Stolen bicycle? How to increase recovery chances.

This was taken from the Boston Craigslist forums, however it is being cut/paste'd here for reference:

If you have the serial #, file a police report and register it stolen with the National Bike Registry (99 cents for 6 months)

If you have the serial #, register it here for free http://www.stolenbicycleregistry.com/

Sign up for an ebay account if you don't already have one, and then create a saved search on the brand name and model of the bike (Schwinn Hardrock for example) and have it email the results to you daily (it will email you any new items posted that match "Bike Brand/model"). That way you can keep an eye on ebay.

There are also several craigslist auto-search tools, one that I use is on www.4info.net, this is a mobile alerts site, if you sign up for an account you can create a phoenix craigslist alert and have it search on the brand name of the bike and send text messages to your phone when new items are posted on craigslist in the For Sale > Bikes category that match the bike name. Another one that runs on your desktop is called CLBuddy, google it if you're not interested in the text message alerts.

This way if someone tries to sell it on ebay or craigslist you can notify local authorities. If you do see the bike pop up, make sure you don't accuse the seller of stealing the bike, pretend you're an interested buyer, arrange a meeting place, and then get in touch with the police and let them know you may have found the person that stole the bike and ask them for assistance.

If you didn't write down the serial #, keep that in mind for future bikes.

The best way to prevent your bike from being stolen is to use a U Lock from OnGuard (you can get these as cheap as $20 on amazon) or Kryptonite.

See here for a u lock bike locking strategy: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

Efficiency is something I love, seek out, and live by. We need these around town, on our streets outside bars and theatres... and most importantly, outside the corporate office towers + workplaces where we can have more people commuting by bicycle without the building managers freaking out about the "new" demand for more and better bicycle parking (currently wedged in the corner of the 'loading dock').

from the biciblog email:

Fred Cook is visiting LA periodically for training and he needs to form a
relationship with a household where he can park a bicycle, tool kit, change
of clothes, etc. in LA, and not have to carry them back and forth every time
he comes for a sojourn. Fred would be willing to pay some rent for the
storage space.

Fred is a good housemate with twenty years experience living in shared
situations. You can reach Fred at his expense by calling 877-866-3456 or by e-mail at
bizwiz(at)igc.org

"This is How We Roll" screen print benefits the Bicycle Kitchen

There is an interesting Art show being held a few doors down from the Bicycle Kitchen, at Scoops/Antai Gallery called "Flat Fix and Sew Ups" - it was mentioned before by Federico with a small sampling of his stunning work.
I agreed to take part in the show only on the basis that the work will be accessible and will benefit society in some way. With that in mind, and being asked to create something theme-specific on a very short notice, I created a piece that would be screen printed. The screen prints will then be available for sale at a very affordable price with a very large portion of the sale being donated directly to a non-profit with immediacy to the show's theme. So, here we are.



in detail:
The piece is called "This is How We Roll".
The Persian calligraphy translates roughly to "This is How We Roll" - but more in slang, as in "this is how we roll" in reference to rolling with a certain style, a swagger, a charm (a way of passion)... how it's done.
The piece is loaded with many sacred geometries, shapes and numbers in its creation that it would make a mystic elated.
2 colour screen print on Stonehenge paper (100% cotton, acid free) 22" x 30" overall size, with an approximate 2" spacing. (55.9 cm x 76.2 cm, 5 cm spacing) Each print is hand screen printed, signed and numbered with a light penciled translation of the calligraphy in case you should forget how to read Persian years down the line!
100 prints will be made in total.... although, by the very nature of the piece, leading to its difficulty to execute, the process is very slow and arduous.

(UPDATE: these are now for sale on Etsy.com)

The print will be available for sale through the Bicycle Kitchen, beginning July 1st from 12 - 8 pm and continuing during open hours of the Kitchen through July 19th.

***IF YOU ARE NOT IN LOS ANGELES BUT WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE A PRINT*** Please e-mail alex at unmap dot org.
You can send payment through PayPal to: alex at unmap dot org, add about $3 US for the PayPal fees. Or save $3 and send a check via post.

Shipping within the continental United States will be $15 - International shipping will be $20.

The show, "Flat Fix and Sew Ups" opened on July 1st, along with a day-long block party on Heliotrope Avenue, just north of Melrose Avenue, and will continue to show through the 19th of July

"Flat Fix and Sew Ups" at the Scoops/Antai Gallery
712 N Heliotrope Dr Los Angeles, CA 90029

RIDE-Arc is looking for a few good organisers!

This was posted on the RIDE-Arc newsletter earlier today:

Would you like to be an organizer of a RIDE-Arc ride?

We are now taking applications for guest editors of future rides. Through this experience, you will get a feel of what it takes to put together a RIDE-Arc ride, and see if there is that magic chemistry to take RIDE-Arc further into the horizon.

Here's how to apply:

-Email ridearc@gmail.com with:

--Your C.V.

--A photo of you when you were less than 10 years old. (We're not kidding, this is actually an important part of the process and we'll explain why later on, if it isn't obvious already)

--Ideas you may have for a future ride or rides.

--Answers to the following few, initial break-the-ice questions:

--How long have you lived in Los Angeles?

--Where in the world have you traveled to? For how long and how often?

--Fill in the following blanks: "____________ is sexy, but _____________ is sexier"

--Do you have any teaching experience?

We've only got a few months to get this Guest-Editor system going, so the sooner you apply the better for all RIDE-Arc riders. Once you are considered as a guest editor, we'll get started on developing your ride with the assistance of Alex and Gabe. We will help share the load of work involved in putting these things together, with you, and we'll find out of the riding chemistry works.

The only requirement is that you've been on a RIDE-Arc ride before and really enjoyed the concept + experience. Being on our mailing list and constantly admitting to us, with a healthy amount of guilt, that you've never been on a ride doesn't count. You should know by now - GET ON YOUR BICYCLE AND JOIN IN ON RIDE-ARC!!

The benefits? Oh darling don't you know? - they're too extensive to mention here. The internet could not possibly contain such amounts of information. Really, it's worth it. You'll love it - we do. And now, it's your opportunity to take part.

Thanks, and we hope to hear from you soon.

Bicycle Film Festival is Coming, some ATC's to celebrate

i was commissioned to make some bike related Artist Trading Cards for a Bicycle Film festival related event. i made 24 of them and here are my favorite 8 cards. there is going to be a block party and these and other artworks will be on display at Scoops/Antai Gallery. hope you can make it.











crossposted from federico's blog, original post can be found here.

From the Biciblog Email - the bike exchange

Hi. I live in SF and am visiting LA Sat the 16th-Tues the 19th. I would like to bike and it will cost $100 to fly with the bike. I am looking to borrow a bike (i'm 5'9) or trade for the use of my road bike & lock sometime in sf (or rent for less than $100 as a last option). Any
suggestions?

Best,

Caitlin


(Note: if you have any suggestions send an email to the biciblog mail account and
it'll be forwarded to Caitlin. Thanks!)

From the Biciblog Email:

Ciao

I am a cyclist travelling form Italy to NordKapp, I'm trying to take note and describe on my blog http://raoulcivitanovanordkapp.splinder.com a bicycle that passes for the Swiss and the Germany ....

Ciao

Raoul Petinar

From the Biciblog Email:

Hey all,

Just writing to share a brief bike story. I used live in Silverlake. The Bike Kitchen and Midnite Ridazz inspired me to get back on the bike in a serious way. I left LA and ended up in San Antonio about a year ago. I I tried to transplant that vibe as much as possible to SA.

We just had a huge (for SA) ride last month called the bike gang summit. There were a lot of first timers. People were into it. So, just wanted to give you all a shout and say thanks for getting people involved.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinparr/sets/72157600044502530/

thanks, Mark

Even Jesus likes bikes...

[b]I love the new layout![/b]]

and all the rides that are happening that i never am available to do. LA rulz!

thanks, federico.

big bike love,

fireweed

The Watts Happening Ride - 02.25.07

I posted this upcoming ride on some of the major bike calendars but wanted to spread the word to Bici Blog readers as well:

Having paid my first-ever visit to the historic and culturally significant Watts Towers this Presidents Day I was deeply moved by the magnificent creation of Simon Rodia and the fact is I can't wait to go back and to get to there by bike. If you've never been to these monumental towers of power and always wanted to go or if you've been and wanted to go back, this is going to be an excellent opportunity to do so and I encourage you to come along.

The ride will gather next Sunday, February 25 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at The Cornfield (aka Los Angeles State Historic Park) at 1245 N. Spring Street (map). At noon we will depart traversing a simple southerly course to the Watts Towers State Park (map). Docent-led tours of the Watts Towers are offered every half hour until 3 p.m. If you wish to particpate in a tour the cost is $7 per person.

After the tour we will then proceed back up to the Cornfield (please see the route map for specific streets involved). Total distance: 21.5 miles. Canceled in the event of rain.

IMPORTANT: There is a half-distance option you should be aware of. Should you not feel motivated and/or energized enough to do the entire round-trip but you still want to participate, don't forget the MTA Blue Line train. You can bike down from the Cornfield to enjoy the landmark and then get back to downtown from the 103rd Street Blue Line station only a short distance from the Watts Towers. More Blue Line info at mta.net.

King of the Road

I've never felt the urge to battle out for Alpha Male supremacy on the streets (for reasons, that should I explain them, would offer an arrogant self-depiction, which is certainly not the case with me).
If I ever did though... This would be my ride.



Guaranteed to kick the ass out of any hipster-is-it-NJS-stamped?-track-bike riding poser.
By way of Jenny Nordberg comes the King of the Road.
I especially love the crocheted, embellished seat. True alpha domination through craft, detail, and texture.

Santa Monica Critical Mass is Two!

People were saying we were 300 people strong, but I didn't do a personal count. On a Friday night when the 405 was shut down- both North and South- all of the major arterials between Westwood and Santa Monica were gridlocked in both directions and our tide of bicycles wove a pattern of liberating whoops and beckoning blinks, reflected of off chrome and mirrors in the sea of automobiles and buses.
My hope is that some of the supreme frustration motorists must have felt at the rare but truly horrible experience of being completely motionless in a metal box for an extended period of time when all you want to do is GET somewhere, juxtaposed with the flow of bicycles, moving freely by their windows, made more than one motorist get "IT," even if they weren't actually getting anywhere.
A bit later into the evening, we filled the giant traffic circle in Venice Beach as we rode around and around. On the outside of the circle, I noticed two cars waiting or watching, but probably not knowing what to do or think about the spectacle. I slowed to a stop in front of the car closest to the bicyclists and pointed down a side street for the car that had the easiest access to it, so they could escape what might have become a long wait. The car got the message and opted for the detour. The other car rolled up and the female driver asked me what it was all about, her face partially hidden by her rolled fist, as though she were supporting her chin.
I began to explain about Critical Mass, its beginnings in '92 in San Francisco (hey- I've read the Critical Mass book, not to mention the many essays by Cris Carlsson et al . . .), a few of the reasons why people do the ride, etc. As I spoke she removed her hand and there in front of me, getting the lowdown on Critical Mass, was Jennifer Aniston, nodding her head to the concept of "reversing roles and marginalizing the cars for a few hours a month." Another cyclist rolled up to hand her our piece of xerocracy du jour. She thanked him and drove away. He looked at me and said "Hey- do you realize that was- what's her name?" And I said, "Yes, I do."
From what I hear, this is not the first famous person to come across Santa Monica Critical Mass.
Next stop: getting a Hollywood star on a ride. After that: getting bikes in movies, in place of product-placement sportscars and SUVs. Even after that: people all over the world deciding that riding a bike like Jennifer Aniston or Denzel Washington is WAY cooler than driving a spewing tank down the street.


Many thanks to all of the velorutionaries that brought last night's ride and afterparty to life. You inspire untold numbers of people to be the change.

the new face

so i finally got some time and decided to give the biciblog a new face taking advantage of the new version of blogger. by the way, if you were a contributor and your name doesn't appear on the right side it's because you need to switch your account to the new blogger. if you forgot your password just shoot me an email, or if you want to start blogging here also shoot me an email, you know biciblog at gmail.com
blog on,
ride on

Wake Up Time!

What the hell's happened to the Bici Blog?!

Well, in an effort to invigorate, kickstart, or at the very least just get something new up in almost two — count 'em: one, two! — months, here's info on an upcoming group ride I'm co-organizing — the more the merrier. We're calling it the "No Surrender Monkeys" Ride:

When: January 28
Start time: Gather at 2:30 p.m., ride at 3 p.m.
Begins/Ends: Echo Park's Brite Spot Diner (1918 Sunset Blvd., LA 90026)
Route Map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=584883

Details: Coming up next the ruthless and legendary IAAL•MAF bike gang has strapped down the third in our ongoing series of invitationals -- this one promising to be a tour de farce along the historic highs and lows of the renowned Town of Down and its surrounds. But what's with the "No Surrender Monkeys" name, you ask? Well if you must know, it's a bit of a complex play off a pop-cult reference that was popularized in a "Simpsons" edisode, which itself derived from how rapidly the French military resistance folded against German forces in WWII. Aw hell, you wanna know more: click here and getcha Wiki on. Otherwise all you need to comprehend is that the "No Surrender" applies to this ride's ups and downs. In other words there be some climbs you can't be giving up on. Nothing major mind you, just the tops of Angelino Heights and Bunker Hill and Elysian Park. And along the way you'll be seeing some of the past, present and future of our fine city, some landmarks you never knew existed, not to mention some awesome afternoon vistas. Oh yeah, there'll be special spoke cards awarded to the fastest down the 4th Street drop zone and to the last never-say-die rider up to the top of Bishop Canyon in Elysian Park. With the IAAL•MAF, everyone's a winner. So be there!

Reflective Rims, Reflective fabrics....Reflective Tires...?

For a while I was considering spraying my bike with the reflective coating available in a spray can (available at Home Despot)... then I started to use it for commuting advocacy - circling out road hazards, stops, dangers to the commuter...
Then today a friend of mine sent me a link about reflective tires.

Yes, reflective tires.

Okay, yes the music may be annoying, but you can turn it off through a 'button/link' at the bottom of their site.

Apparently, rather, according to the SweetSkinz website, the tires are made out of a rubber composite that has reflective material embedded within it. Considering how tires are made these days, this is entirely possible - and to take it even further, which they have, the manufacturer can embed graphics into the tread as well. I haven't tried these yet, but I am interested. They do have only one tire in the road version, and it's a think 26 at that. Cushy, no? That may be on the thick side for my liking, but probably best considering the conditions of Los Angeles roadways. The other products are mostly mountain bike and bmx tire sets - each with varying graphics that are successful to some extent. ... Check it out, and if you've got them on your bike, do share about their quality, durometer (ie, how soft/hard of a rubber is it) and most importantly, if they actually work!

Triple Chicken Foot Cd Release

featuring three cooks and one long beach bike buddy.
come to the Old Town Pub this Friday, November 3rd
to help them celebrate.

LAPD Bicycle Brigade (circa 1904)

No, not Mack Sennett's "Keystone Kops." The real deal. They're approaching 5th Street on Broadway.
(Photo found on Old L.A. Photos blog).

Code Black

A word to those traveling east on Wilshire Blvd, near Curson: the Tar Pits are busting out all over, and best to mind your puddles, or be blessed with a christening of goo.

I can't really say I was that upset to find viscous lumps of tar all over my pink pants after hopping up a curb through what appeared in the dark to be a regular old water puddle. There is something magical about the La Brea Tar Pits being right here in the city, bordered by an art museum, a pseudo-utopian housing project, and a magnificent east/west corridor. Learning about these pits in science class as a young midwesterner, I imagined them to exist in the Middle of Nowehere. To find them jammed into the urban environment, paved over and embellished with dramatic sculptures of mastadons, was an odd surprise.

It's unfair to blame nature for curdling up out of the ground when you least expect it, but if you want to save your pants from getting extremely soiled, it's a good idea to steer clear of tar puddles.

Thankfully, last night, a generous old time fiddler was on hand with a flask of Tennessee whiskey. Jack Daniels managed to cut the tar pretty well, though further experiments later at home involving degreaser, rubbing alcholol and WD-40, found the latter to be the big winner for tar removal. The bike needed a cleaning anyhow, but this is the second pair of pink pants to be consumed by street stains.