock to add a little mystery to the ride. I'll PM it to you though.

No, cool, I didn't intend to, I just had some snark I had to use.

i will have my ipod and speaker with a sweet hip-hop/soul/reggae/blues mix loaded on it. its my favorite "friendly ride" mix. probably wind up meeting you guys at 8 at performance though, i got's freeriding to do in the afternoon, but a nice friendly group road ride seems like a great way to wind down after killing myself on the big bike.

You're going to glympse this, right? I want to get a little more intensity in than FOC is likely to muster, but hopefully I can catch up with you at Performance or sooner.

The PMTCC rides a little harder than FOC and are pretty cavalier about red lights, so be prepared to diverge...

I will do my best to keep glympse running. Request access soon! Between the pot luck, the shirts, and the extra batteries for my phone, I'll be the caboose tomorrow.

If PMTCC runs lights, we will most likely get separated soon after.

Honestly, I don't plan on riding that much after 8 considering most people will be hauling food/anxious to picnic.

I looked at the map they posted, I doesn't look like they plan an intense ride themselves, but I could be wrong.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/PMTCC-Nite-Lite-Ride

Even if we did the ELB-Negley-Bryant-Highland together, then split, that would be a nice little toodle.

i have some album requests, based on the artists you mentioned: common - let's remember when he had some sense and bring resurrection, if possible. that's the main one, but if you have overcast by atmosphere or no need for alarm by del, that'd be cool too.

i'm thinking of bringing a few loaves of fresh-baked bread. possibly even sourdough. anyone got toppings or spreads?

@ HV: i made pesto tonight that I can bring. And if anyone brings a cooler, i have a tasty item to stash for the journey. One of my roommates will be joining me! I tried to recruit both, but just one is up for the ride. (Both have bikes, they just don't ride all that often).

My t-shirts recruited someone today. My coworker got one, and not 5 minutes later his roommate came running in, and ended up with two FOC shirts, without ever having heard of FOC before. I invited him to the ride, and he said "oh sure, I have a bike!". Nice.

HV: I have a bunch of herbs growing in my garden, I could make some fresh thyme, sage or chive butter. Any preference?

Not sure you caught this on the best-commute thread, but I'm planning on bringing an extra bike. PM me if you think you or someone you know will need it. I plan to park by Phipps, so can swing by Dippy on my way there, or meet you wherever. (Note: I'm coming from west of town.)

I am on one of the committees for the Friends of the Riverfront Trail Mixer event tonight, so need to attend that. I really regret missing this ride.

@Dan, I'll make arrangements with you offline to pick up my FOC shirt and pay you for it.

A couple things for people,

1. I have a book on Major Taylor, this is a recent one by Todd Balf, good read, I think the guy is a regular sports writer, so it's not arcane. If anyone wants to read it I will lend it but you have to promise to read it and pass it on OR donate it to the BikePgh office. If so let me know and I will bring it tonight, if not I don't want to carry it.

2. Last year Pittsburgh Pro Bikes graciously donated some bike jerseys to my wifes foundation, but they didn't all go at the fundraiser. Technically they are women's, I think all large, but there's no reason a small manly man couldn't wear one, I mean, they don't come with boobs or anything. Nice chocolaty brown with a pink ribbon thingy on the back. I'll bring a couple. Let me know if interested. Free.

I hope to heck some last minute thing doesn't crop up to keep me from coming.

I would like to read it if no one else wants to!

And while petite, I would like to check them out!

Also.... I'm definitely trying to come to the ride today! I have plans to attend in the evening so will bow-out around 7:30 or so, and won't be able to go to the potluck.... BUT, I'll be there!

@edmonds - I can't be at the FOC tonight, but could I take one of the jerseys you just mentioned? I could meet you downtown sometime to pick it up.....!

how many of those jerseys have you got? my gf might not like a large, but pink and brown are two parts of her favorite color combination. still not sure if she's going, though, but we'll see.

i do have some sourdough on the rise at the moment, and i should have three baguettes ready by ride time.

I have a bunch, it's killin me to have them sitting there doing nothing, so bikey and HV, I'll have yours tonight, and Sara, I'll bring one to town on Mon. and you can get it whenever, Allegheny bldg. on Forbes. I'll pm you.

And bikey, I'll bring the book, I'll be the guy in a yellow FOC shirt, ha, ha!

I want to get my FOC shirt lettered on the back, sports style:

EDMONDS

59

I am a smaller build manly man who would definitely take a jersey

I bet you could do some kind of iron-on thing, edmonds59. It would be so cool to do custom orders with our names on them, but there is a setup fee for every new screen, and the minimum run is like 25 shirts. Anyone need 25 shirts with their name on the back?

If I run out of some sizes tonight, I'll have a second set printed up. I'll bring an order sheet. People at work have been buying them from me. Seems like good advertising for FOC.

I'll also try on a jersey if you have extras.

Edmonds, I'm a medium so lady's lage should fit. Thanks!

5 so far!

I think I know a sports shop that does those iron-ons, might be as cheap as .25 a letter. I'll check next week.

@edmonds Just no pink for me! Unless is like, a cool pink... But my color is red, orange, blue.... I like bright colors.

And about the book.... sweet! I love books, but I will give this one back ;p

@Edmonds - I'm friends with a couple that just bought their first bikes. I think they'd appreciate a jersey. I bet it'll fit one of them.

Let me know if you have extras.

If someone here requested access to the trackpghcycles feed under the name "uniquponym". Please send me a PM on the board so I know you aren't Mike Pintek looking to bump a whole flock of cycles.

Hey, I'm the guy who wrecked in between Forbes/Shady and Forbes/Murray tonight. Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm OK, got a bit of road rash on one arm and a scraped up knee but nothing too serious. The bike's OK too, I'm going to be doing some work to it tomorrow (and making sure that that really was just a loose screw and not a worn stem/bars).

Nick (guy on the tall bike, not my roommate) - Sorry for yelling at you, I just wasn't too happy about getting thrown off the bike and you were about the 20th person to ask me if I was OK. You're a cool guy, and I just lost my temper for a second there.

Bill - Thanks for fixing my bike to make sure it was safe to ride back home. That really meant a lot to me after the chaos that ensued after the wreck, that you could be calm, and after everyone was sure I wasn't seriously injured, make sure that my bike wasn't seriously injured either.

To everyone - Thanks for all the concern, it really meant a lot. You're an awesome bunch of people, and I'm certain you'll be seeing me again (after my bike has gotten a full safety inspection so there isn't a repeat of tonight's fun and games). It was a fun ride, other than the bit about getting up close and personal with the asphalt

Not to sound like a broken record but i hope you're alright! What exactly happened??

The bolt that holds my handlebars to the stem had apparently worked its' way loose, and I hit a bump, jerking the bars out of my hands. Wheel turned, bike didn't, I went over the bars and onto the asphalt. Could have been quite nasty, but for once being kind of large and having a tendency to land on my back paid off. Thing is, I had had trouble with that bolt earlier in the evening, and had tightened it with a borrowed multitool, but then later I moved my headlamp a bit because it was pointing at an odd angle, and that probably loosened it again... stupid me

Wow, well glad you're alright man! Sounds sketchy, i had a front wheel come off on me when i was younger on a bmx..buttt, that's what kids get for being kids..How was the ride though all in all??

Lincoln, it's cool. I only asked because I am somewhat responsible for the ride and didn't know what happened.

To everyone, THANKS A BUNCH for coming out and making FOC what it is!

We have a few little issues to work on, but besides that I think tonight's ride was great. If you aren't already, join the Facebook group-its the easiest way for me to get news out.

So far, FOC has been a very successful experiment, and it really highlights how AWESOME our community is.

Don't forget, if you want an awesome FOC T-shirt, get a hold of Dan (dwillen).

Yeah, it's not so much sketchy as that the bike was built when my mom was in high school, and I had moved that headlamp without thinking about the fact that it attaches to the handlebar mount. I should have known that if the bolt was loose enough that I could move the headlamp bracket without having to loosen it that it was too loose to be safe... 3 years of CMU engineering school at its' finest right there, lol

And the ride was great, like i said originally I had a lot of fun except for the whole me contacting the asphalt instead of my tires thing. I'm just getting used to biking in the city (grew up in the middle of nowhere, if you tried biking out there you'd be killed by cars going 80 MPH), and it was a long, but reasonably doable ride.

ALSO, thanks to everyone who brought homemade food! It was all great!

If you missed FOC, that's really unfortunate--it was a GREAT time and a very positive event all around. The picnic really topped off the night.

Again, I'm very grateful to be part of this with you all!

checking in- made it home safe

I did have a dog come over to me (he was with his owner but not on leash). I think it was the hot dogs in my bag!

glad you're doing fine lincolnr.

great group of people- I will flock with you again for sure.

Thanks to MTCC too! Had a great time guys.

yeah it was a great time. what a great group of people. i got to see part of the city that i have never seen before. the little picnic on the piece of concrete was great, too.

other stef.. i hope your brakes turn out ok. thanks everyone. it was a really positive experience!

What a fantastic group of people. All of you! Great ride.

Most of the shirts I had printed are now in the hands of others. There are nearly 40 people in the burgh with a Flock of Cycles shirt! It was really cool riding around and having people shout "Flock of Cycles!" after reading our shirts. Wild.

I have two I'm saving for people who contacted me here, there are two wicking ones that someone requested on the survey but who I don't know how to contact (Mschou?).

I have a few shirts leftover. A few small, one medium, a few large and two XXL. There were a few people who wanted a shirt, but I didn't have the size or color they wanted. If there are more people out there that want shirts, please let me know. Send me email () or contact me here. You can pick any size/color you want. If I get close enough for a minimum order, I'll have more printed before our next ride.

Thanks, Stefb! Great meeting you- and many many thanks to Rick and jane for hooking me up with a new wheel on our final stretch home. @lincolnr, glad you're feeling better @nick, thanks so much for organizing. It was so fun!

@all y'all fabulous flockers- it was über fun to ride & dine with you!!! And yes! So cool to hook up with the MT crew!

And even though Nick was being a dick to the vegetarians and vegan, it was counter balanced by the fact that he bought us a grill and rides a tall bike.

Best ride I've been on this year.

Best quotation of the night:

"You can't do ass to mouth"

I think we had 4? crashes, one taco'd wheel.

Linc, it's cool, glad to help. You get that bike sorted out and it'll be a sweet ride. I think I could use that thing as a stepladder to clean the gutters on my house.

Great ride, I'm bummed my son and I had to cut out before the food, but take my word for it, you're all lucky he didn't get to the grub.

Huge thanks to the Taylors for patience dealing with that big unwieldy group. It was cool getting to that part of town, I had some great little exchanges with people on the street. One middle aged guy asked me "what's the cost for this?" and I told him "nothing, man, get a bike and come on", laughed. Broke this alleged "divide" I've heard about just like that, less substantial even than smoke.

Dan, people were jumping on the shirts, home run, man.

Awesome seeing everyone. Flock of Taylors.

Oh, and as far as I know we are 0 and 2 for rides without car-bitches (verb, not noun, apologies in advance to any actual persons who may take offense).

Hey!! Sorry I had to bow out towards the end before the potluck & all! I seriously had a great time and very much look forward to the next FOC!!! It would have been cool to talk more with ya' all, but next time!

Dan: thanks for making the tees!!

Edmonds: thanks for the jersey & book!

Nick: thank you for organizing this ride!!

And everyone: thank you for such an awesome time!!!!

Oh yeah, and now I have Flobot's "handlebars" stuck in my head, thanks Nick

I am SO bummed I missed this. Next month I'm making sure I'm there.

bloggy, again

Edmonds, thanks again for the jersey. It is beyond awesome. We are actually 0 for 10 or so now (including Midnight Mass, FOC, and Flock All Night).

Peirce, you should check out some other music by the Flobots, they are what got me into hip-hop.

The reaction we received through Homewood and Wilkensburg was fantastic--it further reaffirmed that you cannot help but be happy when you see a tall bike. I am going to try to build another before next month so we can have one in the front and one in the back. (Then, I am going to coax Jane into riding the other)

I cannot wait to hit up that BBQ place we passed in Homewood. It looked like exactly what I've been searching for in Pgh.

Nick, courtesy of Pro Bikes and the Young Womens Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation (I really wish they had considered the length of that name a little more carefully). I'm just getting things out of my house! Ha, ha!

Nick, thanks again for kicking this off and keeping it going. The vibe is great -- positive and inclusive. I know you were reluctant, but the bench-speech was well done and needed.

I had a load of dirty laundry on my back to drop at home and no lights, so I peeled off after the first crash, planning to catch up with you all again at 8, but got sidetracked. Sorry I missed the picnic, not sorry I missed the crashes!

Oh yeah, thanks for the cider Stu and nice to meet you in person, waaay better than orange drink

Nice write-up Stu. I love "downtown dippyville".

@PMTCC - thanks for letting us all join you. i imagine your rides probably run a bit more smoothly than that did, and we all, i'm sure, appreciate the patients you showed us.

@edmonds - thanks for the jersey! my SLF was a little concerned it would be too big, but then she needed the pockets, and wore it the whole rest of the night after we met up with the major taylor club.

@nick - let me know how that bbq place is. no, i am not a vegetarian, i just date one. oh, and i heard one song from resurrection, so peace to that.

@everyone else - wear name tags or something next time! i met the whole lot of you, but still have no association with who posts here. i wasn't even sure if half the people i talked to do post here. but i had a blast, anyway.

Lyle, I have no problem giving a speech before the ride--I have no fear of public speaking. I just know that I wasn't me, I would hate hearing my voice.

Shelia of the PMTCC sent me a video from the ride. There is a nice shot of Stefb at 2.14, and you can see Skipdip roll by on my tall bike at 2.38.

Edmonnds, was your son the one on the white(Cannondale?) road bike?

jealous.

then again, i'm in SF right now.

nyaaah.

Nick, yep.

I love FOC!!!

I would gladly ride a tall bike all the time! I would just have to practice a little. (maybe in an area of less traffic!) I don't know about a tall tandem, but it could work and I'm up for anything.

what, you didn't like trying to learn on frankstown, uphill, with cars passing with even the narrowest of opportunities? i was riding right behind you there, and you made me quite nervous more than a few times.

yeah, I realize it was a completely stupid idea.

well, in your defense, it wasn't your idea.

sorry I had to cut out early and missed the picnic but I had fun while it lasted.

@hv - that is a pretty good idea about name tags

hey! I am full of dumb idea, but every so often, there is a good one--FOC for example.

I was thinking abotu making people little graphics for their bikes with the forum name. Any takers?

I'll take one!

Yes. Sounds like a great idea!

That would be pretty sweet.

i completely destroyed the FOC sticker i had already... its probably seen 500 miles though so i'm not that surprised

Mine was destroyed in MS150 transport. I'll make more.

I'm in the process of moving out of my business's office into my apartment, so it may be a week or two before anything gets made.

Haha, just found myself and flyS564 (greg) in the video....riding by! Was great to have that many people at one time, even with the random rock and playground rubber throwing. I had a great time! Will definitely be there next time! Thanks Nick, and was great to meet both everyone!

i don't really dig stickers on my bike, but a spoke card would be pretty sweet. i'd be willing to rock that when not on the ride as well, in case i see someone out and about.

Ooh, ooh, spoke cards yes. Your bike could wear them and you could hand them out to innocent bystanders and kids. Also to young women trapped in cars who ask "hey, like, what are you all doing?"

I would contribute something to a spoke card fund.

Bill, I wore the new pink ribbon

(breast cancer)shirt yesterday, thanks it's very comfortable. While riding I had several polite horn taps from passing cars, mostly female drivers too. Sweeeet!

I hadn't thought of that possibility, I might have to squeeze into one, like a big old pink ribbon kielbasi.

I saw Lincoln in Kraynick's on Sat already working on sorting out his bike after the little dismount, so big thumbs up to Lincoln.

I might have to lose this gut so I can squeeze into one like a skinny pink ribbon hot dog. You wouldn't happen to have one of those pink ribbon sausage casings downtown, would you?

Have 2 left, but not in town. Could have one here tomorrow, want?

Edmonds, if you happen to have an extra left, let me know - I also work downtown and can stop by wherever. I'd love to have one.

Edmond, if you have any left, I would also take one

I'm pm'ing yinz.

Edmonds - Yeah, bike is fixed. I moved that headlamp from the stem to the old reflector mount, and put the bolt/nut that holds the bars back on along with a reasonable amount of Loctite to hopefully keep it from coming loose again. Also recabled the brakes, replaced the 20 year old rear tire, and trued up the wheels. I can't say enough good things about Gerry Kraynick, every time I've been to his shop he could either help me or point me to someone else who could, and parts have been quite reasonable.

Nice write-up Stu. Sorry to have missed this month's ride. Sounds like it was a good 'outreach' opportunity. Can't wait till the next.

Hey!

I put up a couple of photos I took of the FOC June ride up on the Facebook - FOC page.... they're not as cool as Rob's pics from last time (I took them with my iPhone).

Enjoy

Representing with my FOC shirt while riding Montreal's public Bixi bikes.

That is super cool. Both the t-shirt and the bikes. Did you rent one?

I took my own bike so I could pull along the kids trailer, but did try them a few times. They are VERY well used in the city. You see people riding bixis everwhere.

i havent been on an FOC ride yet but this thread is super cute.