Massed together: Critical Mass takes off in Topeka
Each month a group of cyclists gather at the Boobie Trap Bar at 1417 SW 6th Ave. and rides through Topeka, together trying to take up as much room on the streets as possible. This phenomenon is known as Critical Mass.
The term Critical Mass refers to a size, number or amount of something large enough to yield a given result. So when a street has too many bikes, the system breaks…
Read more: Massed Together
Critical Mass
Friday, September 26, 2008
6pm – 6th and Washburn (Boobie Trap Bar parking lot)
Everyone is welcome. Let’s have fun!
It’s about meeting your neighbors and growing a community. It’s about casual conversations – that happen to take place while on bicycles – where you learn new things about yourself and other people. It’s about greeting people walking down the street with a smile. They’re no longer “pedestrians.” It’s about trying to get the car people to bike, and the bike people to bike more – mostly by shouting at them!
Chris Carlsson probably put it best. He was, after all, one of the original dudes on the first ever Critical Mass in San Francisco.
The Critical Mass (of 12 people) started out with a trip to Fire Station #4. We knocked on the door and asked if we could all register our bikes. They started laughing, and realized they only had one registration sticker left. They sent us downtown to headquarters, where we all registered. A couple of kids rode up on a BMX and got their bike registered, too.
After that, we rode over to the statehouse for a little photo shoot.
After the shoot, it started to get dark, and we started to get hungry. We grabbed a ton of snacks at Dillon’s, and went to Micah’s place to watch Quicksilver! The best part was when we all freaked out and had to rewind and re-watch Larry Fishburne’s sweet dismount like three times. A great movie, and lots of fun to watch with other cyclists and fixie nuts! It was fun to decide who was riding fixed or free, and what size people’s chainrings were. Some of us are pretty big nerds.
But Critical Mass was really fun… and that’s all it needs to be!
Here’s what some Lawrence people are doing! (from the LJWorld)
October 26, 2007
The Friday Night Fixie Rides aren’t like most organized bike rides.
There isn’t a shred of spandex, no garish team jerseys. Instead, the riders sport bike-messenger chic: think, cuffed pant legs and messenger bags.
There isn’t a superlight, carbon-fiber-and-titanium 20- or 30-speed race bike in the bunch. At the Friday Night Fixie Rides, the bulk of the bikes are simple and utilitarian, many stripped of all their identifying decals and boasting exactly one gear…
As it turns out, bicycle registration is now free in the City of Topeka! I propose:
Registration Drive
to coincide with Critical Mass
to occur at the Fire Station at 12th and Oakley
(I think this one is open until 6:30. We’ll test their signage.)
We’ll meet at the usual place and usual time for Critical Mass. (6pm at 6th and Washburn).
We’ll ride to the Fire Station and get everyone registered.
We’ll continue the ride after that… woo!
Seven of us showed up for Critical Mass in the RAIN, suckers! We are the bomb. That’s what CM is all about – riding your bike whenever, wherever. We had 4 regular commuters, then some new people. It was Justin’s birthday, so we went to Garry’s Bar (2nd and Polk, the smallest bar in Topeka) afterward for a few rounds of beer and a few rounds of darts and a few games of pool. We also had a guest, Eric, who is from Topeka but currently living in Denver. He rode a sweet brakeless Viscount with beautiful chromed track drop bars.
Anyway, it was a great ride - thanks for coming out! See you next week!
Hell yeah!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass
(Scroll down to “Cities with a Critical Mass”)
Let’s do it like we always do. Friday night, 6:00, Boobie Trap Bar Parking Lot. See you there.
One of these times, we want to have a screening of Quicksilver after the ride. Suggestions? Anyone have a huge TV, projector, or venue in mind?
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH!!!
at 7:00 pm in TOPEKA, KANSAS
—
BRATS, BEANS, BEER, BUBBA!!!
On the grounds of the Kansas Expo
center under the Big blue & white tent!!!
—
7 local pastors will be riding in at 7 pm!
Your bike is your chair!
Walk-ins welcome, too!
Everyone is welcome!
—
Give’m 5 minutes each!
That’s all they ask.
That’s it.
—
Drawing for a $100 gift certificate to Hillmer’s luggage, leather, and gifts!!!
More info:
785.554.5236
from http://wiseabove.blogspot.com/2008/09/hear-ye-o-hear-ye.html
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