Reflections & Happy Birthday BikeParty

October 19, 2012

What a huge turnout for the Halloween/Anniversary ride.
That has to be the most attended Bike Party on record.
Great crowd, great spirit and lots of fun.
Loved it!

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gilda messmer

October 20, 2012

I was sad to see a cyclist hit at the 1st meet up spot….everyone from the feeder rides came in riding crazy in front of cars and not respecting the rules of the road to turn into the parking lot.
I have been riding for 3 years and I love to ride with fellow riders who obey the rules and don’t put my life in jeopardy. I was ready to go home tonight before even starting the ride because I was so upset about the accident, but a friend encouraged me to ride. I love Bike Party and I hope the negative publicity doesn’t shut it down. Ride safe people!

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Andrea

October 20, 2012

I have to agree that was the best turnout and the most fun I have had at Bike Party since I first attended 2 1/2 years ago! And that’s saying a lot considering how my night started!

To the 4 drunk/high punks who came in from the feeder rides at the 1st meetup… you need to follow the rules, be aware of your surroundings and learn how to respect others! You give bike party a bad name and are part of the negative vibe with the rest of the community! They came blasting in and one wasn’t paying attention to what/who was in front of them, and knocked me off my bike! Then the asshole took my wig and laughed with others as they rode away because of the responses they were getting from my friends/family and others around me who were defending/helping me. Idiots like yourselves aren’t wanted at these events; and it will be stunts like that, putting others in jeopardy and causing accidents that will have it shut down!

I also didn’t have a good vibe about the accident where the cyclist got hit… but ended up enjoying myself anyway with great friends and family. I’m a little sore and very bruised this morning though… but got a lot of compliments about my funny costume, a Sharks fan from the dead

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420fool

October 20, 2012

is the rider that got hit at HP is he ok

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Oscar

October 24, 2012

I think that guy was okay, he got up, and sat on the bed bench.

-Oscar

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Community Activist

October 20, 2012

It was a great ride. It was really nice to see people cheering the crowd as they rode by their homes. Thanks to the volunteers for making this happen.

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Elia

October 20, 2012

Great ride last night! I was a little bummed riding without my regular partner in crime, but it was still a good time. I ride safely and stay clear of those who don’t. Most accidents are avoidable. Be smart people. If you get hurt, you’ll miss the next ride.

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DjDiversik

October 20, 2012

Please tell me if the biker who got hit at HP is okay..

As a follow up from last night. I was the one who had the loudest speaker and the microphone. Bikers we need to respect the road as in we have to and clear up the streets when there is an accident. I’m so glad I brought my microphone…

But other than that..some dumbass kept lighting up fireworks and a group of idiot ass kids kicked the firework box and fell it sideways, then shooting at my family!! Please do not bring fireworks!

Other than that…please keep it safe. I don’t want us to be shut down.

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vig

October 20, 2012

This was my first bike party. IT was so much fun. My only comment is that the masses of people didnt know the route well. so i got lost with a good 500 people. and ended up just going back to winchester. Maybe of there was a volnetter at all turns that would be great.

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Lilly

October 20, 2012

My first ride last night and I loved it! Soon much fun! I did get my rear tire rubbed by a retard on a ghey ugly fixie with pink grips- ughh. If you can’t ride properly make sure you have brakes- maybe also a helmet!

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M

October 20, 2012

Overall a good Bike Party. My brother was one of those attending to he rider who got hit. He eventually walked away. He was very lucky.

Those that ride crazy in crowd need to show more appreciation that they can easily cause great harm to others. Ride sane!

‘Not sure if it was so, but it seemed to me that the percentage of people wearing helmets was higher than before. A good trend. People need to realize that a simple fall to the side going 0 mph can have dire consequences. I used to have a good friend who worked at Agnews State Mental Hospital and she said you wouldn’t believe all the “vegetables” there because of head injuries while riding bikes.

And people……get some lights!

Still it’s a fun event.

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Randy

October 20, 2012

I hope the cyclist who was hit in front of the pavillion is ok.
I seen a few other crashes with injuries resulting from probably a combination of alcohol and recklessness. It’s fine to have a couple drinks in moderation, but excessive drinking and partying while riding in these large Bike Party Groups just ends up putting you an others at risk for serious injury or worse..death. Most don’t think about this, but you should definitely consider it on all future rides.
I sure don’t appreciate being put at risk by some irresponsible drunks. Outside of that I hope everyone had a great time. I know I did. One comment though… I thought the multible starting point idea was good, but I think it caused a lot of confusion for those trying to get back. I know I ended up trying to get back to the Winchester Mystery House starting point and ended up getting lost and riding alone from like 1am to 2:30am when I finally made it home. I like the single starting point and end point being at the exact same location. This makes it easier and safer for everyone to get back to their initial starting point.

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Spliffer

October 20, 2012

Bike Party’s 5th Anniversary ride was a memorable event! What an awesome showing by the Bike Party Community. The route through East San Jose was so much fun for bicyclists and spectators alike from the neighborhood. I spoke to one guy who was so moved, that he broke into a sprint to his home to get his bicycle to join Bike Party.
That is why I have always said that; if SJ Bike Party had a centre it would be located in East San Jose. Folks over there seem to welcome Bike Party with open arms. I had spectators offering me bottled water and they were genuinely thrilled that the Bike Party was rolling down their street. I mean like: where else do we get such enthusiasm and gratitude?
Compare that star treatment, last night, to the number of “N-I-M-B-Y – CLODS” from the other hoods we roll through, that come onto the thread every month to voice their “whining and silly” complaints.
We felt and totally appreciate your BIG LOVE East San Jo!

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Scott

October 20, 2012

Happy Birthday Bike Party!
That was one sweet ride. And the Regroup at Eastridge was one of the best in years!

So nice to see the new and old faces, and the passion of the (5000-5500?) riders. Seeing the number of cyclists helping each other (including my buds/fellow BIRDs helping me) was a great feeling. And I’m glad I could help others too. It’s easy to do, so why not?

Seeing and talking with the great number of riders in costumes, the great attitude by most riders, lots of residents loving the scene in the east side especially, the large around of music trailers, and of course most riders stopping at red lights was great.

Seeing the “sea of cyclists” on Santa Clara St in downtown was fantastic too.

However the flood of cyclists onto a road that couldn’t ever take the crush of cyclists, essentially no organized attempt to share the road (even 3 intersections with 2 birds would have made a huge difference. Yes, I realize that there were simply far too many riders, but this probably means that the types of regroups #1 and #2 were probably in reverse order as far as size of regroup and nearby streets.

There were a few BIRDs helping at key corners, but King/Tully (for example) had none whatsoever that was a bit of an oops. There were many near misses as we went thru the Eastridge parking lots as drivers didn’t expect to see us. I went back to help direct riders at King/Tully and King/Rigoletto. Shout out to fellow BIRD, Ed N on Burdette.

On a somber note, I’ve personally seen lots of near misses with riders on the wrong side of the road between Regroups #1 and #2 too. Which was scary after seeing the rider on the ground outside HP Pavilion. So there is room for improvement and volunteering opportunities.

Looking forward to more rides and more riders joining to be BIRDs. Happy Birthday Bike Party!

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SJSHARK408

October 20, 2012

Was a good ride! Until I followed a group that wasn’t heading the right way. After I figured out where to go, no one was in sight. And it was late. I tried looking up the map, but my phone wouldnt load it, idk why. Guess I’ll have to print out directions next time. So i just ended up calling for a ride, sucked. Wish there were signs or something directing us. Maybe there could be signs with chem lights at turning points. Just an idea. But overall great ride.

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Marco

October 21, 2012

Heey!! that sounds familiar!- well if yr willing, send me an email and group up w/us when we do go!.. it’s always fun getting lost w/a group of people:)

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blindog

October 20, 2012

Halloween ride is always the best for total turnout, costumes, fun! The multi-start was a good idea to manage such a large crowd. A huge “Thanks” to all of the birds for helping.

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Serg

October 20, 2012

Another great ride last night for the 5th anniversary shindig! I thoroughly enjoy the comraderie and, yes, the insanity of it all. Words of wisdom to the young and foolish…attach a front and rear light to your rig so you can be around for the next 40 or 50 years to continue the tradition. I saw quite a few fools riding along dark city streets without any illumination occasionally riding into each other and requiring some fancy footwork on my part to avoid ending up in the neuro ward at VMC. Perhaps a sponsor can be found to pass out some lights to our less intellectually inclined brethren before the start of the ride. On another note, loved the tunes coming from the blasters and the support from community members as we stole away through the night.

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Cameron

October 21, 2012

I tried giving away lights last year. No takers. Now I have a whole box of bike lights that say April 2011 Bike Party. It seems the people dressed in black with no lights or reflectors like it that way.

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- Gavin
  
  October 23, 2012
  
  Hey if you’ve still got those lights, im lightless at the moment and could definitely make good use of them lol
  
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Louie

October 21, 2012

I loved it!!!! BIKE PARTY!!! I was the one with the GIANT MTB with led lights in the tires

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420fool

October 21, 2012

this was a great ride regroup was great empty parking lot not like last month keep up the good rides it it better when we have regroup at empty parking lot

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Jason

October 21, 2012

Really fun up until I left the drive-in. No one seemed to know the route back and people kept going different directions! So I joined up with a group that seemed to be going back, but then didn’t. So I went back to Diridon alone and it was completely deserted (around 12:30). From there I rode home alone Still, the main start up until the drive in was a super fun ride — thanks to all the organizers!

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Cameron

October 21, 2012

Great ride, nice route, agree about the East Side being more receptive than the wealthy neighborhoods. I only saw one BIRD patch the whole night, where were they hiding?

I really felt sorry for the food truck operators. It seems every one of them had a PA system turned up to full garble, pointed at them at the regroups. I watched several people try to place orders and they just couldn’t be heard over the blasting gansta rap and went away hungry. The guy I eventually got a burrito from had lost his voice trying to scream over the noise. My ears still hurt. I’ll remember the ear plugs and a little note pad next time.

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Kevin

October 21, 2012

It was a great night all around but the one thing I didn’t like about this ride was there weren’t many if any people giving directions along the ride. It may have been because of the multi-start which I found weird as well.

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Louie

October 21, 2012

I have no problem taking them off your hands dvsman06@yahoo.com

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Marco

October 21, 2012

This ride was aweesome!!- Met one of the Birds (S/O to Jackie!) and grouped up w/her on the ride back!.. i was the guy in the white bike w/stupid bright headlights! LOL! almost all turned around when i turn them on in fear of a car coming:) ride safe, ride for liife!!

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jacky

October 22, 2012

Hey, hey Marco thank YOU and your friends for the company on the way home from Caltrain! Hope to see ya out on a test ride!

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steve

October 21, 2012

It was amazing seeing the mass rolling out of the first regroup. It really was sea of never ending bikes, but routing a huge mass through downtown san jose is a bad idea near the start of the ride. I know its the anniversary ride and all and we want to celebrate san jose, but the blocks are so short and the lights so often that no one gets anywhere and bikes pool into the oncoming traffic and leave little room for sharing the road. The route probably would have been better counter clockwise. Otherwise fun ride.

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Louie

October 21, 2012

Cameron email me ill take them off your hands

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Serg

October 21, 2012

To the Skateboard Guy…keep on keepin’ on, dude!

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TimC

October 22, 2012

Hey Cameron – last year, as a BIRD, I organized a fund raising effort for the Party, by selling inexpensive led bike light sets at regroups. This was done in cooperation with the King of Campus t-shirt booth. But for the last year, my job has kept me away from the Party. All that should hopefully change soon, for the better. If you want to contribute to the Party, we can arrange to sell your lights to help The Party.

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DionRidesBikes

October 26, 2012

No mention of the TV show Art Mann Presents? If it’s not going to be next episode, it will be the one following, but a lot of you should be on AXS TV (previously HDNet).

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Michael

October 26, 2012

Good to know this!! I was riding in front of the camera when he was filming, so I’ll selfishly be looking for my 10 seconds of fame.

On other notes here are some of my highlights and lowlights
1) my friends tube popped, some VERY VERY cool people helped us all night including Mark from Walt’s Cyclery. He was the gentleman riding the recumbent with an aero cover; and a few other strangers that had pumps and patches. I’m definitely going to buy a couple the repay the favor next time around. A low-light is that people really got to learn how to use patches and vulcanizing fluid. I felt bad to say anything, but people would just put a huge glob of fluid on, and then without letting it set, just smash a patch on the wet messy stuff resulting in NO help whatsoever. Still thankful nonetheless, but what a bunch of newbs.
2) Fireworks were over the top, and the weed really needs to be smoked pre-ride.
3) Bagpipe guy was awesome
4) riding on capitol expressway was AWESOME.
Lowlights:
Someone got hit by a car at HP, my condolences, but these kinds of issues can be minimized by not running reds and doing stuff out of the adrenaline rush you get from the “mob high”.

we had to end the night early because one member in our groups bike was not able to continue. sucks.

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DavidB

November 11, 2012

Yeah, I ran into him a few times and said what’s up. He was a pretty cool guy in person. I have seen his shows in the past and always got a kick out of them. Unfortunately, I am in Taiwan for a business trip and don’t have access to see his shows. Does anyone know if it aired yet?

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Jay Fox

October 27, 2012

pre-ride, mid-ride, post-ride,
experts for years have debated this.
Needs to be smoked,
all experts agree with you there.

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Tian

October 29, 2012

Add my voice to the chorus of happy comments on that ride! I took a lot of pictures during the ride. You can see the best of them by clicking this link:

http://tian.greens.org/SanJose/BikeParty/HalloweenRide/index.html

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