December 26, 2008 – Join fellow bicyclists, skaters, and bladers for this leisurely and spirited celebratory ride and roll through the streets of Vancouver for the last Critical Mass of 2008 – Winter Solstice Critical Mass Ride and Roll on Friday, December 26! Meet at the Vancouver Art Gallery on the Georgia Street side between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. — and roll and ride at 6:00 p.m. The ride is on rain, shine, or snow! Decorated bicycles, trailers, signs, flags, noisemakers, gettoblasters, sound systems, drums, and wildly modified bicycles are all highly encouraged!

Pre-rides to Critical Mass:

UBC riders meet at the UBC Bike Hub, on the north east end of the Student Union Building, at 4:30 p.m. for a group ride to the Vancouver Art Gallery. Phone 604-822-BIKE for details.

East Van riders meet 4:00 p.m., leaving 4:30 p.m., from Grandview Park, 1200-block Commercial Drive, for a group ride to the Vancouver Art Gallery.

What’s Critical Mass and how do I participate?

Celebrated around the world, Critical Mass is a grassroots reclamation of public space — on the last Friday of the month — which allows cyclists and other self-propelled people to move safely and comfortably through city streets in a car-free space. Non-polluting forms of transportation are promoted.

The ride stays together for safety and fun. If you are at the front of the ride, stop if you are approaching a red light. But continue as a group if the lights change red while passing though an intersection.

You will see participants peel off at the front to block motorized traffic from entering the mass. That’s called “corking”. Corkers keep the ride safe and allow the mass to pass though intersections where the lights have turned red. Thank them for corking!

If you’re at the front, please don’t speed ahead or take narrow roadways or paths. It stretches the ride out and makes life harder for corkers, riders, and those waiting for the mass to pass. Be aware of the ride’s slower participants, and keep a slower pace. If the mass has thinned out or has broken into more than one group, which happens following hills or where the street has widened, the front should wait at green lights for the group to “mass up”.

Don’t stay on any given street for very long, so that public transit can pass. And always let emergency vehicles through.

The ride is a celebration (not a party or a protest). Take absolute responsibility for your actions and show motorists a better way to travel. A way which is more equitable, efficient, fun and socially responsible than the car. There’s no need to be unfriendly or argue with motorists — our sheer numbers tell the story. Look after each other, speak up, and ride with confidence.

Who decides where we go?

You do! Some rides have a destination that may be suggested at the start of the ride, but the route is always decided by the riders in the front. If you have an idea where the ride should go, move to the front and participate with others in a group decision. Remember to make it fun and interesting, and that Critical Mass has no leaders.

For more information:
www.velolove.bc.ca
vancouvercm.blogspot.com
vancouver at velolove.bc.ca

Worldwide details may be found at:
criticalmassrides.info or www.critical-mass.org

Upload/View Vancouver Critical Mass Photos at Flickr.com:
www.flickr.com/groups/vancriticalmass/


Other announcements

Snowrydin’ tipz (other than taking the lane on a cleared and salted roadway)….
courtesy Marcel Veronesi

Here’s how I prevented myself from skidding:

1 x RULE: Keep the weight off the front wheel at all cost by continually pedalling.
My tires are Panaracer FireXC Pro 2.1″ knobbies deflated to 45psi @ $21 MEC.
My handlebars are quite wide.
My bicycle is a 21 speed mtn. bike rigid frame.

I did three things that helped me prevent or get out of skidding the front tire:

1) Lightly Dragging the Front Brake while continually pedalling: Try to stay more upright and place as little weight on the front wheels as possible. A feather light touch on the handlebars is all you need in snow. If you start to skid or even begin to lean forward like you normally would for dry pavement then start to drag the rear brake while pedalling. This keeps your body more upright because you will start to push against your pedals. There is less weight applied to the front wheel making it less likely to break traction and skid sideways on you.

2) Upshift to increase the pedal force: Yes again…In order to keep your body upright and de-weight the front wheel shift into at least one or two gears higher than you normally would on the terrain you are on.

3) Do not lean the bike into a turn; instead gently apply the rear brake and curve your torso like a salmon swimmin upstream. If your phukup during the turn go with the turn or skid and apply more brake, slowly straighten your body out to regain your forward direction.

Oh yeah one extra bit….
4) Smile and breath. You’ll be less verklempt…

Merry Christmadness,
sssSSnowRydeRRrrr


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Bike route remains unplowed or uncleared?

Although bike routes are not a priority during the initial days following a storm, they should be cleared or at least receive cursory salting. If not, contact your city or municipality engineering department. If you live in Vancouver, contact the Neighbourhood Transportation Branch of Engineering Services at 604-871-6070 or cycling@vancouver.ca

Remember, many European cities keep bike paths clear in the winter. Make sure your mayor and council know that. For Vancouver, send an email to mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca or contact individual councillors at http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/councilmembers.htm


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