Just a quick reminder that Ridecivil is on for today, and Michael Snyder’s agreed to lead the ride. Michael’s a frequent participant, and has just complete his American Bicyclists Certified Instructor training, so you’ll be in certifiably good hands.

Location and time remain the same:
5:30 (Generally not leaving until just after 6)
Westlake Center park, Seattle
Duration,Destination and possibly dinner chosen by the group

I’m unfortunately not going to make it, but very happy to see the ride moving forward!

“Mind your own business!” — I have to admit I was surprised to hear these words come out of the mouth of a fellow cyclist as I passed. I didn’t have the slightest inkling that I was minding his, or that I was even doing anything that might be considered troubling.

I was riding at a fair clip, and passing him and a few other cyclists in a spread out group. This was during my night time commute, and because visibility is low almost always give a ‘ding’ on my bell before passing people. To my mind, this is helpful and polite.

It sounds to me as if he thought my ‘ding’ (which is loud, for sure) was more of a ‘get out of my way’ than a friendly ‘on your left’. I was also probably going twice as fast as he was, and I suspect his reaction was much more against the I’m Going Faster Than You, Ha Ha Ha perception he might have had than the idea of warning path users on passing.

Or, maybe he was just having a bad day. Regardless you’ll never make everybody happy now matter how well considered your actions. I’ll keep dinging going past commuters, and hope that those passing me warn as well.

And Mr? I hope your day gets better.

Same details as always see you there! We’ll take a break for February, no scheduled ride.

Kudos to Sven, a very committed RideCivilian. When I showed up, a typically belated 5:45+ Sven was waiting and ready. Sven even showed up for last month’s RideCivil, which was perhaps the least attened event in RC History.

Sven and I had a great hour long ride thought down town, and a nice meal together afterwards. Looking forward to the feb ride, see you all then!

We’re on for the 1st ride of 2009 on January 9th! And, I promise to be there this time (ST 545 and the weather gods willing).

Please arrive at Westlake Center a patient and deliberate 5:30-6:15, we generally leave around the later time.

We’ll choose a destinationat the park or in route, usually riding around down town a few times to smile and wave at those glass-encased diners, car-enswaddeled drivers, and gore-tex clad pedestrians.

Rides generally last about an hour plus a bit. It’ll be dark and maybe rainy so bring your lights and rain togs.

After wards we generally go someplace to get some warm food and a beverage or two before heading our separate ways.

Hey All,

the Best Intentions do not make up for my incredible tardiness on Friday night. I blame myself, of course, there is no one else. But I also blame the weather gods and sound transit. My bus was scheduled to arrive downtown at 4:55 and I found myself getting off at more like 6:45. I can’t imagine y’all waited an extra 1/2 hr for me in the freezing, snowing, raining weather we had coming across the lake. I did manage to see a few Ride Civilians at the Lovely Ladies on Beautiful Bikes calendar release party, but none who’d braved Westlake

As always we’re back on for the 2nd Friday of each month. This December it’s Friday, December 12th 2008.

Please arrive at Westlake Center a patient and deliberate 5:30-6:15, we generally leave around the later time.

We’ll choose a destinationat the park or in route, usually riding around down town a few times to smile and wave at those glass-encased diners, car-enswaddeled drivers, and gore-tex clad pedestrians.

Rides generally last about an hour plus a bit. It’ll be dark and maybe rainy so bring your lights and rain togs.

After wards we generally go someplace to get some warm food and a beverage or two before heading our separate ways.

December is a hard time of month to ride. Leaves, un-plumb-able potholes, and vehicular obstacles make any commute more like a cyclocross course than then gentle path’s many of us are used to. In CX, they have a name riders who make it deep into the season — the Hard(wo)men. Earn yourself a spot on the RideCivilians Hard(wo)men club! We’ll see you on Friday to hand out badges (figuratively, if not literally).

Hey RideCivilians,

On this month’s ride (coming up on Nov 14!), Michael Synder from http://seattlelikesbikes.org and a RideCivil veteran, will be leading the ride. It’s hard to say where he’s from because he’s involved in so many cycling related groups, including spokespeople.us (who are pumping out future ridecivilains every month!). Michael’s got a fancy certification from Cascade, which I believe includes advanced Waving and Smiling so he’ll be able to conduct the ride in the manner to which you’re accustomed.

November’s the die-hard month for all regular rides — only the truly committed show for these rides (hmmm, not sure what that says about me). Please prove yourself worthy of the Notorious November Crew and turn out! The weather’s supposed to be decent: a balmy 55 and no rain (but who knows from these distant shores, eh?).

I will be riding too, just not near by. I’ve secured a loaner hard case and I’ve squashed the folder down into it, so I’ll be with you in spirit for sure. Have a great ride, wish I could join you and I’ll see you on the December ride!

Hey All,

Our next ride will be on October 10th, 2008. Same bat-time, same bat-channel. I’m thinking of  making the theme of the ride ‘light the night’ since it’ll be bike light season by then.

Here’s a calendar entry:

September’s ride was a good time! We had about 15 people from the start, an early mechanical (sorry Mike!), and about 20 minutes reminding ourselves why we ride bikes while stuck in traffic on Dexter. We rode through downtown and out 15th in the new bike/bus lane (and new pavement!). All in all a very nice ride. Thanks all for coming, looking forward to next month’s ride.