This 70′s Ride was meant to bring some SJBP faves all in one ride – downtown WG, LG and Campbell. We had some new faves thrown in too (old part of Willow is so sweet).
Thanks to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo for hosting us in their beautiful new parking facility! They’re 50+ years old and if you think you liked the bridge, bathrooms, etc., you’ll really like the new zoo. Please check em out!
Please add your pics and videos to the SJBP Flicker group and share you new/old faves here, stories, playlists, 70′s dance moves, etc. A reader also suggested posting pics to RateMyVelo so they can get more “edgy” or “real” pics.
Shout out also to the vendors, the local neighbors, those that pulled heavy music trailers, all the showed up to ride, those that helped others with flats and of course the many volunteers (BIRDs and non-BIRDs) that helped guide the approximately 2700 riders at key intersections.
If you’d like to become a BIRD, check out one of our upcoming test rides. Or build a music system for your rack or on a trailer, “test” that on our test rides too! We have something really special in store for our July ride… so “save the date.”
The weather should be better so we’ll get more riders each month, now through October. Keep the tunes coming, but we might need to turn the beats down after 10 or 11pm.
(Thanks to Garrett & Warren for use of these photos)
Joycee
June 17, 2011
Pretty mellow ride. Thanks to all the volunteers who plan and support the ride
Jane
June 17, 2011
The poor kids on my street were woken up at 11:40 due to people yelling on their bikes.. Please tone it down when it gets late
Davhed
June 17, 2011
Not only are these geniuses waking up everyone in this area with all the shouting, they also have music absolutely blasting from vehicles “accompanying” the riders. Learn some restraint and respect for you community because you all just make bicyclists look like fools.
This is the most disrespectful and ridiculous event ever granted a permit from San Jose. My neighbors and I will be filing several complaints with the city on Monday, and I for one hope you never get permission to this this again.
community activist
June 18, 2011
Dear Davhed
I would like to apologize for those who distributed you. Every event of this type has both a positive as well as negative aspect. Unfortunately you experienced the negative side of people having fun. Having said that, there are very strong positives of such an event.
SJBP is unique in bringing together a wide demographic in a positive event. One of the reason San Jose is more functional (i.e. relatively less crime) than other cities is there are people who are sponsoring community events. Having just flown back from Atlanta (which is still a segregated city), seeing people of all races & economic classes is a welcome sight.
I’m not saying SJBP is perfect but it is an important asset with both the County & City leadership recognize.
steve
June 19, 2011
I know many wont like this idea, but we really do need to work with the communities we ride through, starting earlier might be the compromise we need to make to keep the party alive. A 630pm start time would get the ride done before 11pm which would be both respectful and appreciated.
Frankie
June 18, 2011
We are definitely sorry we woke up your twirps i mean kids, but just because a couple people were yelling doesn’t mean you have to hate us all. You can file as many complaints as you like against us but seriously how are you going to stop the massive 2500 people on bicycles. We’re not doing anything against the law. We will continue riding as long our wheel keep rolling. You have a nice day.
Pike Barty
June 18, 2011
You bike-party participants are so obnoxious that for a second there, I almost despised myself for being a bike enthusiast as well. Are you so attention-starved that you have to disrupt every neighborhood you ride through so the local residents will pay attention to you? That will certainly help your cause to garner more respect within the community, as most people will view this juvenile behavior with admiration and sincere appreciation.
TL;DR – You needy, attention-starved douche-bags are no better than obnoxious, engine-revving motorcyclists or drunken frat-boys. Way to be an “individual.”
Garrett Birkel
June 18, 2011
After over two years of regular participation in Bike Party, I can tell you, Mr. Anonymous Complainer, that this event does far, FAR more good for the community than any harm it has wrought.
Your name calling and put-downs do not alter the balance one whit in my mind.
You want “community disruption”? Try Prop 13. The damage it has done to California over the last generation has been incalculable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_13_(1978)
Mr. Anonymous Complainer
June 18, 2011
Garrett, you’re a moron. This is about your groups inability to maintain order and your participants inability to understand their impact on the community. Trying to deflect the issue to your tired political agenda just reinforces my previous points. Turn your attention to the jerks on your ride who are going to destroy your group’s reputation with the community and the city.
high cadence
June 20, 2011
yes, SJBP has attracted obnoxious people. they recognized for the past few summers. it’s a seasonal growing pain =(. summer months are always tough for SJBP simply because it’s summertime, there’s no school for many who a few are complaining about and the excitement of riding with many others excited about riding with others. during cooler rainy months, rides are much calmer. number of riders is slashed by the thousands. it’s pretty much night and day.
the really great thing about SJBP, other than their volunteers and it’s hundreds of core supporters, is it’s rotating routes. so, SJBP probably won’t be in your neck of the woods for many many months.
rest assured there are many bike enthusiasts, such as yourself, who rode that friday night. SJBP needs more enthusiasts, like yourself, to ride and to lead the way for the young who are acting out. come out to the next one and bring your bike enthusiastic buds with you, dressed in theme! it’ll be fun!
Garrett Birkel
June 20, 2011
“Moron”, “jerk”, “douche-bag”, “juvenile”, “attention-starved”, and “frat-boy”?
Whatever you claim “it’s about”, your true colors are clear. You just want to vent by dumping anonymous insults into this thread. With that approach you change nothing.
Almost every participant in Bike Party is a local tax-paying resident. Some of “us” most certainly earn more money – and pay more in taxes – than you do.
You can’t change the minds of the alleged “jerks” “morons” and “douche-bags” by complaining in this thread because, simply put, they aren’t here. Your only hope is to appeal to the more responsible element in Bike Party, such that they – we – police our own numbers.
You have totally failed in that appeal, with your belligerent outbursts.
Couch Bike Dude
June 21, 2011
Garrett, you’re awesome!
Thanks so much for being part of our group.
madeline
June 18, 2011
its so disapointing seeing that this is something us san jose kids, through adults, want to do and we get in trouble for partying, being out too late, or anything else some adult (that was once our age) can call us out on. bike party is an event that we all get to enjoy and people do come out of their houses but not to tell us how annoying we are but encourage us on our ride (of 25 miles) and to keep going! It was very fun tonight on my very first bike party! i loved seeing the different bikes and all the people! see you all next month
Couch Bike Dude
June 21, 2011
I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
the sinners are much more fun…
Billy Joel – 1977
Stick with us madeline!
community activist
June 18, 2011
This was a great ride. It was great to see so many people out on the first warm ride of the summer. Thanks to all the volunteers.
Ginger
June 18, 2011
I was a sideline observer approx 12pm, myself and a few neighbors gathered outside after hearing the noise of the passing bike riders. We enjoyed the excitement! All the bike riders were having a good time and very well behaved.
It’s summertime! Friday night! I was very impressed and immediately looked up sjbikeparty website to find out more.
GOOD JOB TO YOU ALL!
I look forward to future rides!
Spliffer
June 18, 2011
What a beautiful start location!
Hey, it wasn’t a perfect ride, however; I loved the fantastic Bike Party vibe that flowed from the start all the way through to the finish.
Please post your opinions — that is — the opinions and experiences the bicyclists at last night’s Bike Party.
I saw a couple of “bad spills” and I had “a minor” one myself but, that just part of life on a bicycle.
I would summarize last night’s Bike Party as: a beautifully design route, a great and fun crowd, awesome vibe, a little unruly on the return trip but, overall a very happy and high energy group.
Please, please, please focus on expressing your Bike Party experience. Don’t get bogged down — and defensive — by trying to answer some of the insults and negative external comments on the above thread.
Focus on the positive!
Bike Party forever!
dave
June 18, 2011
last bike party for me.
i was there last night in the 70s bike party and was emberresed by the rudeness of some of the bikers. if bp is going to turn into a goonfest then im done. it only hurts bp in the long run if we create an us vs. them mentality. “building community” should include all people not just the bike riders.
Kristin
June 18, 2011
our family saw the ride early on in Willow Glen. With a few exceptions, you were a group intent on having fun and being friendly. We hope to join you someday. We did worry about the few idiots riding on the wrong side of the road or entering intersection LONG after the red light. If those few would just remember there’s a great party happening behind you as well as ahead of you, everyone would be safer.
Rapid Robert
June 18, 2011
I thought it was a great ride last night. Easy to follow route, BIRDs on the corners, lots of music in the air, lots of headbands. Saw a few wipeouts with no injuries. Props to Los Gatos PD for helping move us on through town.
2500 citizens having a fun time on bicycles are going to make some noise. That’s not the same thing as an individual blasting a bass line that can be felt before it’s heard two blocks away, or the motorcyclist who likes setting motion detector car alarms off as he guns it riding home at 1:00am through our neighborhoods.
SJBP has enormous benefits for the community. It’s all about anyone and everyone riding together. The “way we ride” is about respect and tolerance. It’s the polar opposite of other sports events that are all about us against them, often spawning “If you can’t beat ‘em, beat ‘em” results and post-win violent riots. And San Jose’s building more stadiums. SJBP, on the other hand, is healthy, participatory, empowering, and overwhelmingly friendly.
ridenaked
June 18, 2011
i think its the same (only) person after every ride that makes it their duty to have the first post in here be their complaining about how everyone hates us
Ian
June 19, 2011
it’s not.Sadly the small subset of rude riders tend to alienate new folks every ride.
Summer is here we are going to need all the help we can get to keep people safe.
Billy the Kid
June 18, 2011
It was surprising to see bad things happen on a ride that started off great.
Last night’s ride was filled with riders who were considerate, responsible, smart, and positive. Everyone was stopping for red lights. Most riders stayed in the right lane, and when a few strayed into the left, there were many voices reminding them how we ride. It was wonderful.
Then as we approached downtown Los Gatos, we found a cop blocking off bicycles and directing cars through. And he acted like a dick about it, too.
Luckily, some people I was with found a detour to get us back on route.
Then we passed an ambulance loading someone on a stretcher. The victim looked like a rider.
It’s always heartbreaking when a cyclist gets injured, but it’s surprising on a night when so many people were riding carefully and responsibly.
I also had the impression this wasn’t the only injury that night. Anyone have details?
My sympathies to whomever was hurt. But also my thanks and respect to those thousands of riders who did such a great job of making everything else at last night’s Bike Party work.
TimC
June 18, 2011
It appeared that a high schooler collided with an guy in his twenties, sending the guy to the hospital (didn’t see any obvious breaks), the kid with some scrapes. Wide open part of Winchester with streetlights, before the good downhill stretch.
What happened to the guy in the parking lot of the Hacienda regroup is unknown to me. Apparently his right knee was in bad shape, with a lot of pain, but it wasn’t scraped up. Maybe he had a bad twist while doing the dance to “Staying Alive”?
David
June 18, 2011
We saw quite a few spills last night. Two happened to people in my group.
The lesser problem happened somewhere before the second regroup where there were some lightrail tracks crossing the street at an angle. My buddy got caught in the tracks and fell, scraping his knee. Nothing too serious, but someone followed and did the exact same thing 30 seconds later.
The more serious issue, involving sirens and blinky lights, happened right out of the first regroup. He got caught up in someone else turning and fell. The chainring on his bike sliced deep into his ankle. He was able to make it to the sidewalk but he briefly feinted. A firetruck and ambulance came to patch him up and a friend drove him to the hospital. He got out at about 1am and he’s doing alright.
Please everyone try to be safe out there!
Ride slow, get mo’
suave
June 18, 2011
I believe it was entering into Los Gatos, at the bottom of a steep hill, there was an immediate stop sign and all the riders were halted. With the downhill road at a curve, riders going very fast could not see the stopped traffic until it was too late. I almost smashed into the crowd but luckily turned down a side street. I then turned around and started shouting at the riders to slow down and tried to warn them as best as I could.
Unfortunately after I continued on with the route, I immediately saw an ambulance pass me, going to the location of the stop sign. As I heard a girl who was riding down the hill was behind a car who abruptly stopped to make a turn. My 12 year old niece barely missed the stopped car going the same rate of speed as the girl next to her. The girl then hit the car at full speed, no brakes and flew over the car. It seemed as though the driver was aggravated and did not consider of the safety of anyone when he/she decided to stop.
I completely LOVE sjbp, and for this reason I post this unfortunate story. Maybe I should volunteer as a bird but I feel as though a bird or a designated person should defiantly be positioned at the top of hills to give warnings of whats to come. If there is a stop sign/light at the bottom of a hill/bridge maybe a bird could also be there to signal riders to keep going because I’d rather have a few inconvenienced drivers than a few paralyzed/injured riders.
Mike G
June 19, 2011
I was near the front of the group entering LG, pretty much single file at that stop sign. There was an officer sitting in the lot there shinning his spotlight making sure people stopped.
Really stupid of people to outride their sight lines and go faster than they can stop!
Sad she hit the car but don’t blame the car, they usually slow or stop when surrounded by the mob.
And like usual, way too many bikes without lights, I really wish the cops would ticket them.
JohnARRR
June 18, 2011
Great ride San Jose BP
My buddy and I had been away from the bike party scene for 2 months (too long!) and last nights 25 mile ride was a great way to break back in. Saw lots of people stopping to help each-other out which was great. Also saw a few more accidents than usual, which is unfortunate. I hope everyone’s ok, and if not I wish them a speedy recovery so they can make the next ride!
I didn’t have any 70′s gear but loved all the outfits I saw. Lots of pretty girls with flowers in their hair
Also, to the older gentleman pulling a sound system and playing the Dead – you made my night
right on
Apologies to the folks who don’t party and go to bed before 10 on a Friday. That must’ve been rough.
Massive props to the parents that brought their children outside to give me high fives from the sidewalk!!
Oh yeah, those sound systems are pulled by cyclists. Not “vehicles.” But when it comes to misconceptions, Neil says it best:
“Ooh baby, that’s hard to change
I can’t tell them how to feel”
Rapid Robert
June 18, 2011
John. Dude. You’re an “older gentleman”! 8^0
Couch Bike Dude
June 18, 2011
Hmmm…
I think I resemble that remark.
I ALWAYS include some Grateful Dead in the mix!
Last night we had some selections from American Beauty: “Box Of Rain”, “Friend Of The Devil”, and “Till The Morning Comes”.
The Battery on my second Amp is to small (light?) and I was limited to half power after the first stop.
From the tone of many of the comments I’m guessing there’s no need to fix that “problem”.
I’m gratified to learn about the music appreciation.
Lots of Queen fans last night too.
pizzasfortires
June 18, 2011
Bike Party was great yet agian, never fails! To all the people crying about how rude people have been, please realize this; people are like that ANYWHERE you go. These rides will never be perfect, and it doesn’t take a lot to understand that. Enjoy them for the positivitiy and not the random idiots that may foul things up. SJBP is the best thing that has ever happened to this boring city (29 years living here). Its once a month, on a friggin Friday..what more could you cry about? (insert whiney baby voice here) “im telling the city on you”. People work very hard to make these rides go well and much respect and thanks to them. To all the haters out there, just remember if you have such a problem with SJBP why wouldn’t you try to help out instead of just complain. It’s a positive, healthy change in a typically boring city. SJBP FOREVER!
Route Scouter
June 18, 2011
re: riders, volunteers – thanks to all that followed the “how we ride” and had a good time doing it. they’re not mutually exclusive.
re: music – there have been rides where we’ve requested the music be turned down in residential areas.. I can’t remember if it was 10 or 11pm. it was somewhat adhered to. perhaps this should be revisited.
Spliffer
June 18, 2011
That’s a great point; re: music trailers.
I witnessed rolling by a group of about five bicyclists, on a sidewalk in a residential neighborhood repairing the broken wheel on their music trailer.
You figure the first order of business would be turn off the music on their powerful — 50 watt or so — music rig.
They were blasting it almost full bore. I rode by and politely asked them to turn the music down or off, and was ignored because perhaps they couldn’t hear me.
Finally, a home owner — a lady — from a house across the street came out at the moment I was rolling past the group and, emphatically told them to turn the music off.
This should’ve been a, no-brainer — avoidable incident — if folks had used “sound judgement” or followed Bike Party’s policy regarding playing music while riding through neighborhoods.
It was way after 11 PM and when hauling such a powerful system, you have to be aware of the impact when stopped for any prolonged period of time for repairs in a ‘hood.
This is the kind of stuff that could easily turn into a public relations nightmare for the Bike Party Community.
This situation gives “clear meaning” to “owning the ride”.
How can we win that lady’s support or, have her show us some love by creating a nuisance and being inconsiderate?
Bike Party and music trailers are a match made in heaven!
I can’t imagine Bike Party without them.
I love all types and genre of music played at Bike Party; however, we must be “ever mindful” of how to preserve and expand our base of support because we are all part of the communities and neighborhoods we roll through and we should avoid eroding the goodwill the Bike Party Community has achieved.
scott
June 18, 2011
I’d like to reach out to any SJBP rider that lives in the city of Campbell to send me an email.
I can’t mention what this is regarding yet, but there may be an issue that your letters/emails could be instrumental with.
Thanks for letting me be extremely discreet/vague at this time. (can contact you via admin)
steve
June 19, 2011
I know many wont like this idea, but we really do need to work with the communities we ride through, starting earlier might be the compromise we need to make to keep the party alive. A 630pm start time would get the ride done before 11pm which would be both respectful and appreciated.
high cadence
June 20, 2011
some neighborhoods complain. some don’t.
it’s actually safer to start at it’s current time – less cars on the road = less road rage.
DVSteve
June 18, 2011
My impression of last night’s ride is that it went really well. The overall mood was upbeat and fun with fewer than usual of the renegades that cause most of the problems.
Sorry to hear about those who were injured. I hope everyone is recovering quickly. With the number of riders out there, statistically there will always be a few falls. Most of them have no damage or injury. Please, everybody ride sober and safe.
There was great vibe, great music, and great costumes. Thanks for making the ride so much fun. Thanks to everyone who stepped up to help out in big ways and small. Without you, bike party couldn’t exist.
Ride on!
Garrett Birkel
June 18, 2011
Glad to be back in the event and taking pictures … Here’s what I got
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57897385@N07/sets/72157626868511337/
Alas, many had to be cut, since they were blurry due to a bad setting on my part. :/
Spliffer
June 19, 2011
Great composition Garrett!
I really enjoy your work.
I have come to respect and appreciate the work of the great number of creative and talented people within the
Bike Party Community who contribute to the depth and breadth that makes Bike Party such a special and unique experience.
Garrett Birkel
June 20, 2011
While we’re making compliments, I haven’t seen anyone else say it here, so I wanna say it, to make sure it’s acknowledged:
What you do is more important.
You’re the soul of the event, spliffer. I wish every rider on the street had your attitude and enthusiasm and your level head.
gilroy biker
June 18, 2011
Friday was a great ride dispite a few radicals. 2 important reminders: when at all possibe stay in the right lane and if youre going to stop PULL OVER to the curb. Dont just stop in the middle of the path of others. A big thanx for including some down hills goes to the course planners. Looking forward to next months ride. Mabe the people on house arrest will actually join us instead of complaining about those of us who want to live befor we die..long live SJBP
steve
June 19, 2011
Community Activist I agree with you 1000% that’s why I keep riding month after month! There aren’t any other free events that I can think of that bring so many people together!
I also believe that Bike Party does need need to work with the community better. One idea might be to start rides at 6pm and have them finish around 11pm. I dont think it will damper the Bike Party spirit. We will still have the things that make the party fun: music, costumes, and a few hours of dark to show off our lights.
Ian
June 19, 2011
if we started at 6:00 then we would impact Traffic as people are trying to get home. which is something we do not want to do. which is why we roll at 8:00. A better solution is for us as a ride to ask riders to Turn it down after 11:00
steve
June 19, 2011
Shucks perhaps 6 could cause traffic concerms I
but earlier could also be 7pm, which would still work. Even a hour still gets people off the streets earlier. Why not try an earlier ride and see how it goes?
steve
June 19, 2011
We have difficultly as a group reinforcing the some of the simpler rules we already have (red light running, lights etc), so I am very pessimistic about expecting people – especially as it gets more rowdy later into the night- to turn their music down.
Every ride we get a lot of complaints from the community so we need to try something new.
moo
June 19, 2011
There are still way too many cars on the road at 7pm in most places. The other way to get riders off the road earlier would be to shorten the routes. However, I think the reason the routes got as long as they are now were because many of the troublemakers from earliers years went away when the routes got longer.
Sometimes routing can help by using major roads late at night, but sometimes there aren’t enough non-residential and non-freeway roads that work.
moo
June 19, 2011
I think it actually gets less rowdy towards the end of the ride, because people get tired from all the pedalling!
high cadence
June 20, 2011
i think the issue is, around 15th-20th mile (90 minutes of riding), fatigue starts to kick in for many. too much alcohol starting to affect the same people. add in the obnoxious behavior and viola, SJBP summer rides.
i think moo is onto something…shorter routes. 10-15 miles. i actually think this is the perfect solution for summer rides.
Blair
June 19, 2011
We do our best here at Trail Head to promote bike party and we realize that there are always a few bad apples that participate in the ride. To those d-bags, thanks for vandalizing the shop truck on the regroup at Cambria Plaza.
To the rest of you that acted with respect and responsablility, thank you an keep riding!
Ian
June 19, 2011
Blair, That sucks
bad apples Ruin it for everyone.
Rapid Robert
June 19, 2011
Actually, every ride we get a few complaints from the communities we ride through, usually equalled in the Reflections by messages of praise and support. We complain here ourselves about those who crash our party by not riding “the way we ride”. Different start locations, different routes each month keep our impact at a minimum. And we try to route away from liquor stores.
Rapid Robert
June 19, 2011
Meant for Steve just above. ^^^^^^
Spliffer
June 19, 2011
Great point RR!
Some of the complaints comes from folks who are experiencing Bike Party rolling through their ‘hood for the first time.
Fact: SJ Bike Party has been in existence for over three years and, there are only 12 Bike Parties per calendar year.
Next month’s ride will be a different route in a totally new location because we cover the whole South Bay Area: from Palo Alto to South San Jose.
So there is a very good reason for folks to lighten-up and, be a bit more sanguine about last Friday’s experience.
moo
June 19, 2011
The complaints, however, are legitimate. The fact that they come from people who haven’t seen SJBP roll through their neighborhoods doesn’t make their points any less valid.
Generally speaking, SJBP routes usually seem to use residential areas on the earlier parts of the ride, while using commercial areas or larger roads near the end of the ride.
People with high-powered music systems should keep the volume low late at night.
Rapid Robert
June 20, 2011
It’s a big shame that complaints from the community are neither logged nor reported to anyone, so that trends can be tracked over time and problems addressed more directly. I wish there was more transparency in this regard.
Perhaps if a report, or tabulation of messages of complaint and praise were posted, the larger community could see their relative numbers and the decrease (if any) in complaints over time. Does anyone keep track of complaints? Does anyone have a list of complaints that don’t appear in the Reflections, or are those summarily discarded by whoever gets them?
Couch Bike Dude
June 21, 2011
[IMG]http://i52.tinypic.com/qsuww3.png[/IMG]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow
The complaints about our behavior began here ten hours before we even hit the road.
Mr. Roadshow published this complaint, which seems typical of the type we get, today. These NIMBYs want the police, fire, and medically escorted Special Olympics shut down for delaying traffic. Is there any hope that a group like ours with party in our name and a party attitude in our hearts could ever hope to end the complaints?
BTW, my second amp quit on the way down suicide hill into Los Gatos and I was back home and quiet by 11:30. I left the party after the Hacienda break. Sooo don’t blame me for anything bad about the music
high cadence
June 20, 2011
except east san jose. no complaints from there.
Claired
June 19, 2011
have to agree with the many complaints here. We had riders come past our house in Willow Glen after midnight – music blaring, sirens and screaming for 15 minutes. Woke me and my young kids up. Im not against this but there needs to be more respect for disturbing the neighborhoods you ride it. Your rules are not being enforced and there is a backlash against you. I called the police and they said this is a disturbance and many of your riders were clearly riding intoxicated which again is against the law. Enjoy the rides but be more respectful and manage the chaos.
Scott
June 19, 2011
My 2cents: more common sense & personal responsibility are needed and the ‘normal’ riders can just have fun and ride legally and shout out for good and bad behavior. maybe this will help influence others (via peer pressure?) to ‘do the right thing’. … and of course everyone could (if they wanted to) ride safer, get lights, obey ‘ how we ride’ … and turn down the music at 10pm and even more at 11pm.
FYI, SJBP used to start at 9:15-9:30! People come home after work, so 8pm is a struggle for many… this is one of the benefits of having the food trucks (so riders don’t have to eat at home first). So I think 8pm is early enough; any earlier affects commute traffic and would minimize the number of those on “pre-rides” too.
scott wilson
June 20, 2011
to all the nay sayers, THIS IS STILL THE U.S.A. and we, can still go where we want when we want whatever time we want! and if i find out what neighborhood complaind, I will come over every night and play loud music till dawn
Young Rider
June 20, 2011
This month, I brought along my 65 year old aunt on her old beach cruiser. She enjoyed the WHOLE RIDE and said it was a beautiful/comfortable route with very nice people riding along side of her. The only downfall is that she had motorist yell out “THAT OLD LADY THINKS SHES GOING TO FINISH?!?!?” lol… Other then that, great ride!! Cant wait for the next one! =)
Rapid Robert
June 20, 2011
That is, by FAR, the best Bike Party story I’ve EVER heard!!! I hope she returns! And THANK YOU for bringing her. That’s what this is all about.
theCat
June 21, 2011
Haterz gonna hate.
Doc Hawk
June 20, 2011
Observed thousands of people from many walks of life enjoying a really happy experience… for FREE. Also observe hundreds of photos showing smiling faces and joyful activities. Everyone, regardless of who you are or what your opinions might be, is always welcome to experience this phenomenon. Yes; disruptions, crime and accidents may occur among thousands of participants, regardless of what they are doing at the time, or who they are associated with. Nothing, including life in general, will ever be completely pleasant and/or perfectly safe for everyone. San Jose Bike Party is extremely entertaining, healthy, and economical. My thanks to everyone, and I sincerely hope you recover quickly if anything unfortunate happened to you.
T
June 20, 2011
The SJBP was awesome! Can’t wait until the next ride. So when is the next ride and what are “test rides”??? Great job SJBP!
Asa Ka pa
June 20, 2011
We ride to test the route for the bike party.
Asa Ka pa
June 20, 2011
Awesome ride!…2,700 riders came!..nice
Spliffer
June 21, 2011
Thanks for the very kind words Garrett!
The Bike Party Volunteer group is such a “shameless” mutual admiration group.
I am most inspired by personal Bike Party heroes whom, in my opinion, are way more deserving of such a label — folks like:
Scott, Ian, Amber, Nick, Yoshi, Rapid Robert, etc., etc… and, on and on…
In fact, the SJ Bike Party Volunteer core is phenomenal group that toil and sacrifice tirelessly — many in anonymity — for the benefit of the SJ Bike Party Community.
It is my heartfelt belief, that Bike Party thrives and survives because it was founded and sustained by LOVE… for love of bicycling…
theCat
June 21, 2011
I like the test rides. Same vibe, less drama.
John M
June 22, 2011
Near the front at times. Near the back at times. The ride was fun and the payoff after riding into Los Gatos was a sweet downhill onto Winchester. I saw many familiar faces. Met other friendly BIRDS and listened to great music all the way home.
Thanks SJBP!