Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Midnight Massive


North shore loading terminals - photo by Oker



The June 13th mass was, hands down, the largest ride we've had yet - 60 midnight loving bike freaks turned up to roll.
After some initial confusion as to our destination a small but determined 'lets ride to burnaby' faction was outvoted (ahh democracy) and we set out once again for stanley park. The route took us down Adanac to Main, North to the ocean where we looped under Canada place and the cruise ship terminals. We followed the water along coal harbour until posseing up for refreshements and some flat tire fixing at the mouth of the Stanley park seawall. Around the wall (with some of us riding up to prospect point, simply to bomb the dark dark dark road out), and then to Seigel's bagels on Cornwall for delicious bagely goodness. Huge thanks to Oker and Mike Fuller for their fine photographic work. Go check their flickr sites - there's some amazing stuff there.



trying to decide where it is we will roll this week. At this point, the burnabies still have it. This week, come armed with your ideas of where to ride. (photo - Mike Fuller)

Chilling out before hitting the stanley sea wall - anthony and sascha check out Mark's rad fixie (and his radder drink holder). (photo - Mike Fuller)


(photo - Oker)

(photo - Oker)

HOT KIDS EVERYWHERE! (photo - Oker)

(photo - Oker)

(photo - Oker)

Fixin' a flat - it took like 5 people to deal with this bastard of a tire. (photo - Oker)

Obligatory hot scotch shot...(photo - Oker)

and other refreshments... (photo - Oker)

Cruisin' around stanley - check out the tail lights! (photo - Mark Fuller)

Watch for bikes! There were 3 of those crazy kids with ski suits on. Freaking awesome. (photo - Mike Fuller)

(photo - Mike Fuller)

(photo - Mike Fuller)

Finally we cruised on to 24 hour eats - in the form of seigel's bagels.

(photo - Oker)

(photo - Oker)

Mark shows off his moves. (photo - Oker)

And this fellow shows off his new midnight mass button - products of Adam and Chris B's work (they rock guys, thanks!)(photo - Oker)

Saturday, July 22, 2006

The Mini Bike Army!

Midnight Mass loves the bicycle. Midnight Mass also loves the freaky bicycle.

Enter the Mini. Enter the Mini Bike Army.
Mini bike - usually a child's bike, 16/18" wheels or smaller.
The Mini Bike Army - the bunch of fools who ride these miniature machines. Get one! (they're cheap - think Value Village, Salley Anne) Join us!

Hats off to Chris B, the founder of this people's army, for getting this business started. This week the Mini Bike Army has held both its inagural and second rides - the second of which I had the pleasure of attending. Activities included totally confusing most people around us, making strangers smile (or try pretty hard not to - that was yaletown after all), riding through large fountains, bombing several parking garages in some pretty intense racing, and riding the yellow line down robson street. Thrills, Chills - even some pretty rad Spills were all included in the package.

Mini Bike Army summer Skating League:




To all of you in Vancyle who love to ride a little wierd, uncle sam (riding on a mini, top hat and all) wants YOU! For more info, or to enlist check out the website:


Mini Bike Army



Account of last week's ride to come soon - the next Midnight Mass is Thursday July 23rd, prelude to Critical Mass, the following day - 6:00pm on the Georgia street side of the Art Gallery.

I'll close this post with the Biker's Creed - freshly plagiarized & modified from Stanley Kubrik's Full Metal Jacket --

This is my bicycle.
There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My bicycle is my best friend.
It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.
My bicycle, without me, is useless.
Without my bicycle, I am useless.
I must ride my bicycle true.
I must ride better than traffic, my enemy,
which is trying to kill me.
I must convert them before they choke me.
I will.

My bicycle and myself know that what counts on the road,
is not the gear we wear,
the style or make of bike,
nor the destination in mind.
We know it is the ride that counts.
We will ride.

My bicycle is human, even as I, because it is my life.
Thus, I will learn it as a brother.
I will learn its weaknesses,
its strengths,
its parts,
its accessories,
its cranks and its wheels.
I will ever guard it against
the ravages of weather and damage.
I will keep my bicycle clean and ready,
even as I am clean and ready.
We will become part of each other.
We will.

Before all bikers I swear this creed.
My bicycle and myself are the defenders of my city.
We are the masters of our enemy.
We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until there is no traffic,
but Peace on the road.


see you next week.

Monday, July 03, 2006

summer makes an entrance

This last ride was perhaps the first on which it has really felt like summer. A solid turnout of around 35 riders, many new faces, and cool, clean, summer air.






We had some bad luck right off the bat when Chris B got a flat at the park - chris and some heroic samaritans stuck it out at the park before managing to catch the pack later at the burrard bridge. Damn those kids ride fast.


Bombing the bridges (check out those killer socks):





Using the community garden (5th & Cypress) to - uh, well, build community actually:






This is just rad:



Still chillin by the gardens - fixie fever here:




I think the poor night guy at the Naam hates us by now. Maybe we should call ahead...


Thanks also to Oker who took a truly fantastic photoset of this ride, including some great ones of us at the beach. (I tried to link some of the photos here, but flickr appears to be resisting me!) You can see his photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anavrin/sets/72157594175922287/
Have a look - its worth it!