tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47729103835605477522024-02-06T22:37:01.943-08:00Flying Bicycles Over HollywoodI bike around the Hollywood, Los Feliz, Griffith Park, Silverlake and Atwater areas of LA. I want to encourage others to ride bikes by providing them with useful bicycling information. I plan to cover locals and their bikes, commuters, bike reviews, bike and repair shops, bike chic/fashion, bike lanes, bike safety, biking events, organizations etc.
Based on current trends the future of city transportation isn't Hollywood Sci-Fi flying cars its the bicycle and I want to help with that process.Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-2993496101706531862010-07-30T11:24:00.000-07:002010-08-02T15:06:39.028-07:00Best Bicycle Safety website, a few of my own tips, Great article on the pros and cons of a helmet law and the Beatles and Elvis on Bikes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYehD-cEXe_SAqjqTCFbemWUaNm3V_luF9s_HynE9rEfmLOsnJQrLuTASbfkf3vrFvK0K9-it0DtkmPga8va8bQ75jb_x1lvHfsSFklXLtX5WZ-KnLjIoO5vsmyHhRgD8O6gnV_UQeH8/s1600/elvis.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 284px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499770320759350050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYehD-cEXe_SAqjqTCFbemWUaNm3V_luF9s_HynE9rEfmLOsnJQrLuTASbfkf3vrFvK0K9-it0DtkmPga8va8bQ75jb_x1lvHfsSFklXLtX5WZ-KnLjIoO5vsmyHhRgD8O6gnV_UQeH8/s400/elvis.jpg" /></a> Can't go wrong with Elvis and the Beatles!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhLKWQi1nfEMsmmT6_4_3MBGHM7ZlcOPcBg_DxFVU7Ci7xqwO-_-wuw0S0vXRCUFn9dFtyi7845dOEGQwHkjRoWMiqH-hhG670Nk3hJaP5-P99CYq2Q1BGv5j9eLeost2IojqnbisBUU/s1600/beatles.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499769801299591650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhLKWQi1nfEMsmmT6_4_3MBGHM7ZlcOPcBg_DxFVU7Ci7xqwO-_-wuw0S0vXRCUFn9dFtyi7845dOEGQwHkjRoWMiqH-hhG670Nk3hJaP5-P99CYq2Q1BGv5j9eLeost2IojqnbisBUU/s400/beatles.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Hallo!<br />I admit when I first got back on a bike last summer I was a bit ignorant ( as well as reckless) in the way I rode my bike around the streets of Hollywood and I'm lucky that I didn't get hit back then. I rode around more like a free-spirited kid than an adult. My sidewalk etiquette was nothing to brag about either. I since have toned down my act and gotten a handle bar bell. Don't get me wrong I still have my free spirited moments but their not foolish ones.<br />I have made an effort to learn more about the laws and safe bicycling<br />There are some things you need to know in order to avoid becoming a bicycle traffic victim and ten of the more important aspects are covered really well in this website:<br /><a href="http://www.bicyclesafe.com/">http://www.bicyclesafe.com/</a><br /><br />Please have a look at it and put the advice into practice and your chances of getting hit by a car will be greatly reduced!<br /><br /><strong>Here are two things I do to increase my visibility.</strong><br />(<em>If drivers know your there they won't run you over so pay close attention</em>)<br /><br />1)<br />Note: I have a sit up bike so this may not work or be safe for other type bikes.<br />When approaching an intersection I will stand straight up off the seat, straighten my<br />back up and raise my head. This places my height above the parked cars to my<br />right as I approach the intersection and makes me much more visible to traffic in<br />all directions. I know this works as I see people take notice immediately when I do this. I also have a much better view of all approaching traffic. In addition it feels real good as the air flows more freely across my upper body and face - very pleasant indeed!<br /><br />2)<br />When approaching an intersection and I have the right of way I will stare directly at any drivers in a position to run me over (cars in a position to turn if they wish if there are no opposing cars but not likely to be looking for a bicycle at that moment) until I get them to acknowledge that they see me. If I don't see recognition in their eyes I will begin to brake and stare even more intensely at them. I am also at the same time projecting my thoughts to them something like :<strong><em>"I am coming do you see me?"</em></strong> This usually works quite well and people let me know that they see me coming. If I don't see recognition in their eyes depending on the situation I may actually come to a complete stop as there is a high probility I may get hit after all I'm not playing Russian Roulette here on a bike.<br />Judging by most of their reactions I think they actually appreciate that I made the effort to communicate my intentions to them through these two methods.<br /><br />These two methods work so give them a try!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">The great Helmet Law debate:</span><br />Here is a link to a great article on helmet laws.<br /><a href="http://bicycleaustin.info/laws/crocker.html">http://bicycleaustin.info/laws/crocker.html</a><br /><br />Here is my<span style="font-size:180%;"> <strong>2</strong></span><strong> </strong>Cents worth on helmet laws<br />I think they are wrong and it should be up to the person with the exception of racing and mountain bike competitions and other obviously dangerous venues and perhaps little kids under 6 yrs of age or so. It seems that we have more and more laws protecting us these days that are enacted to "save us from ourselves" but actually make us more miserable and less active. There are many many rational arguments against helmet laws that are covered by much more knowledgable people then myself ( see above link) I would just like to say that part of the pleasure of riding a bicycle is the freedom and thrill of it. I think it's ludricous when I see a ten year old boy of girl slowly riding a bike down the street on a hot day wearing one of those Lance Armstrong creature helmets. In my day an age we would have thought there was something mentaly wrong with them or they had a metal plate in their head or something.<br />Forced to wear a helmet by the Nanny State and Helmet Lobby Corporate actions gives them the false idea that what they are doing is somewhat dangerous and so they tend to be abit introverted as they ride along instead of working on their self confidence as riders.Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-90310726245426959292010-07-11T13:46:00.000-07:002010-07-12T11:29:57.383-07:00Losing my bicycle virginity, World Cup Road Kill Transformation, The Los Feliz Farmers Mkt. and how and ordinary bike ride became an adventure<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Lost my Bicycle Virginity?</strong></span><br /><br />Today I got on my bike and I was bored by the prospect of riding though I knew I would need to ride to get where I was going and though more convenient I wasn't gonna drive my car ....<br />As it turns out I would have missed so much had I opted for four wheels instead of two.<br />On my ride I think I reached a turning point as a bicyclist. As I was heading down Hyperion towards Trader Joes I realized that riding my bike somewhere wasn't so much of a novelty anymore as it was simply transportation to get somewhere. After months of making an effort to bike as much as possible instead of driving my car for errands and sometimes for work it suddenly occurred to me that I had changed gears in my being and now I was simply riding because I needed to get somewhere and there was nothing extraordinary , cool or chic about what I was doing.<br />I felt like I lost something at that moment, something that I was holding onto that was special to me... something private. Did I just lose my bicycle virginity? I felt a little sad as I continued riding along. I had read on Cycle Chic about the attitude of the Danes who ride to work everyday that they don't think they are dong anything special and it is just riding a bike to get somewhere. Here in America I think our attitude is a bit different we/I think it is this cool new thing we do. Take the bikes out and go for a ride we are now riding a bike .. woo who look at me I'm on a bike! But when we get done with our bike ride we will drive our cars unnecessarily for short little trips as usual. Biking is more of a specialized activity here in the US I think.<br />For the most part I'm glad I lost my virginity and look forward to what lies ahead.<br />If your still a bicycle virgin try riding your bike for everyday errands and at all possible moments for several months and see how it might change you - it'll hurt a little at first but you might also enjoy it and ultimately learn to love it!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">World Cup Road Kill Transformation</span><br /></strong></span>On my ride I spied what appeared to be a minor road hazard in the middle of Hyperion Ave. and decided that I should remove it to the side of the road. It looked like some sort of brightly colored road marker or tarp and as I was examining it on the side of the road I hear a car honk and then someone shouting "f&#%k yeah!" All I could see at this point was bright yellow and orange but apparently this was enough to incite someone into a minor frenzy. Fully unfurled I see it is a large national flag but I don''t recognize it. Another honk and it dawns on me it's a soccer related flag. I know very little about soccer or the World Cup but my little good citizen act of cleanliness had suddenly connected me to this massive world -wide event and transformed me into an apparent crazed soccer (sorry futbol) fan or even a potential hooligan on a bicycle - look out!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml-GlOcWPuIhLKej4vb3-2QACzlHJW-KM2Ymfbh6rhU7jr2KL0X3cDYfyGnuKrpyCuyqpryh04lI7aWeWasXSxzZd-xf4GyHlF4G2Tk8XLp9GctY3SCtKoXAXMS1cyimx2SW5Goxtizc/s1600/343599280517_0_0ww.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492792331608655634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml-GlOcWPuIhLKej4vb3-2QACzlHJW-KM2Ymfbh6rhU7jr2KL0X3cDYfyGnuKrpyCuyqpryh04lI7aWeWasXSxzZd-xf4GyHlF4G2Tk8XLp9GctY3SCtKoXAXMS1cyimx2SW5Goxtizc/s400/343599280517_0_0ww.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br />Not yet knowing how to proceed I rolled up my new team colors and proceeded to TJ's for my $ 4.97 a pound raw almond butter ( best deal in town if your a veggie)<br /><br /><br /><br />From TJ's I headed west to Nature Mart and I decided to have a little fun and create some commotion along the way so I unfurled the flag and waved it around as I rode along. I've done this sort of thing before only it was with an American Flag on a surfboard. Here is a pic of me in Malibu. Both methods of flag waving are more difficult than they look I can assure you. At this point I didn't know what team I was a fan of or what trouble I could get into but since this started out as just a boring bike ride I figured why not have some fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwtQJaa-qJWSqyBBb5UMlBEoVcOS21cAIdWVPqMt5dGIxw_3qXrYFQanvV865kx979e7xgtXXU_gDietHd8ZcF-HjOb0QxdtqEMvoy9i4Nr36W-6g7AzOwIRRDmQiV4TjFEaWcwaNyqA/s1600/bf29.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492794458883727138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwtQJaa-qJWSqyBBb5UMlBEoVcOS21cAIdWVPqMt5dGIxw_3qXrYFQanvV865kx979e7xgtXXU_gDietHd8ZcF-HjOb0QxdtqEMvoy9i4Nr36W-6g7AzOwIRRDmQiV4TjFEaWcwaNyqA/s400/bf29.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Heard someone shout "go Hispana" from a car and two ladies sitting at an outdoor cafe asked "what country is that?" More inquiries at Nature Mart led to the possibility of it being the Netherlands flag. After Nature Mart I made a quick stop at a yard sale run by a bunch of nice Hispanic ladies. Again no one had any soccer info for me so I still don't know what kind of soccer fan I am, frustrating to say the least. Bought a beautiful faded blue shirt for a buck and an old school cooking pot for three - sweet!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Los Feliz Farmers Market </strong></span><br /><strong>9am - 2pm every Sunday</strong><br /><strong>Los Feliz Post Office parking lot</strong><br /><strong>1760 Vermont Ave. next to Franklin Ave.<br /></strong>My basket was fully loarded now with groceries and yard sale items plus the flag as I headed down Vermont Ave. I was pretty overloaded (wished I brought my courier bag dam it!)<br />Passing by Franklin Ave I saw the Farmers Mkt. in the Los Feliz Post Office parking lot was on and since and decided to check it out. With all the stuff loaded in my front basket including the rattling pot plus the unfurled unknown flag I must have looked a little like one of those homeless people who live out of their bikes. Felt a little strange but made the rounds of the market and got some pics of some bikes parked outside.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Gt6sxj522Isv8bPPHqmA0HAIvgUupLzH2e8xQ_E62pLZkcP78dYfHkoDNSdoCEFjnyH7CQ4Pjl4CIeozNBzePiDhUFDp4KbRRh88OcJ3oEQzva-s7-VmAEtMQiApjYgva9Gy3Sv57dE/s1600/343599128837_0_0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492778738802664754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Gt6sxj522Isv8bPPHqmA0HAIvgUupLzH2e8xQ_E62pLZkcP78dYfHkoDNSdoCEFjnyH7CQ4Pjl4CIeozNBzePiDhUFDp4KbRRh88OcJ3oEQzva-s7-VmAEtMQiApjYgva9Gy3Sv57dE/s400/343599128837_0_0.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Some cool bikes parked outside the farmers market.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gaxUecKFLBm5B9_J_geIcUXmSESWpfKyh5AKgtxcOrqVwN7g69dBR23gfsT61tE_hzAjRgVu_dMXQToK3w_VeQcHVMmLWjJc5ze2hubGlruqQMlORoaFt7F19LkaSnD-BnLYnDo1vNg/s1600/343598993925_0_0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492778381491848274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gaxUecKFLBm5B9_J_geIcUXmSESWpfKyh5AKgtxcOrqVwN7g69dBR23gfsT61tE_hzAjRgVu_dMXQToK3w_VeQcHVMmLWjJc5ze2hubGlruqQMlORoaFt7F19LkaSnD-BnLYnDo1vNg/s400/343598993925_0_0.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkM1tpDc5ZegLVHdfnNLPWv4b_jHqIjgpiqZpF5Znxj_cBiPs5SLFkZDkRTm4mfgUkD-WaWiJI_2O8A3t5HfTnspv1pBRAYEqK9545uW3i3HhqGtLakWwHZseih3dWMcTXfL141UOkfI/s1600/343599181701_0_0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492778116500492754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkM1tpDc5ZegLVHdfnNLPWv4b_jHqIjgpiqZpF5Znxj_cBiPs5SLFkZDkRTm4mfgUkD-WaWiJI_2O8A3t5HfTnspv1pBRAYEqK9545uW3i3HhqGtLakWwHZseih3dWMcTXfL141UOkfI/s400/343599181701_0_0.jpg" /></a> Entrance is off of Vermont Ave. and you can shop and mail your letters at the same time.<br />This Farmers Mkt. has fresh organic veggies, food truck, arts and crafts and live music all on an pretty small scale compared to Hollywood FMkt. but the plus is its way less hectic.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqLQ55Zre2HuaJZ5UqG89NBQ-DDzGzOCwJGgQa0OTp37ODWBoUIszLX7AY6FwFNW9zwcVE3xjWXhwkkep0zhxeXSJ8L_iu2qaMvawUQak_v1h9XZBgOxaXZM8mh1hvrIrPmk6bUqI3HY/s1600/343599342469_0_0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492777648229380674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqLQ55Zre2HuaJZ5UqG89NBQ-DDzGzOCwJGgQa0OTp37ODWBoUIszLX7AY6FwFNW9zwcVE3xjWXhwkkep0zhxeXSJ8L_iu2qaMvawUQak_v1h9XZBgOxaXZM8mh1hvrIrPmk6bUqI3HY/s400/343599342469_0_0.jpg" /></a><br />This was a great display of veggies!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MJsT-dDr3ZAV2dASb6ACtXmwYP_wW9ClVoGKujeuyn1fq410Xx-mmOEQF3tuqs22P1mh4D3KD6bRbzH8scHZpRVT5ryVHSPxwLD5tc4Rauj89TUGbtx-Xyp8LdwxMr_MzgFfa42vdx0/s1600/343599419525_0_0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492777448489037682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MJsT-dDr3ZAV2dASb6ACtXmwYP_wW9ClVoGKujeuyn1fq410Xx-mmOEQF3tuqs22P1mh4D3KD6bRbzH8scHZpRVT5ryVHSPxwLD5tc4Rauj89TUGbtx-Xyp8LdwxMr_MzgFfa42vdx0/s400/343599419525_0_0.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1q8y_f0_HQ2wvKPWqTnvk11abiger5HjcUBzJSM3JEvmyk-nYjoRib6ArJH1wH1oRchTppMeGg2X1gFbe6Gmsv9xp5fsamS10ZDTbHj8N8UdfoC3_CcA2dQCdKNegyUiNEQxRM_mhrFs/s1600/343599786373_0_0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492777235895927106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1q8y_f0_HQ2wvKPWqTnvk11abiger5HjcUBzJSM3JEvmyk-nYjoRib6ArJH1wH1oRchTppMeGg2X1gFbe6Gmsv9xp5fsamS10ZDTbHj8N8UdfoC3_CcA2dQCdKNegyUiNEQxRM_mhrFs/s400/343599786373_0_0.jpg" /></a><br /><br />America's got talent at the local farmers market.<br />He really had a great sound!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab-yM6GS_2ie25r8yBER3lWofXNZS_vA2WhooUa_9Janc-R2v5F8AeCoPFhcMW3h0yjDoxBMs2GXWPwETa59pWAnthz3gO_mnnHD2hBYw386Woe97bzkzA4BtPRmEwMLQPHcwdlBeJSA/s1600/82438e979011cf52.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 96px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492774087920793330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab-yM6GS_2ie25r8yBER3lWofXNZS_vA2WhooUa_9Janc-R2v5F8AeCoPFhcMW3h0yjDoxBMs2GXWPwETa59pWAnthz3gO_mnnHD2hBYw386Woe97bzkzA4BtPRmEwMLQPHcwdlBeJSA/s400/82438e979011cf52.jpg" /></a> At this point in my ride I knew that is not the Brazilian Flag but it might be the flag of the Netherlands or of Spain.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DygAkhd1yVs_cRpyp9_wGJMBnsUM4npgOWTXPW2IWeacPpMDAytC5GspvE3GFNGuim3p-WXC-2dhJSYOWnH8ehfCPWA7zA-opEOAq-mgqOlz57a9Bpw2UZgRQLOON2PUOiEEwP3pBS0/s1600/343576432133_0_3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492771657787073090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DygAkhd1yVs_cRpyp9_wGJMBnsUM4npgOWTXPW2IWeacPpMDAytC5GspvE3GFNGuim3p-WXC-2dhJSYOWnH8ehfCPWA7zA-opEOAq-mgqOlz57a9Bpw2UZgRQLOON2PUOiEEwP3pBS0/s400/343576432133_0_3.jpg" /></a><br /><br />By now I had figured out that this was not the flag of Brazil and offloading it to my Brazilian surfer friend Polly was not an option. It was either the flag of the Netherlands or Spain that I did know and they were playing today. I decide I was gonna cruise by this local sports bar on Vermont Ave. with the flag waving and see if I could inflame the crowd one way or the other. As I rode by most eyes were fixed on the large outdoor screen and not looking to enthusiastic (I found out when I got home the score after an hour was 0-0 so it was a pretty boring affair) but one Latino (finally) gentleman raised his hand to high five me when he saw me heading his way with flag in hand so I slapped the flag into his open palm both surprising and delighting him at the same time. My 2010 World Cup participation was now fully complete.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqQUt5tdXsE8KO_VZq2fS8YkFaWUDYsNY1btNd9pXnKtgVEYnhvzUspc8h_EjSgv6MogVaKqoSwitfzOCEypC-AJ2yYfqL4Kna-9TTLjjDcbxXW24WyVeQzdZjjFLLR5jQMTmmpNOc38/s1600/343598728325_0_0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492770806894781698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqQUt5tdXsE8KO_VZq2fS8YkFaWUDYsNY1btNd9pXnKtgVEYnhvzUspc8h_EjSgv6MogVaKqoSwitfzOCEypC-AJ2yYfqL4Kna-9TTLjjDcbxXW24WyVeQzdZjjFLLR5jQMTmmpNOc38/s400/343598728325_0_0.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Parking lot beauty<br /></strong></span>Spotted this red Schwinn in the Jon's parking lot on Vermont Ave.<br /><br />The parking lot isn't the least bit pretty but this bike sure is!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Got home and hit the computer and solved the flag mystery<br />This is the flag of Spain. I was a Spanish soccer fan today and my team won - Go Spain!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab-yM6GS_2ie25r8yBER3lWofXNZS_vA2WhooUa_9Janc-R2v5F8AeCoPFhcMW3h0yjDoxBMs2GXWPwETa59pWAnthz3gO_mnnHD2hBYw386Woe97bzkzA4BtPRmEwMLQPHcwdlBeJSA/s1600/82438e979011cf52.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 96px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492774087920793330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab-yM6GS_2ie25r8yBER3lWofXNZS_vA2WhooUa_9Janc-R2v5F8AeCoPFhcMW3h0yjDoxBMs2GXWPwETa59pWAnthz3gO_mnnHD2hBYw386Woe97bzkzA4BtPRmEwMLQPHcwdlBeJSA/s400/82438e979011cf52.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I might be onto something here with this finding a flag in the road thing and having it turn out to be the winning team - at least % 50 right that is.<br />Check back with me in four years and if I find another flag on the road the day of the finals and you have money on the game for a few bucks I might tell you what country its flying over.Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-48108381899717612372010-07-02T23:54:00.000-07:002010-07-04T22:43:59.683-07:00Hollywood Stars and Fashion Icons on Bicycles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY99cqJeIGgJkKwUVzSMR5yTC8bOjZuyhQDFKfG_1UyNWERDCnbYDPIw09Ktsa97eQZUK0r85MvbgOVhyQ_-jJInAgqWV6J3zyrrWauotF5QvgzXagBlIRfB-iiYBhyphenhyphenTM3t4Y7SI4ovro/s1600/via%2520thevintagebicycle.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 313px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489579828900205842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY99cqJeIGgJkKwUVzSMR5yTC8bOjZuyhQDFKfG_1UyNWERDCnbYDPIw09Ktsa97eQZUK0r85MvbgOVhyQ_-jJInAgqWV6J3zyrrWauotF5QvgzXagBlIRfB-iiYBhyphenhyphenTM3t4Y7SI4ovro/s400/via%2520thevintagebicycle.jpg" /></a>
<br /><em><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">For fun here are some Hollywood Stars from the early days enjoying their rides. Pretty girls on bikes (i.e.the bicycle girl) have been style icons since the beginning of cycling and helped to sell cycling to the female population as well as the men and Hollywood stars eagerly continued that tradition.</span>
<br /></em><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Here are some photos I was able to find online. By the way a great time to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame is to take a ride down Hollywood Blvd. early Sunday morning. The smooth concrete used for the sidewalks makes for good riding. </em></span></span>
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>EXT. CORNER OF HOLLYWOOD AND VINE - DAY</strong></span></span></span>
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<br /></strong>Marilyn brings her bike to a slow stop before the sidewalk curb. She sighs softly then shakes her wavy golden hair from side to side while casually surveying the scene before her; light Sunday traffic, mostly church goers and families out driving at a slow leisurely speed. Waiting patiently for the light to change she tugs at the hemline of her very, very short pleated skirt.... somewhat satisfied with the result she bends over and reaches down to <strong></strong></span></span></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">adjust her fallen Bobbi socks. </span></span></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Screech of tires!... slam!...Screech! ... slam!.... wham!...car after car piles up in the intersection.</span></span></span>
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<br /><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">MARILYN</span>
<br /></strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">(Surprised,her mouth forming a perfect circle)</span></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Oh!</span> </span>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbn4ZNBIDS6e0LwGvWtcf2tHVU1lh-NEtcceKyoQ2OWmoBgDjxCvK9Ozx3uZGt7ZuGnuxJ2BAZIuibmxvH9RqcuFw26ldJoGsexsCNQJcbgOdc5cnWiheBzFx1-Qi_hM4SvzASz21eycg/s1600/rita.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 291px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489576313448654914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbn4ZNBIDS6e0LwGvWtcf2tHVU1lh-NEtcceKyoQ2OWmoBgDjxCvK9Ozx3uZGt7ZuGnuxJ2BAZIuibmxvH9RqcuFw26ldJoGsexsCNQJcbgOdc5cnWiheBzFx1-Qi_hM4SvzASz21eycg/s400/rita.jpg" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Rita Hayworth</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Bombshell on a bomber bike!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Audrey Hepburn - pure cycle chic</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtecwWNb2LDtjCPAuhvhvsoO3064WjNBT0CRemBRLa9JnHLV9mbV88ttMgovk0Y2YvnpSi2iIKQ3x2T-TQLAB5gP-60A4eQcQDwI8BnAO6YcuXqAUaRKlYJ-iZDTcHhAf0azeaGp4lnso/s1600/audrey_hepburn.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 309px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489576102626908978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtecwWNb2LDtjCPAuhvhvsoO3064WjNBT0CRemBRLa9JnHLV9mbV88ttMgovk0Y2YvnpSi2iIKQ3x2T-TQLAB5gP-60A4eQcQDwI8BnAO6YcuXqAUaRKlYJ-iZDTcHhAf0azeaGp4lnso/s400/audrey_hepburn.jpg" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Ava Gardner - so beautiful in person she stunned men</span>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhtsiO-pyMrg4jfpx2Z4uykyz4mqzQrfIYG093Avq65T6QDJ-veg_GI-fXcDgaXWAA28YYtxt7Vb-8dFcQFkqSzX2XwN-XGWJHunserAqyndRTPRtqnzX_OGsjAdaoN6AbGM_EL5sF_8/s1600/ava+gardner.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 318px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489575844657593810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhtsiO-pyMrg4jfpx2Z4uykyz4mqzQrfIYG093Avq65T6QDJ-veg_GI-fXcDgaXWAA28YYtxt7Vb-8dFcQFkqSzX2XwN-XGWJHunserAqyndRTPRtqnzX_OGsjAdaoN6AbGM_EL5sF_8/s400/ava+gardner.jpg" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYFJwyuLV75gJ5o71B5j8GilWVWDsBK8butVEhFrHOWCrYv9lhqiCy9F7cf1L9E7HlcTfkNZpKroQDjTphbw3dSX7291N8KRrvtAY70T_kdmxAgrzqbtO0iRGxTGNq93BIEDi7qMW2cA/s1600/2b6sgm.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 315px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489575205303242866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYFJwyuLV75gJ5o71B5j8GilWVWDsBK8butVEhFrHOWCrYv9lhqiCy9F7cf1L9E7HlcTfkNZpKroQDjTphbw3dSX7291N8KRrvtAY70T_kdmxAgrzqbtO0iRGxTGNq93BIEDi7qMW2cA/s400/2b6sgm.jpg" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Rita Hayworth and friends off to a ten mile bike ride and picnic - simple pleasures work for celebrities too.</span>
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<br />Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-77810543378731582742010-07-02T22:34:00.000-07:002010-07-09T11:39:24.435-07:00Sunset Blvd. Bike Lane through Silverlake to Echo Park and Silverlake Bicycle shops<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w3HK7awvvfLLp9GGS7RaJeHarh7ZTFTl9rR34xdtLJAYiAZbqdggzIPHdGpBowau6Krxwi-yCQe3y1kqiiGvm5ePGB3EhsVeIGLHkT4YWiR3Z_x-IOB5BgNqwCJzhBxRJeqlmWMixS0/s1600/DSCN2531.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489726460484182498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w3HK7awvvfLLp9GGS7RaJeHarh7ZTFTl9rR34xdtLJAYiAZbqdggzIPHdGpBowau6Krxwi-yCQe3y1kqiiGvm5ePGB3EhsVeIGLHkT4YWiR3Z_x-IOB5BgNqwCJzhBxRJeqlmWMixS0/s400/DSCN2531.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Sunset Blvd. bike lane begins at Fountain Ave and runs on both sides of the street all the way to Echo Park. By LA standards this is a good one. It is well traveled and it feels pretty safe to me. I didn't time my ride and I made many stops but it seemed to be around a half hour or less.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAb3OHvoRERKscgmF8A2H7thg_sOERfChatyV71sURE7aYKJB3lLGrxnWXnRliKrtklCIk2tQcWTjnQHF3H15rilaxuGdWkuElr7LJrVvGUbg2ubEWJ8ib5R1w3IYSNRyJ3do4C1rDDc/s1600/DSCN2535.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489726125024626018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAb3OHvoRERKscgmF8A2H7thg_sOERfChatyV71sURE7aYKJB3lLGrxnWXnRliKrtklCIk2tQcWTjnQHF3H15rilaxuGdWkuElr7LJrVvGUbg2ubEWJ8ib5R1w3IYSNRyJ3do4C1rDDc/s400/DSCN2535.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">At the end of this ride this view is your reward - Echo Park and lake. If your visiting LA this is <em>the </em>place for a great bikeside view of the city skyline.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheA-7Hq30Af0XUZHVXEVOobhUk2HPpXHrXKlxXfYRv4ROi8nqlGIoy4EI7garrEF7A46cU-kNR9sp1RUPKtbDVEV4NqUSC4LttH_NBjqRnjJiahyGKxHTrRxWheV_S7BltVLlWdLkr0SM/s1600/DSCN2521.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489725818337439938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheA-7Hq30Af0XUZHVXEVOobhUk2HPpXHrXKlxXfYRv4ROi8nqlGIoy4EI7garrEF7A46cU-kNR9sp1RUPKtbDVEV4NqUSC4LttH_NBjqRnjJiahyGKxHTrRxWheV_S7BltVLlWdLkr0SM/s400/DSCN2521.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Traveling along Sunset Blvd. towards Echo Park there are dozens of restaurant's and eclectic shops including the popular Sunset Junction stretch.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Silverlake has a healthy bicycle scene and there are two bike shops along the Sunset Blvd. bike lane.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Zycle Path</strong><br /></span>Bike Sales, Repairs & Rentals</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">3320 Sunset Blvd.</span><br /><br />(323) 665-5392<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Owner Issac Gonzalez<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVBN3xo40-kCKoXZd97fvNnD0jOrtHWg9kgauQAzvSxKGve6QMUNaL8Z9i-3s0eNbXIeiHxKqJ5msfavolOk6vujuLnkQS9FcKGPG8VNCytCtwMQYKpaysNnwKR1Nl5w2v32QM57L0sU/s1600/DSCN2522.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489725438220481810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVBN3xo40-kCKoXZd97fvNnD0jOrtHWg9kgauQAzvSxKGve6QMUNaL8Z9i-3s0eNbXIeiHxKqJ5msfavolOk6vujuLnkQS9FcKGPG8VNCytCtwMQYKpaysNnwKR1Nl5w2v32QM57L0sU/s400/DSCN2522.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-g0K2HEO8nqClsmwTfd6ELMbjsgnngNQcaMlXUx8iKf2iSCRmdGKhS20_9Fpy60Mzxs_YgVPHftp2XPvfFfWfueWMtlHOgEHLXBCv-aILVgbPrG2Frytk8mZF9kHKm_skoPCdmdxRgs/s1600/DSCN2524.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489552928197354594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-g0K2HEO8nqClsmwTfd6ELMbjsgnngNQcaMlXUx8iKf2iSCRmdGKhS20_9Fpy60Mzxs_YgVPHftp2XPvfFfWfueWMtlHOgEHLXBCv-aILVgbPrG2Frytk8mZF9kHKm_skoPCdmdxRgs/s400/DSCN2524.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUiyXADbAJL3CCVwYasorRBd54RD2d8df0C9yBn9be-p-wjQRuD1lq8foqdT5i5rX6MLSmXvdQzs0MG8Iy-rjkFKIh9mu8ivygS3sRLcfOMSR21wP2YPx8iqkRADaiQIINjr8PaoEkHc/s1600/DSCN2525.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489552351781391874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUiyXADbAJL3CCVwYasorRBd54RD2d8df0C9yBn9be-p-wjQRuD1lq8foqdT5i5rX6MLSmXvdQzs0MG8Iy-rjkFKIh9mu8ivygS3sRLcfOMSR21wP2YPx8iqkRADaiQIINjr8PaoEkHc/s400/DSCN2525.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Spotted this colorful bike on the way ...turned out to be owned by Alison from the LA County Bicycle Coalition.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqO33aZyVvx-kWJ2h77qrYgaMrCNO71V6spqf-7AUutJbs8NlQ9bbhWHIBKZmWVlblsuUHsI5AFRL3km0NvikrvpcC8Ewx-NEFNgjtIC6Mq4Kf1hdb9RYni_0zV1XmkQ7D_YYQpH6waz8/s1600/DSCN2526.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489552116982328210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqO33aZyVvx-kWJ2h77qrYgaMrCNO71V6spqf-7AUutJbs8NlQ9bbhWHIBKZmWVlblsuUHsI5AFRL3km0NvikrvpcC8Ewx-NEFNgjtIC6Mq4Kf1hdb9RYni_0zV1XmkQ7D_YYQpH6waz8/s400/DSCN2526.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />She had this sign on the back which let car drivers know to keep their distance.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Speed Works Bike Shop</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">3112 W. Sunset Blvd. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">(323) 906-9931</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Owner Omar</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Its owned by Omar and he started out as a car audio shop got so much business for repairing bikes he combined the two.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEv0vvSI29nVTIutMAGZ53p-bRTLyQkC0LrnHy3oKhH62os0GweDHQVXi3xJGt7NI4HOnDR3a28_AmVGptL9cdsEKT-YVvZvnujTX9vzt0HMrVZbFC_efEEJtDwGr_Sj7gQOUWyZsgKc/s1600/DSCN2528.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489551856783325570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEv0vvSI29nVTIutMAGZ53p-bRTLyQkC0LrnHy3oKhH62os0GweDHQVXi3xJGt7NI4HOnDR3a28_AmVGptL9cdsEKT-YVvZvnujTX9vzt0HMrVZbFC_efEEJtDwGr_Sj7gQOUWyZsgKc/s400/DSCN2528.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtRFoD3eTfVP07x8j2oV7p-raMVECg5uuYzZU7nn4NNUYl0GvBf4eQnhF6HXnwbqOUPQHXnEmt5CUaiu_kMMHa4i6o0DiPPZhN-f9d42HyBrn6m4LGpvumQy8VND559qSZPT2bmLWUQM/s1600/DSCN2530.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489551641096090402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtRFoD3eTfVP07x8j2oV7p-raMVECg5uuYzZU7nn4NNUYl0GvBf4eQnhF6HXnwbqOUPQHXnEmt5CUaiu_kMMHa4i6o0DiPPZhN-f9d42HyBrn6m4LGpvumQy8VND559qSZPT2bmLWUQM/s400/DSCN2530.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUIgR_L3dTNNIVPewxN-QXZVrCiXO3AueIW6ozlqwH7qswGWY-FkYq19lxqJL3b_20We4QBzMusqJV36got12JoJiWGrpVT33P8H3vQuz5wvKtWBlQDoORJiWPd2HrRckDsb1ruV8b2o/s1600/DSCN2533.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489550854653125922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUIgR_L3dTNNIVPewxN-QXZVrCiXO3AueIW6ozlqwH7qswGWY-FkYq19lxqJL3b_20We4QBzMusqJV36got12JoJiWGrpVT33P8H3vQuz5wvKtWBlQDoORJiWPd2HrRckDsb1ruV8b2o/s400/DSCN2533.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Spotted this lady with this unusual looking bike cruising along and she agreed to pose for a photo-- Thanks for sharing with us!!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />ECHO PARK AND LAKE<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw1q9w_OUp8fInN3fQPBohyphenhyphenu3DSJc4zecTlUp5wEVzWE4gry7f02UfwC23LuEd-msPjjQhrPrHDj4yPj3mBD7okMmJkf7950hpifjKCW8IV-PSzyXnenmXjFgkXf7SqSLFaTDVNqaMFk/s1600/DSCN2536.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489550322475023650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw1q9w_OUp8fInN3fQPBohyphenhyphenu3DSJc4zecTlUp5wEVzWE4gry7f02UfwC23LuEd-msPjjQhrPrHDj4yPj3mBD7okMmJkf7950hpifjKCW8IV-PSzyXnenmXjFgkXf7SqSLFaTDVNqaMFk/s400/DSCN2536.JPG" /></a> Lady of the lake?<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Don't know much about this statue overlooking the lake.... she was looking a little down with some damage to her hands so I gave her a little makeover with a palm frond hairdo/headdress.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3178a5tOOjxPOnoRU2sXBx3tYedBkE3pHuMroTn-mgfXAZSFBgggxLirE9OOXAeztrV3HuY3BydzIRqUdakhTmoxw5kg9b4ooMebKsRkttdlUFgPNAbNJZ290n4jHWZLqEIq8LvXfnM/s1600/DSCN2534.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489550018573682962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3178a5tOOjxPOnoRU2sXBx3tYedBkE3pHuMroTn-mgfXAZSFBgggxLirE9OOXAeztrV3HuY3BydzIRqUdakhTmoxw5kg9b4ooMebKsRkttdlUFgPNAbNJZ290n4jHWZLqEIq8LvXfnM/s400/DSCN2534.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This is why you should make this ride!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Make sure your camera lense is clean though</span>!Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-70309787949669550662010-07-02T09:42:00.000-07:002010-07-02T22:18:28.044-07:00Bikes parked around on Vermont and Hillhurst with some interesting racks thrown in<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqAW6KjRiv5YIj6PzaZ1wpfDvNz_3F0M1Ljq2DGtV1TINfH89zsStvRa3T3UOeqTlOm65Z9j-MLFA8Q_0BJpAtFtmIw-PxX4Bvg58aijtPbZfXO39BSfc5PiFdtsbQtI2xTS0Ho05zYs/s1600/DSCN2479.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489354193016162866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqAW6KjRiv5YIj6PzaZ1wpfDvNz_3F0M1Ljq2DGtV1TINfH89zsStvRa3T3UOeqTlOm65Z9j-MLFA8Q_0BJpAtFtmIw-PxX4Bvg58aijtPbZfXO39BSfc5PiFdtsbQtI2xTS0Ho05zYs/s400/DSCN2479.JPG" /></a> Saw lots of bikes parked around Vermont and Hillhurst on a ride to the market. Left some notes on the bikes about the blog so I hope some of these bike owners check my blog out.<br /><br /><br /><br />This rack is located outside a Thai Restaurant on Vermont. Looks cool but not very practical I think.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu-FtNZ2ls2Knkzkl4Uvn8hRuCht3HNxSu0HT0HAGVnvzL5UlV1jNCV3d54HCH936OvS77kbF8ppWvU2qU6rJDov-iSkEmvmpkHQk_RHsbZLrF27lNRxgurSW-DciJO7gseuStgewntM/s1600/DSCN2502.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489353973010048962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu-FtNZ2ls2Knkzkl4Uvn8hRuCht3HNxSu0HT0HAGVnvzL5UlV1jNCV3d54HCH936OvS77kbF8ppWvU2qU6rJDov-iSkEmvmpkHQk_RHsbZLrF27lNRxgurSW-DciJO7gseuStgewntM/s400/DSCN2502.JPG" /></a> I always thought this was just an ugly sculpture now I realize that it is a distorted bicycle chain and a bike rack located on Vermont Ave. near the Chase bank. I can't recall if I have ever seen a bike locked to it most probably because there are no shops nearby and it looks like an ugly sculpture.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Tree Bike Rack</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDPkZvPYTj8eAqKcsc9cnROXqMi900sAheOyhCKVVUZMS3kx6cgqdt8CxvItizg5n3z5CpaPwXndcvmMAf9kL_WgYMSjrJRgR0Q-Zlh934SSxnhXO3-xRfPWFV4-pV6b_WxrYiyLkREY/s1600/DSCN2509.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489353570276907746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDPkZvPYTj8eAqKcsc9cnROXqMi900sAheOyhCKVVUZMS3kx6cgqdt8CxvItizg5n3z5CpaPwXndcvmMAf9kL_WgYMSjrJRgR0Q-Zlh934SSxnhXO3-xRfPWFV4-pV6b_WxrYiyLkREY/s400/DSCN2509.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;">The tree at Nature Mart on Hillhurst sometimes used as a bike rack. </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Try this artist trick squint your eyes and look at it- takes away the details and it looks like the tree is riding a bike - very cool I think!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIj1QH6vX5UhI6aEAdcnHLBdK1CMaQjAX6BicvPekwlZSGwFLe6vbGhoSPhzvQMT2-YgfdNT4EySj-PylRqsGEvtIt32-4BpYoXd0SZkwvf13fmytwc3xIV34ouTipyP6EHW1Fgds7GxQ/s1600/DSCN2507.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489352900592391042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIj1QH6vX5UhI6aEAdcnHLBdK1CMaQjAX6BicvPekwlZSGwFLe6vbGhoSPhzvQMT2-YgfdNT4EySj-PylRqsGEvtIt32-4BpYoXd0SZkwvf13fmytwc3xIV34ouTipyP6EHW1Fgds7GxQ/s400/DSCN2507.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;">U- racks for lack of a better name - is there one?<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yZ3ISeGLpDwN_Vm1AoPedAgCPPZHb6b5UKpKKbZcaBhR0kieJtot-r1kgjXRCcTHoEU8JKOpcWT1FrI-uy7QuLBphTDajsqwlsVCBVO69FFoqweWtY1a_lHBDMO5mwzIg_30xkNuIKs/s1600/DSCN2506.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489352536522059106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yZ3ISeGLpDwN_Vm1AoPedAgCPPZHb6b5UKpKKbZcaBhR0kieJtot-r1kgjXRCcTHoEU8JKOpcWT1FrI-uy7QuLBphTDajsqwlsVCBVO69FFoqweWtY1a_lHBDMO5mwzIg_30xkNuIKs/s400/DSCN2506.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzrr29Sh9lViYJ9v0PMwZ2fiLXL5uw5f5AGKjL2euCnTv5vLBBoduDjVSD7_SctG2KU5RIHZQwPaQPmmWQWgOocs9JVEIy1gcLzAZhkeAmu3QtQsX-SNbONEuWzZ_OtF1AQqKiMJlhlY/s1600/DSCN2508.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489352321067077954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzrr29Sh9lViYJ9v0PMwZ2fiLXL5uw5f5AGKjL2euCnTv5vLBBoduDjVSD7_SctG2KU5RIHZQwPaQPmmWQWgOocs9JVEIy1gcLzAZhkeAmu3QtQsX-SNbONEuWzZ_OtF1AQqKiMJlhlY/s400/DSCN2508.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">No parking sign used as a </span><span style="font-size:180%;">rack - love it! </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Nice looking bikes too.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Parking meter bike rack: </span><span style="font-size:180%;">Cars pay and bikes are free</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXO6bTYn4AqB_AyHP_fnaxplXn4R94VAzhuSXfnir4cbPgCJNV2vDn3VANym6nPMOz6PxGROGbUZvJchQEsIYPrsjOc3dVK33jNcs6TKAPCZX7D156w4xVF_8Fxx89MtgsdqpsUk2U1c/s1600/DSCN2510.JPG"><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489352022822335858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXO6bTYn4AqB_AyHP_fnaxplXn4R94VAzhuSXfnir4cbPgCJNV2vDn3VANym6nPMOz6PxGROGbUZvJchQEsIYPrsjOc3dVK33jNcs6TKAPCZX7D156w4xVF_8Fxx89MtgsdqpsUk2U1c/s400/DSCN2510.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejHhLj5FvVwQmvM6o6N6it2_G_TvI6OtRe2lYLFbK5DIqYpmpHmrpnKEmWehKXOtT6WNoNCrVozPji9_YfKzjtRCgoB7lYmklS0qt5dcocPQ-KUxA60SNvkMsdgQI3Z5iOn7vpT1Wak0/s1600/DSCN2511.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489351807843255042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejHhLj5FvVwQmvM6o6N6it2_G_TvI6OtRe2lYLFbK5DIqYpmpHmrpnKEmWehKXOtT6WNoNCrVozPji9_YfKzjtRCgoB7lYmklS0qt5dcocPQ-KUxA60SNvkMsdgQI3Z5iOn7vpT1Wak0/s400/DSCN2511.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFWMrrncLP-7mOqB6peFTAzVm6y2HuvlhL082CkZqeqc2omctCbO1ZiWjsPD1rN5v8Zn6eIwKyT_oRtxNtRc7GN8FUU-zT-CX9DI3ROHSt7-07EC1cZ4c76z1dwd3y9S96gViZcD0ayE/s1600/DSCN2505.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489351590620420546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFWMrrncLP-7mOqB6peFTAzVm6y2HuvlhL082CkZqeqc2omctCbO1ZiWjsPD1rN5v8Zn6eIwKyT_oRtxNtRc7GN8FUU-zT-CX9DI3ROHSt7-07EC1cZ4c76z1dwd3y9S96gViZcD0ayE/s400/DSCN2505.JPG" /></a> </p><p></p><p>Stylish looking bicyclist on Sunset Blvd parking his bike.</p>Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-73527812989138020582010-07-01T08:20:00.000-07:002010-07-01T19:28:55.362-07:00A Dutch bike comes to Hollywood and European bicycling films from the 30's and 50's to the present day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xLoPMDRO6kmu8ZLFIbM9BFedg9dCjYjDCV9a32Yplyp80KeGS6X1-TZmk2hGm-UpSzZ2ckfQa_Go3qP_n1jUWqcQY01JsdBB05L4SR0i6pK9V-OVUcVf8qnvdJgTtHTev5B1P4WBlRU/s1600/DSCN2513.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489124668108249426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xLoPMDRO6kmu8ZLFIbM9BFedg9dCjYjDCV9a32Yplyp80KeGS6X1-TZmk2hGm-UpSzZ2ckfQa_Go3qP_n1jUWqcQY01JsdBB05L4SR0i6pK9V-OVUcVf8qnvdJgTtHTev5B1P4WBlRU/s400/DSCN2513.JPG" /></a><br />I have Dutch Bikes on my mind today with posting these films this morning, talking with My Dutch Bike up in San Francisco this afternoon and then while out running an errand on my Globe Carmel and in of all places Fountain and Normandie Avenues I spotted this beautiful 2010 Batavus Old Dutch bicycle being elegantly ridden by this young lady. I was really surprised to see this and took chase. She was on the street and I was on the sidewalk and I had a hard time catching up to her but I was finally able to get her attention. Her name is Zoey and she just got her bike from Flying Pigeon in LA.:http://flyingpigeon-la.com/<br />Up close these bikes are awesome and ooze high quality workmanship!<br />Designed to be ridden when you're wearing regular work or party clothes like suits with dress pants and flowing skirts so they have a <em>chain guard</em> and<em> skirt guard</em> and also come with fenders for rain and mud protection.<br />Ladies take note you won't usually find skirt guards on American bikes.<br /><br /><strong>Check out the films below and see Dutch bikes in action over the years:</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />These films are inspiring as you can see how the bicycle culture in European cities has persisted despite the automobile and how the future can be here in the US.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KrW7MTwN9ss&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KrW7MTwN9ss&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/1HgLqts3qJs/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1HgLqts3qJs&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1HgLqts3qJs&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EidDY8cOXd4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EidDY8cOXd4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />Netherlands present dayBicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-70013775204053834742010-06-30T18:05:00.001-07:002010-07-12T16:02:32.902-07:00Giant lizards, The Seven Wonders of Hollywood Bicycle Tour and Michael Keaton sighting -- was that his bike?<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Leaping Lizards!</strong></span><br />Giant lizards have nothing to do with bicycling except that when I awoke from a bicycle induced nap this afternoon the first thing I laid eyes on was a giant lizard slithering across my bedroom carpet. My first thought was there can't be a lizard in here I live in the middle of Hollywood in an Apt., I'm not in the Mojave... huh?<br />Waking further I remembered that I had seen a giant lizard a week ago out back near some tool boxes and that I had brought those same tool boxes into my apt. shortly after that sighting. So what has he/she been doing in my apt. all week...there's no roaches here ( scout's honor).... must be hungry. By pure luck I was able to capture him and safely escort him out to my neighbors garden.<br /><br /><br />Click on the photo this guy is 13 inches long against the canvas which except for SF films is huge by Hollywood garden standards and he had an attitude too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-a9UOUTsHfCPthkRRoh1wSJW0ouqB0fhniIWTrNdJNMJkld3vNYkhQqrn9C9dqpn2QHSA3vCZNrmdwZPgfl1P_q9rpKGltflRYUMsXzhSwSxB2J86tgwB62V7WwJXEojbTwzyNCK_mo/s1600/DSCN2500.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488802599031037874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-a9UOUTsHfCPthkRRoh1wSJW0ouqB0fhniIWTrNdJNMJkld3vNYkhQqrn9C9dqpn2QHSA3vCZNrmdwZPgfl1P_q9rpKGltflRYUMsXzhSwSxB2J86tgwB62V7WwJXEojbTwzyNCK_mo/s400/DSCN2500.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Styling Bicyclists around town</span><br />( Thanks people for kindly letting me take your photos)<br /></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7R7cewAcMd3yvELWpcyKLeUpv0a3ETVhFctP64bWMtGOaBX3BXuJ9DeaFs_ixluLQvy44TI4KwWgs-jsvvc3jIcE2buDJoxrWwvnDElDEsZpx25jnLUbUNzKkoiFLb5zaM57l7NiqOs/s1600/DSCN2488.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488793583155937650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7R7cewAcMd3yvELWpcyKLeUpv0a3ETVhFctP64bWMtGOaBX3BXuJ9DeaFs_ixluLQvy44TI4KwWgs-jsvvc3jIcE2buDJoxrWwvnDElDEsZpx25jnLUbUNzKkoiFLb5zaM57l7NiqOs/s400/DSCN2488.JPG" /></a><br />Being a beach person I've been missing seeing the girls on beach cruiser type bikes this summer and this young lady on her way to the public library on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Melrose</span></span> fit the bill perfectly.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaknyrbUMzCUisfnqciLNB1nHyvsdEXPtAPX7VaQHny6F2drG8gRXQonEiTuX362jsELTaAyUS03COJXj4n3LH3-e8anpSnYc7WiArRqV361ou0FyAVR0Kg3qlYblONSX7D540czYeMY/s1600/DSCN2487.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488792966394060050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaknyrbUMzCUisfnqciLNB1nHyvsdEXPtAPX7VaQHny6F2drG8gRXQonEiTuX362jsELTaAyUS03COJXj4n3LH3-e8anpSnYc7WiArRqV361ou0FyAVR0Kg3qlYblONSX7D540czYeMY/s400/DSCN2487.JPG" /></a> Justin blew past me at an intersection on Beverly Blvd. on his metallic green machine and I chased him down and got his story. He's an actor who rides all over town for auditions and although he has multiple gears he likes to tough it out using a single gear at all times. His bike is a 70's Schwinn and his girlfriend has the female version of the exact same bike.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaVcXVRLi6MOE6-_TeLGu3EV__W55-5ICD3WBTBCZwAGYbsUoIcl82EnzLgct3Z19iBk4-Zd3NufOdeTVjDGiWA6PwoMpPHk9MJEuwOm3cju5lVp3S2SmyNlQVPHRj-K-pmTC8jtF2KM/s1600/DSCN2501.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488792541937375602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaVcXVRLi6MOE6-_TeLGu3EV__W55-5ICD3WBTBCZwAGYbsUoIcl82EnzLgct3Z19iBk4-Zd3NufOdeTVjDGiWA6PwoMpPHk9MJEuwOm3cju5lVp3S2SmyNlQVPHRj-K-pmTC8jtF2KM/s400/DSCN2501.JPG" /></a><br />I spotted Robbie cruising down Vermont Ave. on his way to the grocery store. He just about stole this bike --buying it for $ 15 at a yard sale.<br />It has the classic weathered look that only years of dedicated outdoor use can bring. No doubt we'll see <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span></span>-weathered over priced bikes like ripped jeans being sold in the near future. Nice hat too!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCAwjPFEHvtIIGUcUqfshMqyOGrXK3m0Txp5YeWlq4w_fGvap-z-otj1FRa0mThCTXgq7b_vIHuY84IS10YI-vVHUxOPi7r2M9KNGNp8OFQsDbHExAzbqlNIJeYSyKDBwA9ENNdH1UCg/s1600/DSCN2485.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488792228662593458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCAwjPFEHvtIIGUcUqfshMqyOGrXK3m0Txp5YeWlq4w_fGvap-z-otj1FRa0mThCTXgq7b_vIHuY84IS10YI-vVHUxOPi7r2M9KNGNp8OFQsDbHExAzbqlNIJeYSyKDBwA9ENNdH1UCg/s400/DSCN2485.JPG" /></a><br /><strong>Michael Keaton sighting.... was that his bike too?</strong><br />I was riding down a sidewalk with outdoor restaurant seating and I heard Michael Keaton's voice and then saw what appeared to be someone who looked exactly like Michael Keaton. He looked at me and then my awesome bike ( was there any envy there) as I rode silently by. I turned the corner and there were 50 honey wagons parked along the street with a major movie production going on. I saw this cool folding bike parked in the middle of the set and took a pic. Was this Michael <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Keaton's</span></span> bike? I doubt it was his bike but I'm pretty sure that was him chowing down.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Seven Wonders of Hollywood Bicycle Tour </strong><br /></span>In my two wheeled travels I am discovering Hollywood all over again and have decided to amass a collection of these new, strange and sometimes interesting discoveries choosing the best ones and call them the Seven Wonders of.... If you come across any likely candidates observed from the seat of your bicycle please let me know. and I'll ride over and check them out<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Candidate # 1<br />Greek Temple / Apt. building<br /></strong>(located on Van <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ness</span></span> between <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Melrose</span></span> and Santa Monica <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Blvds</span></span>.<br /><br />(Click on the picture to get the details)<br /><br />Golden spirals over purple walls - I love this building! Been driving past this for several years and it keeps getting more outrageous. The Alexander signage was the topper-- way over topper for me. Been meaning to stop and ask Q's for years but always in a car today fortunately I was on a bike...<br />There was a sign with number to call which I did and talked with Danny who turned out to be the artiste of this masterpiece of Kitsch.<br />The building is owned by a former actor a Greek named George <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Panandreas</span></span>. George must love being Greek -- well more power too him!. While Danny did the painting and stone work George added the signage and sculptures. Across from a film studio the building was formerly owned by Paramount Pictures and Hollywood stars stayed there including Cary Grant and Rudolph Valentino.<br />I would love to see more buildings like this - at least color and spiral wise.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fcphlzzQAlqZjP0B42Iqr-QaYjr_sCd5zycNhH3AhmZHEbe4Uzmcw3GkhIcwQglqeaPYlD9jP3yEsDST1RkQdg5DAwkMNJPU-UvjmlSOAGHxSkHXkJTJQCv271DcuzoKY9yil3qJyv4/s1600/DSCN2484.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488775998589232034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fcphlzzQAlqZjP0B42Iqr-QaYjr_sCd5zycNhH3AhmZHEbe4Uzmcw3GkhIcwQglqeaPYlD9jP3yEsDST1RkQdg5DAwkMNJPU-UvjmlSOAGHxSkHXkJTJQCv271DcuzoKY9yil3qJyv4/s400/DSCN2484.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVqH0ozTw9DpHLlDOyKkaO5UxpbGrjg-3x-dLuQuOt4MuYhws29LuiP-yOQCQrj6s3tTAJ_8m-5S1waSGpEq3Xqx6sdSWb96dEyhQhsUzVR6M_bf8CM5jlsLrKG9lWn79D69OUtc1o-g/s1600/DSCN2482.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488775638705465538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVqH0ozTw9DpHLlDOyKkaO5UxpbGrjg-3x-dLuQuOt4MuYhws29LuiP-yOQCQrj6s3tTAJ_8m-5S1waSGpEq3Xqx6sdSWb96dEyhQhsUzVR6M_bf8CM5jlsLrKG9lWn79D69OUtc1o-g/s400/DSCN2482.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Candidate # 2<br />Hollywood Church with multiple spires<br /><br /></strong>(located at Fountain and Western Aves.<br />This is an amazing work of art and for sure a new Hollywood landmark that will eventually make the postcard rack on Hollywood Blvd. and stay there for years to come.<br />They ( never seen persons) have been building this for years one spire at at time. There are no signs, and I have no clue what church this is. There are never any people around and the place appears to be closed. Only once did I see a few workers the rest of the time the spires seem to appear out of nowhere. Someday I hope I will see one of the spires being installed and actually talk to someone there.<br />With the recent Russian spy stuff going in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">the</span> news and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ridiculous</span> spy swap that took <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">place</span> it got me thinking that this would make a great backdrop for a spy story. What exactly are Boris and Natasha trying to accomplish? I think they have been having a good time in the US sending their spy bosses "secret" information they got by simply Googling so they can keep their cushy spy jobs.<br /><br /><br />Wait a second I've got an idea for a story here....<br />Please excuse this little artistic detour<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Russkies</span></span> in Hollywood</span><br /><br /><strong>INT NATASHA AND BORIS HOLLYWOOD APT. DAY</strong><br />Boris a fat <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Borat</span></span> lookalike complete with a thick Dr. Zhivago mustache is in the kitchen on the computer following an EBay bid while Natasha a tall slender beauty with luminous skin and long straight black hair is curled up on the couch in the living room petting an expensive looking toy dog and watching daytime TV. Several overflowing bags of Whole Foods groceries sit on the kitchen table next to an unopened box containing a brand new Jack La Lane juicer. Pasted all over the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">refrigerator</span></span> are snapshots of the two of them and all the fun things they have been doing since coming to Los Angeles. A phone rings and Boris hits the speaker phone button. Behind him through the kitchen window we see a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Russian</span></span> style multiple <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">spired</span></span> church.<br /><br /><strong>Boris </strong><br />( in thick <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Russian</span></span> accent)<br />Hallo<br /><strong>Agent X </strong><br />( in a phony <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">texas</span></span> accent)<br />Howdy Boris this is Agent X in Texas--but don't call me X call me Tex! Get it Agent X -Tex?<br />(Gravely evil laughter ending in coughing)<br /><strong>Boris.<br /></strong>(with a bored look on his face but faking interest)<br />Yes comrade Tex, I hear you clearly, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">vee</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">kan</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">speek</span></span> freely.<br /><strong>Agent X </strong><br />Do you have any recent data on US Naval operations in the Pacific?<br /><strong>Boris</strong><br />Yes boss, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">vee</span></span> just got some top secret photos for you and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">vas</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">veery</span></span> dangerous mission too!<br /><br />Boris goes to Google on his computer and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">hurriedly</span></span> types out US Navy/Pacific Ocean. He quickly scans down the page then clicks on USS George H. W. Bush visits San Diego. An aerial photo of the aircraft carrier comes on screen and he clicks on it saving the photo.<br /><br /><strong>Boris </strong><br />I am <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">seending</span></span> you aerial photo of new American aircraft carrier <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span></span> took along <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">vith</span></span> bill from the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">helikopter</span></span> pilot for $ 5.000.00. It <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">vas</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">veery</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">dangrous</span></span> mission several <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">yets</span></span> were scrambled from thee carrier but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span></span> got away... stupid Americans I think they not <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error">vreally</span></span> Top Guns like in movies.... Boris and Natasha I think is smarter - ya?<br /><strong>Agent X </strong><br />Ya! Excellent work our superiors in Mother Russia will be very pleased! Your check is in the mail! Anything else I can do for you pardner?<br /><strong>Boris </strong><br />Yes , American food very bad, taste not so good and much <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error">GMO</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">vee</span></span> will need extra $ to purchase <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error">veery</span></span> healthy imported Russian food here in Hollywood.<br /><strong>Natasha </strong><br />( out of view screaming )<br />Idiots! Door number two! Door number two!<br /><strong>Expensive Toy Dog</strong><br />(Barking)<br /><strong>Agent X </strong><br />(worried and sounding more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Russian</span></span> now)<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vhats</span></span> happening is it a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error">vraid</span></span> ...F Bee I?<br /><strong>Boris</strong><br />No nothing like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_40" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error">dhat</span></span>. Natasha <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_41" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" class="blsp-spelling-error">ez</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_42" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" class="blsp-spelling-error">praticing</span></span> her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_43" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_40" class="blsp-spelling-error">engleesh</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_44" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_41" class="blsp-spelling-error">vatching</span></span> American TV.<br /><strong>Agent X</strong><br />( back to phony <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_45" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_42" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Texas</span></span> accent)<br />Oh, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_46" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_43" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ok</span></span>, I'm with you on that one pardner, Dallas reruns is how I learned myself. I understand about the chow got the same thing here in Texas too much steak and not enough <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_47" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_44" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">borscht</span></span>. No <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_48" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_45" class="blsp-spelling-error">problemo</span></span> son will an extra $ 600 a month do?<br /><strong>Boris.</strong><br />( looks over in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_49" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_46" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Natasha's</span></span> direction and she with her eyes still glued to the TV gives him a big thumbs up. )<br /><strong>Boris:</strong> Yes that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_50" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_47" class="blsp-spelling-error">vill</span></span> do. Over and out!<br /><strong>Agent X</strong><br />Audios amigos!<br /><br />Boris goes back to his computer and brings up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_51" class="blsp-spelling-error">EBay</span> . A picture of an signed Michael Jackson 80's era poster for $600.00 is on the screen. A smile of satisfaction crosses his face as he begins typing. The multi- <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_52" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_48" class="blsp-spelling-error">spired</span></span> church in the background comes into view and we to hear that dramatic sounding <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_53" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_49" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Russian</span></span> -type choral music from the movie Hunt for Red October<br /><br /><br />Regardless what the story is I am impressed with the result and glad they're doing it<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUuFdK_zL-3sRz7ZJEtNAm7stfiY5q5ro6ifqHI0uGGbeTSQW9errPh1xPOrp6jrqeCw5UnYzuJk1VgHmv_zLrGr-5W4IrysAZgjOnXGtz6YrCUrpgfTP7jmKQvsS33l3nzX_vknTXes/s1600/DSCN2496.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488769802117705778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUuFdK_zL-3sRz7ZJEtNAm7stfiY5q5ro6ifqHI0uGGbeTSQW9errPh1xPOrp6jrqeCw5UnYzuJk1VgHmv_zLrGr-5W4IrysAZgjOnXGtz6YrCUrpgfTP7jmKQvsS33l3nzX_vknTXes/s400/DSCN2496.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMPbF8KlNU7DUNVLxItAApeY0yr3E3nflQiRrIGfSjLZx7mAPgCrO7jIK7ulQJt-dmauLWYP0oiewwjkmndQrY2vmzO9cchRKqSwmTkfyHp3aWHk2LIx7uCzEMdwAttpv3rJesottMBY/s1600/DSCN2494.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488769484976439938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMPbF8KlNU7DUNVLxItAApeY0yr3E3nflQiRrIGfSjLZx7mAPgCrO7jIK7ulQJt-dmauLWYP0oiewwjkmndQrY2vmzO9cchRKqSwmTkfyHp3aWHk2LIx7uCzEMdwAttpv3rJesottMBY/s400/DSCN2494.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Candidate # 3<br />Babylon had it's gardens and now Hollywood has too --Hollywood Babylon?<br /></strong>Fountain Community Gardens<br />(at Fountain and St. Andrews Place<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_54" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_50" class="blsp-spelling-error">LA's</span></span> newest community garden some plots are still available for $ 10 a month<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTDyb0C28X1LDGexItJ4hARhAayPD1cmlLY5Mm5d1qynoo0vWCDTk_iF5RAXLqHlOIzOrrX5r8MSAndyelrAxSPcqhAgw9WHgSxThWn_FcgZpDfvBafdLxwg3KcT-p7GDca720B48fbo/s1600/DSCN2489.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488768189712212626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTDyb0C28X1LDGexItJ4hARhAayPD1cmlLY5Mm5d1qynoo0vWCDTk_iF5RAXLqHlOIzOrrX5r8MSAndyelrAxSPcqhAgw9WHgSxThWn_FcgZpDfvBafdLxwg3KcT-p7GDca720B48fbo/s400/DSCN2489.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArzQZD_O0dS5hKy2_NvElHt3LoKwZsLabJck_yoFZe9SJuY-8DtlP7HNb1s41egVv6J57icKqzAnq6S90eBiWuXs3cdp_QCaocaxTN5QVDYFVFbOjamiGWmsSSlPgLs-Zsi7hwngWraU/s1600/DSCN2491.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488767830971298178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArzQZD_O0dS5hKy2_NvElHt3LoKwZsLabJck_yoFZe9SJuY-8DtlP7HNb1s41egVv6J57icKqzAnq6S90eBiWuXs3cdp_QCaocaxTN5QVDYFVFbOjamiGWmsSSlPgLs-Zsi7hwngWraU/s400/DSCN2491.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>WHY WE RIDE<br /></strong>Hollywood Freeway <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_55" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_51" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">beginning</span></span> to thicken with afternoon work commuters. Soon this traffic artery will clog up with the increasing automobile sludge raising blood pressure, tempers and causing various heart attack like symptoms across the city. I don't know about you but I hate driving in Freeway traffic.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-SMyNbAtyDH8qZVf5E4eECubd6hjWMQd5CPcrb5a5BJzKEdALvduxX8pW7khymODR-DvUnvH03Pb-5hAEtcTr6Igicsv8DgIPUUHt9hAD1cufCGAYj-JKj0CIjMYAfedC_jn3MESCXg/s1600/DSCN2492.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488765905568156946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-SMyNbAtyDH8qZVf5E4eECubd6hjWMQd5CPcrb5a5BJzKEdALvduxX8pW7khymODR-DvUnvH03Pb-5hAEtcTr6Igicsv8DgIPUUHt9hAD1cufCGAYj-JKj0CIjMYAfedC_jn3MESCXg/s400/DSCN2492.JPG" /></a>Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-29145771222493905902010-06-30T10:05:00.000-07:002010-06-30T13:36:26.666-07:00Bike and Hike to Griffith ParkI love to walk more than I love to bike and since I got this here bike I have really neglected my walking. In fact I have been hardly doing any walking at all and I'm beginning to feel more like a wheeled creature than a human being with legs and feet. PG ( post gym) and PB ( pre-bike) I used to drive to Griffith Park and then walk up to the observatory which is good exercise and very relaxing. Since I have been riding everywhere on a bike now I have stopped walking and hiking as I have been getting plenty of exersise. The other day I took a walk somewhere instead of biking there and noticed how much I enjoyed it and also how strange it felt like I was relearning something I'd forgotten - I kid you not!<br />So I decided to get myself walking and hiking again and to combine biking and hiking.<br />Since there is no bikes allowed on the hiking trails I would need to have a safe place to lock up my bike when I'm hiking and I have solved that problem.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Griffith Park is a huge and there are miles and miles of hiking trails and roads to bike on.<br />I like the trails off of Fern Dell Drive directly across from the Trails Cafe.<br />Fern Dell is off of Los Feliz Blvd. in Hollywood where Western Ave. and Los Feliz Blvd connect.<br />Note: Los Feliz Blvd in that area is dangerous for biking stay on the sidewalk if at all possible.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtC4n5G9R04vJn5bB9uEliEDuNY6H488rcV0upp7PxQyzzVYqR1HhRZC1rTcLADTIP2-TKEQB6xjbyLrpCUOC7UmgpaKuMhXDXSaScjs1mw5Pask9pIlLklEFx6NNU3AEC2bIt8IZ6RtI/s1600/DSCN2454.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488646592674025122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtC4n5G9R04vJn5bB9uEliEDuNY6H488rcV0upp7PxQyzzVYqR1HhRZC1rTcLADTIP2-TKEQB6xjbyLrpCUOC7UmgpaKuMhXDXSaScjs1mw5Pask9pIlLklEFx6NNU3AEC2bIt8IZ6RtI/s400/DSCN2454.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Fern Dell Dr. at Los Feliz Blvd.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzX4AVQnmN3781WvPxuN6cXth68tkPV7ercH3Y0k0UEHehkqbVwMCHfiQpR-5kLK5m6oik-pMn-tl4V7X7WmWOxzx1l6pKR8v8MNLjEHHsPo3XkVxvdgdDO86mnLk9dh3eng1cGt6U-4/s1600/DSCN2456.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 299px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488646324981142594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzX4AVQnmN3781WvPxuN6cXth68tkPV7ercH3Y0k0UEHehkqbVwMCHfiQpR-5kLK5m6oik-pMn-tl4V7X7WmWOxzx1l6pKR8v8MNLjEHHsPo3XkVxvdgdDO86mnLk9dh3eng1cGt6U-4/s400/DSCN2456.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Trails Cafe. </span><br />(a short but somewhat steep ride up the hill from Los Feliz Blvd on Fern Dell Dr.)<br />Healthy vegan food, drinks, coffee all prepared on site. Great atmosphere, music, friendly laid back people work there, it's the best kept secret in Hollywood and the place where I park my bike when I go for a hike.<br />When you come back from your hike you've arrived at the perfect spot to relax and get something to drink and eat. They sell doggie biscuits and have free water for dogs and humans.<br /><br /><br />Open every day except Monday.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_aa39SpUnTYOHuR0B3kYG2ByVFPCgHfGnsqO-FrWDg49pUH-0fl8a-hCX2wSCHn1uZhKjaTQ5yMmP4ePQMneOkpZo34dA7VB0YQvBzIC5jPSbDKpKyx7J3BU4l7i2nFngO7yTIs3kGw/s1600/DSCN2477.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488644813136686690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_aa39SpUnTYOHuR0B3kYG2ByVFPCgHfGnsqO-FrWDg49pUH-0fl8a-hCX2wSCHn1uZhKjaTQ5yMmP4ePQMneOkpZo34dA7VB0YQvBzIC5jPSbDKpKyx7J3BU4l7i2nFngO7yTIs3kGw/s400/DSCN2477.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />A popular resting place is the Tree Trunk Bench at the Trails Cafe. The owner hired me to build it--have a sit on me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhKgxqpOVnTbu0pufts-dzllj-4QmGzm0lTsbfybKsuHHJcW0GQY3-Q1_-GH2P5D4Nfyj1HNqpn8zFGi9HzWRD-td2JTutc12kY13y6VIyn5u236kKpl6YMhyAH6b-9InHwS0zfhr32k/s1600/DSCN2460.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488644120100153394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhKgxqpOVnTbu0pufts-dzllj-4QmGzm0lTsbfybKsuHHJcW0GQY3-Q1_-GH2P5D4Nfyj1HNqpn8zFGi9HzWRD-td2JTutc12kY13y6VIyn5u236kKpl6YMhyAH6b-9InHwS0zfhr32k/s400/DSCN2460.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My bike locked to the railing next to the Trails Cafe. Out in the open plenty of people around - not your usual bike theft location and so I feel it is safe.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt_qa786I4IUSHBqq7YqX7YpTwfbkHEWkNFaeejtPw23y_FMcN9qrh4vBvthdhyphenhyphenkyQEbjNUKbQVjIGgt44mcaahFh8uZQ1qsGIw4VKz-zWLoy9GxqH85l-GEg-iuCGrFVSnpi4_3WGwc/s1600/DSCN2458.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488642757189128210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt_qa786I4IUSHBqq7YqX7YpTwfbkHEWkNFaeejtPw23y_FMcN9qrh4vBvthdhyphenhyphenkyQEbjNUKbQVjIGgt44mcaahFh8uZQ1qsGIw4VKz-zWLoy9GxqH85l-GEg-iuCGrFVSnpi4_3WGwc/s400/DSCN2458.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9rCafCV0LgDDY5W4fYrUaQzTfF5XmhVl9QdFJ5SKJu5hPxJlvWUjlsm5cBHKJJiX7vg2Bph8QJ9Jp4JH9-YJENLquoYH0QzjFTnlwaKJfZbuJCcd42orbC5pO34ZXYcUri00Ew0XOiw/s1600/DSCN2462.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488642079375154898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9rCafCV0LgDDY5W4fYrUaQzTfF5XmhVl9QdFJ5SKJu5hPxJlvWUjlsm5cBHKJJiX7vg2Bph8QJ9Jp4JH9-YJENLquoYH0QzjFTnlwaKJfZbuJCcd42orbC5pO34ZXYcUri00Ew0XOiw/s400/DSCN2462.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Before we enter the Magic Forrest here is (a rather ugly looking) reminder there is no biking on the off road dirt trails.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Welcome to the Shire!<br />Your journey is about to begin- do you have the ring?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1x7SfE222NudLAR6R2n7uxUbf53RaO3ihctAZ8hRaeZFJsFJwZKTKoZ7fsypaxvo-A5uAFwauA91uHQ0NyUpGb30TFP4Owd6jMPLnfN4heHIBq9kwWJ6PYzk47bC59Yduk7mV1bJdFo/s1600/DSCN2476.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488638743200440626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1x7SfE222NudLAR6R2n7uxUbf53RaO3ihctAZ8hRaeZFJsFJwZKTKoZ7fsypaxvo-A5uAFwauA91uHQ0NyUpGb30TFP4Owd6jMPLnfN4heHIBq9kwWJ6PYzk47bC59Yduk7mV1bJdFo/s400/DSCN2476.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The trees at the beginning of the trail are<br />magnificent! I recommend you spend some time<br />getting to know them.<br />Take the trail to the right on your way up.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONu-7zpAkYavjPiV9LkDPEjEQVAbNCWlmJUFvrMElEHqX7NQcVVVJGG93FHEePe6e5pLmSTMLXGMs5jxSvdVOJFgqb2ObDR5PV2NHytU5Xm6zH6cLGTjH2EMYuvi5Oh3gwHUaLt8sz2I/s1600/DSCN2475.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488637310560174818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONu-7zpAkYavjPiV9LkDPEjEQVAbNCWlmJUFvrMElEHqX7NQcVVVJGG93FHEePe6e5pLmSTMLXGMs5jxSvdVOJFgqb2ObDR5PV2NHytU5Xm6zH6cLGTjH2EMYuvi5Oh3gwHUaLt8sz2I/s400/DSCN2475.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVA2XoeSyxknLo-gLrjgmE-YW_KV3eEQzbnUgdID_Bsuz-g_XNWGy4ClqXRflLu2VtE6OFLCEVKkFzsloXjnOWwy2d5tONhE6dsHIyO3ueCMmgVAYFFDCMm9HcNLRZOnRTFcemxFqnuoI/s1600/DSCN2463.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488636108126740786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVA2XoeSyxknLo-gLrjgmE-YW_KV3eEQzbnUgdID_Bsuz-g_XNWGy4ClqXRflLu2VtE6OFLCEVKkFzsloXjnOWwy2d5tONhE6dsHIyO3ueCMmgVAYFFDCMm9HcNLRZOnRTFcemxFqnuoI/s400/DSCN2463.JPG" /></a> This is a storybook like environment with little arched wooden bridges, river rock walls, caves and more. There's even a group of actors that come twice a month dressed as trolls and fairies to entertain children. You won't find anyone on the trail searching for a magic ring but plenty are looking very diligently for a small bald headed gold man named Oscar no doubt.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoc_e5eLf9PqbvipCu1-sQywf2t8qLUw_zfLR6qz0cpDuhAj-SsGO_OUI0z5vETSKAGN25TOq-H5vTNR3_eYhrmBwWshdLHOayBPWQlTyUL_ylxmxBEqHPedYV_tYZiLsZPNuiAqGIJQ/s1600/DSCN2471.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488635627782098146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoc_e5eLf9PqbvipCu1-sQywf2t8qLUw_zfLR6qz0cpDuhAj-SsGO_OUI0z5vETSKAGN25TOq-H5vTNR3_eYhrmBwWshdLHOayBPWQlTyUL_ylxmxBEqHPedYV_tYZiLsZPNuiAqGIJQ/s400/DSCN2471.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />About 3/4 of the way up the trail is this tree off to the left. It slopes away from the trail and is easy to climb (you can practically walk up it like stairs) so occasionally I will hang out there for a spell - give it a go if you dare.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazrDzP_JA80G7GxXgIOpAgoeMaVcdTAuFf1PkkNUfwYAeIDGMqP15BQvmi43aKNa7WlPaFLHggvAV4eIEk9sajtNLhj6VEvnCrhamBDslgQ-dPYje2DaYljzXrTvl8nj1ALz8LqiFI30/s1600/DSCN2473.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488626849066805778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazrDzP_JA80G7GxXgIOpAgoeMaVcdTAuFf1PkkNUfwYAeIDGMqP15BQvmi43aKNa7WlPaFLHggvAV4eIEk9sajtNLhj6VEvnCrhamBDslgQ-dPYje2DaYljzXrTvl8nj1ALz8LqiFI30/s400/DSCN2473.JPG" /></a><br />Dogs are allowed on these trails. You'll see all kinds of dogs on the trails from huge beasts to tiny little toy dogs making the climb. I admit I do get a kick out of seeing the pocket sized ones going for it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQcO7dBFCbppX2cswHNNWC9gbNFakWZBl9OODfJ1-n7rjub6pyrw3KQIkZGhAswhxjgLOy1mdxkOByAlCkLRphFWuEOOrjXQ_m4Ee3utLJRq6aAZMKGzaPrk2vif0kTSllDeCLw4OCIA/s1600/DSCN2470.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488626157893545794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQcO7dBFCbppX2cswHNNWC9gbNFakWZBl9OODfJ1-n7rjub6pyrw3KQIkZGhAswhxjgLOy1mdxkOByAlCkLRphFWuEOOrjXQ_m4Ee3utLJRq6aAZMKGzaPrk2vif0kTSllDeCLw4OCIA/s400/DSCN2470.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Right before you get to the top of the loop is a short cut which I call the goat trail that looks more difficult than it is. For a non-rock climber it may be intimidating but I find it is easier and less work to walk up then to take the longer route up the trail. The rocks make for interesting and easy to follow steps and before you know it you are at the top - try it and see for yourself.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMumDLrWXUO8unkhCTI6N59mrlFE6bolyi2YwFCtejHquMySCDrLtByic24xbW16EBLzYr8I1xciPeykfdZlBNkoJukdwXFg5qakpTDwF0kMcP8WGe5oT-LxBqRGThB2c7Db_Up5i3hOY/s1600/DSCN2468.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488622095739720242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMumDLrWXUO8unkhCTI6N59mrlFE6bolyi2YwFCtejHquMySCDrLtByic24xbW16EBLzYr8I1xciPeykfdZlBNkoJukdwXFg5qakpTDwF0kMcP8WGe5oT-LxBqRGThB2c7Db_Up5i3hOY/s400/DSCN2468.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Just past the short cut/goat trail you'll be at the top of the loop. You can turn around and go back the way you came or continue around the loop and then down returning to where you started or continue up the trail to your right which will take you all the way to the observatory and the great views of the city.<br />Since I was a bit out of hiking shape and pressed for time this was as far as I went today.Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-2988661177950025632010-06-28T18:35:00.000-07:002010-06-29T21:54:31.191-07:00Safety Cycle a Hollywood Bicycle EpicenterNote: Definition of epicenter: The point at which an earthquake reaches the earth's surface<br /><br /><br /><em>I call this place an epicenter because alot of activity ( at least a 8.0 on the bicycle Richter Scale) that benefits the local bicycle community emanates from this place beginning with the fact that I bought my bike here which was followed by much riding and then this blog.<br /></em><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KpaGxLt1tIjzoZ5dHE2LN4rmCPx6Alwpu1fYP0VQx-sDbV7CbRcHus0yAKEBrwwgEStAgMo3QXLa_HMh9FKgcafO8FZw_F3eC4wn1nb6YduyVES2OXqTHgcS9IZKgbHfmH_xehj0TZg/s1600/DSCN2424.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488008862223438818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KpaGxLt1tIjzoZ5dHE2LN4rmCPx6Alwpu1fYP0VQx-sDbV7CbRcHus0yAKEBrwwgEStAgMo3QXLa_HMh9FKgcafO8FZw_F3eC4wn1nb6YduyVES2OXqTHgcS9IZKgbHfmH_xehj0TZg/s400/DSCN2424.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;">Safety Cycle</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sales. Parts and Repair Center<br /></span>1014 N. Western Ave ( 1 block south of Santa Monica Blvd.)Hollywood/LA . Ca 90029<br />(323) 464-5765<br /><a href="http://www.safetycycle.com/">http://www.safetycycle.com/</a><br /><br />Open seven days a week<br />Hrs:<br />M-Fri 9:30 - 7pm<br />Sat: 9:30- 6pm<br />Sun: 10am - 5pm<br /><br /><br /><br />This is an old school bike shop that has been at this same location since the 1940's. It has been owned by the same family for the past 22 years and is managed by two brothers (Brent and Eric.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlLAYpUdqcyljH-YZYFyuNwCIiYFjejN9XFYkG6HgwbVwEBdE7NpDO1j4z0jTBtKN7QqI6byZnvdNfBLhjCxusEKDBnSu9rMn06lXLSegZA8SjAYHpIJxqKxi9lDIL19uXKJrsuC3zD4/s1600/DSCN2425.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488008573194605490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlLAYpUdqcyljH-YZYFyuNwCIiYFjejN9XFYkG6HgwbVwEBdE7NpDO1j4z0jTBtKN7QqI6byZnvdNfBLhjCxusEKDBnSu9rMn06lXLSegZA8SjAYHpIJxqKxi9lDIL19uXKJrsuC3zD4/s400/DSCN2425.JPG" /></a> Friendly customer service is their motto:<br />"We try to help customers as much as possible, answer any questions they may have about their bike or cycling. People are always welcome to just come in and talk about their cycling needs."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07t1mgKmaq1uhs95gYJGlgWeVJl85GC8UmKEZfRAMjvG9tB_Yi65pBVccEGcn43LUuugsZF2Ukp_HbHezS0GTXfRG2ugI357tUmdwpU1iVU_vOPD9gcP5Soh2MPodl-y7ZWtl731AMP8/s1600/DSCN2434.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488007154806310418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07t1mgKmaq1uhs95gYJGlgWeVJl85GC8UmKEZfRAMjvG9tB_Yi65pBVccEGcn43LUuugsZF2Ukp_HbHezS0GTXfRG2ugI357tUmdwpU1iVU_vOPD9gcP5Soh2MPodl-y7ZWtl731AMP8/s400/DSCN2434.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Bicycle Sales<br /></strong></span>There are a wide variety of bikes for sale in the shop and also the online store. Some of my pictures came out too dark so I have only a few samples to show you below but all types of bikes are for sale including but not limited to:<br />road bikes, fixies. hybrids, youth bikes. bmx freestyle, mountain bikes, beach cruisers, folding bikes etc.<br /><strong>If you purchase a bike from them see free tune up policy below.</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iopyzcLy-W0gp-m7HMCm68365PoxFaGmipdHR82ajjCczbKyB0OnNLjrVxgTc4ME46LC_B2MW5mY5FWYlTFn_CFPNHIF8BVIDLoRNJPZC82koqE8MZGL6-GezQp8L1KjoIjUfGnZKrU/s1600/DSCN2431.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488006928891646882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iopyzcLy-W0gp-m7HMCm68365PoxFaGmipdHR82ajjCczbKyB0OnNLjrVxgTc4ME46LC_B2MW5mY5FWYlTFn_CFPNHIF8BVIDLoRNJPZC82koqE8MZGL6-GezQp8L1KjoIjUfGnZKrU/s400/DSCN2431.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgaWqHtHwhvKPy7qwPrz4ymDtqi3IwRiDX56OPSv06We_VTTDwE0AafYv1iUNsO7Sk2MmaXnnHYvE2GqjDsBm7XTljt8-cBEl6Y8HyW_6DExJpQSCvptqMQAUrhu5xM3RJ7oXjtzfvBM/s1600/DSCN2435.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488006626558902866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgaWqHtHwhvKPy7qwPrz4ymDtqi3IwRiDX56OPSv06We_VTTDwE0AafYv1iUNsO7Sk2MmaXnnHYvE2GqjDsBm7XTljt8-cBEl6Y8HyW_6DExJpQSCvptqMQAUrhu5xM3RJ7oXjtzfvBM/s400/DSCN2435.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg836dcHS1t_Q7eTraJIj3g1YoQbhIyXX9SqDdVrdjOGHRRb46Jy4cOX9PjnwYfmXSdJ9m71s1u7-hvWwTEnetvlVF0dGPoxxcoR0zfI5yO8nqU4xkKriJ2Wv7jjVWT5KW5jWgS_ztRQm0/s1600/DSCN2438.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488006372279010546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg836dcHS1t_Q7eTraJIj3g1YoQbhIyXX9SqDdVrdjOGHRRb46Jy4cOX9PjnwYfmXSdJ9m71s1u7-hvWwTEnetvlVF0dGPoxxcoR0zfI5yO8nqU4xkKriJ2Wv7jjVWT5KW5jWgS_ztRQm0/s400/DSCN2438.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Parts Dept.</strong></span><br />The shop carries a wide selection of replacement parts including a large selection of rims, tires and tubes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Repair Dept.</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Bicycle repairs here are fast and excellent!<br /></em></span></strong>There is always 2- 3 repairman available for repairs 7 days a week.<br />I've brought my bike in three times for a free quick tunes up since I owned it and there was no problem getting it adjusted in a short period of time plus the cost was zero as the tune ups were covered by my purchase ( see below)<br /><br />"We can pretty much handle anyone who comes through the door with a bike problem to solve though repairs are on a first come first serve basis " says mechanic Diego. Diego also said " alot of bike repair shops won't work on cheap bikes but we'll work on anything" While I was there waiting on my bike a blond woman with an attractive English accent commented that they always bring their bikes there for repairs as the work is excellent. On a previous trip I observed a woman's surprise after she asked how much she owed them when she was told there was no charge for her adjustment as she had originally purchased her bike there.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mhSuIvpa_OHZ3dix4o5K4Cv-J211XaVVjN77xy1ceUEJxbpwDvNgA-fBnHucYno4TM00vDKmzSMsDfkuZdrD7reL69a8yWg4zgOpM2FRx1Iw6K1FSY7FgbRotC7ZLiJaMwzV9WSrXgo/s1600/DSCN2426.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488005686890614274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mhSuIvpa_OHZ3dix4o5K4Cv-J211XaVVjN77xy1ceUEJxbpwDvNgA-fBnHucYno4TM00vDKmzSMsDfkuZdrD7reL69a8yWg4zgOpM2FRx1Iw6K1FSY7FgbRotC7ZLiJaMwzV9WSrXgo/s400/DSCN2426.JPG" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Safety Cycle free basic </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">tune -up with purchase Policy:<br /></span></strong>(does not include any parts)<br />Purchase a new bike from them and you'll get free "basic tune-ups" for as long as you own the bike at a $ 45.00 - that's right $ 45.00 value<br />Tune up includes:<br />*Brake adjustment, front/rear<br />*Gear adjustment. front/rear<br />*Check and re tighten all major parts<br />*Minor true wheel<br />*Check air pressure<br />*Oil chain<br />*Minor cleaning:<br />Stem. handle bars. crank. seat<br />I Have had my brakes and wheels tuned up three times since I bought my bike here and this deal is unbeatable!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJKtD8avCF30s_vf5Ui0IrTsoyUN4cvk5IyCK0R2g8wb45RjyunN8-ve8bMFE71YaJbtIK7R8kd28Vkg5jAktgXt-Dmf668obnx8DsHz8pvSvq9B2OMtygjUZ5joZxqMyhj75WS4w6tc/s1600/DSCN2442.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488005382495694978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJKtD8avCF30s_vf5Ui0IrTsoyUN4cvk5IyCK0R2g8wb45RjyunN8-ve8bMFE71YaJbtIK7R8kd28Vkg5jAktgXt-Dmf668obnx8DsHz8pvSvq9B2OMtygjUZ5joZxqMyhj75WS4w6tc/s400/DSCN2442.JPG" /></a> Bicycle mechanic Diego works on straightening out my rim by observing how the wheel spins and then tightening or loosening the spokes. The first time I brought my bike in complaining about the wheel alignment he explained that potholes or jumping curbs can cause the rim to become crooked. He fixed it and since then I make every effort to to avoid potholes and stopped jumping curbs as well.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nbI05NiSlThG6scpKR1_4vh7Qq9RFl9W7mu0nZOlTINO2atSNnY6cb5nkm937nyD82vwPuBdJzaNFacYdRGFE6aEv75-huxGllUrM1xIIyzqh___7zxpbIyBTssds5tMKaKsEGDpMJY/s1600/DSCN2443.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488004922210818802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nbI05NiSlThG6scpKR1_4vh7Qq9RFl9W7mu0nZOlTINO2atSNnY6cb5nkm937nyD82vwPuBdJzaNFacYdRGFE6aEv75-huxGllUrM1xIIyzqh___7zxpbIyBTssds5tMKaKsEGDpMJY/s400/DSCN2443.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1vkHVQb2kmeZFSMiaM7iZWNL9_N7pGqFNwOlswoRvvVVNRt94C2SK42x3tuLxQ4aANxt65d1C4lsUP5qo-o1E_VDwOD8LfZ_FGfb-qZk3Vf8n9909wP7hHZNhbAqM-vM51VTCJIVH2E/s1600/DSCN2440.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488004143462027234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1vkHVQb2kmeZFSMiaM7iZWNL9_N7pGqFNwOlswoRvvVVNRt94C2SK42x3tuLxQ4aANxt65d1C4lsUP5qo-o1E_VDwOD8LfZ_FGfb-qZk3Vf8n9909wP7hHZNhbAqM-vM51VTCJIVH2E/s400/DSCN2440.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Some cool looking "Fixies" belonging to locals parked out back of the shop.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpIDOBdftJu2k3wDAc41B-fiI6imOXD4mZTA-Lbwcinvrk7fa7F8uoF73cN6Q2kBxw246ut0Kteh2i5QcJZYrME34u8iyDDwFuUx-HN9SO0wXjQ1PBABxKMhvoaEbyAfGS-nibRTk_KI/s1600/DSCN2445.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488003849057360514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpIDOBdftJu2k3wDAc41B-fiI6imOXD4mZTA-Lbwcinvrk7fa7F8uoF73cN6Q2kBxw246ut0Kteh2i5QcJZYrME34u8iyDDwFuUx-HN9SO0wXjQ1PBABxKMhvoaEbyAfGS-nibRTk_KI/s400/DSCN2445.JPG" /></a><br />Cool form of bike art!<br />Saw this bike parked out back of the shop and got to get the skinny on these spoke cards I have been noticing on some bikes.<br />These spoke cards are sold for a dollar as souvenirs of the group rides that take place all over town. They're road worthy as the are laminated and therefor waterproof. They're collected like baseball cards used to be back in the day. Some of the rides have several hundred riders or more and so the organizers can cover their expences and have a few bucks left over - sweet!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1Q55R-VIOVGvx7rPSTSivoFDCC9qbQxyznX7tgE6u2hw0PDAVdoDUNYualP5jY121kLDbyENQ_i2d5-GdH5U2PoxDmMQGNL4FC3Az5ETctmshG63HB-Uqc5FdhsipfN7NOGEt9oWuzM/s1600/DSCN2441.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488003509153539058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1Q55R-VIOVGvx7rPSTSivoFDCC9qbQxyznX7tgE6u2hw0PDAVdoDUNYualP5jY121kLDbyENQ_i2d5-GdH5U2PoxDmMQGNL4FC3Az5ETctmshG63HB-Uqc5FdhsipfN7NOGEt9oWuzM/s400/DSCN2441.JPG" /></a><br />New handlebars and shoulder bag = satisfied customer!Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-88068818474666563122010-06-27T10:03:00.000-07:002010-06-27T23:45:09.595-07:00Sunday morning ride to Hollywood Farmer's Market<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMruTZLZRco5eUp_nK2qIzYjURsfo-VRt8okg3c8I9GjidYGB0iADxXbOCsnE9Mrh6xsS-3XzeDUqgK3A1p-EFQsUNhlAP4wNphrVKb23teZ7l8nfuPfP8rD8GrUiH2PH_zqvvhsgSwY/s1600/DSCN2402.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487648940998003442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMruTZLZRco5eUp_nK2qIzYjURsfo-VRt8okg3c8I9GjidYGB0iADxXbOCsnE9Mrh6xsS-3XzeDUqgK3A1p-EFQsUNhlAP4wNphrVKb23teZ7l8nfuPfP8rD8GrUiH2PH_zqvvhsgSwY/s400/DSCN2402.JPG" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Sunset Blvd.<br /></span>A quaint little country road leading to a Farmer's market</strong>:<br /><em>For a moment forget about this as a world famous thoroughfare and the parade of celebrities that have driven back and forth in their lavish convertibles in years past and the hordes of tourists currently seeking some hint of their long gone presence instead try and imagine a quiet and peaceful country lane. You on your bicycle pedaling to the local Farmer's Mkt.</em><em>to buy some locally grown produce....<br /></em><br /><strong>Sunday morning on Sunset Blvd</strong><br />This is a great time (8am) to be riding down Sunset Blvd! Traffic is light and the drivers seem very bike friendly. There is plenty of room to the right and very few parked cars so it's like you have your own bike lane.<br />I pretty much ride the street the whole way. I have my large basket up front and usually take a couriers bag to accommodate all my purchases.<br /><br /><p><strong>Hollywood Farmers Mkt. Facts:</strong> </p><p><em>Been there for 19 years so if you haven't discovered it by now...</em> </p><p><em>Located on Ivar Ave. between Sunset and Hollywood Blvds.</em> </p><p>Open every Sunday 8am - 1pm </p><p>150 booths; fruits, veggies, (Spray, no spray and organic), flowers, </p><p>arts, crafts, clothes, street musicians, prepared food, drinks. </p><p>and of course a balloon guy.</p><p>All items are grown or made by the seller. </p><p><strong>Website: farmersnet.com</strong><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDbw4t30Ll2UZR8SJNPRCgMaaVt690z_Aqz250eN8Yv89MAF1T96kF8Ud8Q-VI7drszbtsOPn9e6EsJ1qXPK2mNXJh-glmd38jHKo1VURK8_Yeuv2_yo3dbJyhaquHLuXDbGa2fJ4DYw/s1600/DSCN2403.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487640925332513602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDbw4t30Ll2UZR8SJNPRCgMaaVt690z_Aqz250eN8Yv89MAF1T96kF8Ud8Q-VI7drszbtsOPn9e6EsJ1qXPK2mNXJh-glmd38jHKo1VURK8_Yeuv2_yo3dbJyhaquHLuXDbGa2fJ4DYw/s400/DSCN2403.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIapLfzIhh1iyo8hIicOQ4jp4vhxMo2eclHp2109BnDkpIiHrp2faPUKziTa1cFPSmJheAQr6DeU27vZkkccJ2SQNUAoev3MxLIVlpKnDNM1zCl1Sb-Np9rtulU9XWyd92JrVO46JMKSk/s1600/DSCN2404.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487640578278564466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIapLfzIhh1iyo8hIicOQ4jp4vhxMo2eclHp2109BnDkpIiHrp2faPUKziTa1cFPSmJheAQr6DeU27vZkkccJ2SQNUAoev3MxLIVlpKnDNM1zCl1Sb-Np9rtulU9XWyd92JrVO46JMKSk/s400/DSCN2404.JPG" /></a> Early Sunday morning bike traffic on Sunset Blvd.<br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTcdHf23hhnpVvsWspBYcc9LEDSYjLJ6xaNnd37jbN1j6jhyphenhyphenPeeTZZKbsUOE9gjUxxCtj0AdacGV0Auwnuh3YC6ae4HPNsIjQaVqk53Ad3rmKAbjRaa1c993dr838dii_tYO7czkR28M/s1600/DSCN2405.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487636688266830082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTcdHf23hhnpVvsWspBYcc9LEDSYjLJ6xaNnd37jbN1j6jhyphenhyphenPeeTZZKbsUOE9gjUxxCtj0AdacGV0Auwnuh3YC6ae4HPNsIjQaVqk53Ad3rmKAbjRaa1c993dr838dii_tYO7czkR28M/s400/DSCN2405.JPG" /></a> <strong>Bike parking free - car $ 5.00<br /></strong>Pre -bike I used to drive around sometimes for fifteen minutes looking for a parking spot to avoid paying for parking. Note: It's only five minutes by car and only ten minutes to ride my bike to the Farmer's Mkt. Sometimes I would luck out and find free parking, sometimes I would just drive back home not wanting to pay for parking. I also had a gym membership across the street so pre-bike I would drive to the gym ( $ parking only $2.00) do my workout ( inc. stationary bike) then go across the street to the mkt. to save three bucks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKw2Wn1ck-R4yvILP-nB9N_ZSVPSf-WDoKlyQcJ5GRCxqWaIoHaakqaY73fBPiYm6K3BSjYWag7RsGAqaAtYMDMEWS55FYykMsDy64gI-fISTCFZrNeg-34V28lZccx9YfVq8J9Otli0/s1600/DSCN2408.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487629247866940050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKw2Wn1ck-R4yvILP-nB9N_ZSVPSf-WDoKlyQcJ5GRCxqWaIoHaakqaY73fBPiYm6K3BSjYWag7RsGAqaAtYMDMEWS55FYykMsDy64gI-fISTCFZrNeg-34V28lZccx9YfVq8J9Otli0/s400/DSCN2408.JPG" /></a><br /><strong>Walkers Paradise</strong><br />Wearing the "hat" of writer/blogger now I got an entirely different view of being there with a bike. Walking my bike (no riding please) I observed that a Farmers Mkt. is primarily a walkers paradise. This is a safe haven free from the nasty automobile, where one can slow down and casually stroll about delicious step by step.<br />I sense a feeling of satisfaction amongst people of the fact that they are walking not driving.<br />Here the foot is king and a car with wheels would be considered more of an evil Godzilla like enemy to be quickly attacked with organic matter and subdued.<br />Some things being pulled along on wheels are acceptable though: carts are observed and noted by one and all as to practicality of function along with content while strollers laden with beautiful little people bring smiles, sighs and waves of admiration. This magical atmosphere of growing things and recently planted and growd' little people inspires some I'm sure, perhaps women pulling their carts full of veggies make a wish that someday they'll do some of their own growing and have more then just vegetables in their cart all the while keeping an eye out for suitable mates and growing partners. Bikes are welcome and if they are good looking you'll get some smiles and sighs to be sure but they are not nearly as welcomed I think as their smaller cousins as they look to be more related to the larger Godzillaesque car.<br />I enjoy wheeling my bike around and even if there was valet bike parking such as at the Santa Monica Farmer's Mkt. I think I'd still prefer my near Godzilla like stature.<br />Note: I checked at the volunteer booth and there are no plans for valet bike parking here,<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxY5PAxoQ6DHkBlgg_kTW-JnywGG2vj5fMD1eHBcNsKrfqKxt7de-WOhyphenhyphenywccYLa-SsIATaixjNAVMTlIEFcCIAFZBuXobbOo4x5uOEWgtdoI60EXUgMSzeEgVDKYM2gqOPk-wrEVgOTA/s1600/DSCN2406.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487628807773530098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxY5PAxoQ6DHkBlgg_kTW-JnywGG2vj5fMD1eHBcNsKrfqKxt7de-WOhyphenhyphenywccYLa-SsIATaixjNAVMTlIEFcCIAFZBuXobbOo4x5uOEWgtdoI60EXUgMSzeEgVDKYM2gqOPk-wrEVgOTA/s400/DSCN2406.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Can't go wrong with fresh sunflower seed sprouts added to your salads!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX_MB4w63hIfhwM0dYhTqn3_SnFigOa61MpWlyGf9GpW3mZUuxPx-uKvVToMsnbkpqGSllqjN-VewcoIqAVWEIjPdB70lGsmXRAWzd8P-Onb22T8yyaJBDb02klTaKkzsgKYnwk-FvPU/s1600/DSCN2413.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487628457220667842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX_MB4w63hIfhwM0dYhTqn3_SnFigOa61MpWlyGf9GpW3mZUuxPx-uKvVToMsnbkpqGSllqjN-VewcoIqAVWEIjPdB70lGsmXRAWzd8P-Onb22T8yyaJBDb02klTaKkzsgKYnwk-FvPU/s400/DSCN2413.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />South Central Farms Cooperative</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>(Organic)<br /><br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHOjP12yKHgbwpzy-0G9J19dq33ieX27jhDFljib1UtigOyeCzAQ1Cyfy0u1yIPST8-_WdUFkv_j55nZhyphenhyphenSI28uF6ZxtLPu2pCZZiR5-OZOToFeJs_kEBDukGY3IRBYUKlRsXPz_n0og/s1600/DSCN2412.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487625978259191858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHOjP12yKHgbwpzy-0G9J19dq33ieX27jhDFljib1UtigOyeCzAQ1Cyfy0u1yIPST8-_WdUFkv_j55nZhyphenhyphenSI28uF6ZxtLPu2pCZZiR5-OZOToFeJs_kEBDukGY3IRBYUKlRsXPz_n0og/s400/DSCN2412.JPG" /></a> Above: The quality of the leafy green vegetables is excellent! This large basket is only $ 3.50. There are both organic and "conventional" fruits and veggies and lots of "no spray" ( not certified organic but no pesticides.) Why would anyone buy pesticide laden veggies when the healthier ones are nearly equal in price? I actually think some people are against the concept of organic costing more and stuck in that idea and so ignore the equally priced organic produce when they come across it as a matter of habit.</p><br /><br /><br /><p><br /><br />Below:<br />Plenty of free samples are happily given out from the various sellers<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74Fm5k9qoAFjMalXy_a1cs_sfKJ7MVj7lPoDKQTrxXPosVIg7em3sIlggWG6gSDxBNLy15rI2ySqGUQv7JLM5epdumaUPgl_raCbqhKQfC2Kx_XS_JNdfrFChV0Z8ccCAhtbk0e5upno/s1600/DSCN2415.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487625238306855282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74Fm5k9qoAFjMalXy_a1cs_sfKJ7MVj7lPoDKQTrxXPosVIg7em3sIlggWG6gSDxBNLy15rI2ySqGUQv7JLM5epdumaUPgl_raCbqhKQfC2Kx_XS_JNdfrFChV0Z8ccCAhtbk0e5upno/s400/DSCN2415.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />There were a few bikes dotting the landscape early this morning.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipFDczCiaz63uifE9dl0dYXcKmJ4OxqaT3p-1IHJGQKw-5bDgO_xDm8ewNpX9iICoIZnhw8eAeM0ZvUmMBrvSnFkZWQ7NK9rt0YTIL68ltvtpiJfvAL11g6Pa-_JS3_2lZ72FOXIbkQM/"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487624142109123410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26JjkPjQv72pSW4tn3qLKFOv8N0Nn_mAC16hs99scHCHcy7PoasgXQIw5z4BJbadmuRm-GCnzTH28Msf9NGIxgqH7Wb7Ep5IXoW78GYOg7J7sK-dOb4nZA75JfOOrvnPMPLjLLrgb2UY/s320/DSCN2407.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI7Bo4N3fojXvjAqWWmMcISYgbo0ulv7F9RLDAjvCAEF9RQvhpB1VEBHIQPkfexCRmXKm3HBtwHiVap_J8PkVTc_0Z80cHJraigO_rdKzU1R81Y_4gkn9nBeYmxZ9892ZOXsSouuA1uk/s1600/DSCN2411.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487623436709845186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI7Bo4N3fojXvjAqWWmMcISYgbo0ulv7F9RLDAjvCAEF9RQvhpB1VEBHIQPkfexCRmXKm3HBtwHiVap_J8PkVTc_0Z80cHJraigO_rdKzU1R81Y_4gkn9nBeYmxZ9892ZOXsSouuA1uk/s320/DSCN2411.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo_ua6uUJh7h9I4DEfNmEYtGfCFGr6SN6jLiVN6yTZ5A8R1ilZ6zWIsKD-yU-UxLbdbAdVq3WfEFgi5DBzpZikuNxw6CmpKyM16Lx_Lwuab_ov0KgKtLmGdmM_lilCkpntQDMUgLfOgU/s1600/DSCN2418.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 239px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487501008890989810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo_ua6uUJh7h9I4DEfNmEYtGfCFGr6SN6jLiVN6yTZ5A8R1ilZ6zWIsKD-yU-UxLbdbAdVq3WfEFgi5DBzpZikuNxw6CmpKyM16Lx_Lwuab_ov0KgKtLmGdmM_lilCkpntQDMUgLfOgU/s320/DSCN2418.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Spotted this gentleman getting off the bus with his bike on my way home. His name is Pedro and he likes to bus and bike to work. Says he is getting old and likes to get exersize by working up a sweat riding to work then change into his uniform there. </p>Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-82365823633141317282010-06-26T17:45:00.001-07:002010-06-29T22:13:18.974-07:00Bikes I'd love to see on our neighborhood streets<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIykqw_yciFu-6LL-ykRRX750iTiG3pYc1l5m26R5KoOyrRgsEzojPoTj8oRA5GlIA1_hQSuPfSouwSKSYKt3aMJqpPATJKhGHgA5VpKtjnVE3fEzzB9kqCJUDGaCkBm_ZRy8U6D7vvqg/s1600/Gustav_W_Transpo_4b83b9683c99b.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487253302271783202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIykqw_yciFu-6LL-ykRRX750iTiG3pYc1l5m26R5KoOyrRgsEzojPoTj8oRA5GlIA1_hQSuPfSouwSKSYKt3aMJqpPATJKhGHgA5VpKtjnVE3fEzzB9kqCJUDGaCkBm_ZRy8U6D7vvqg/s400/Gustav_W_Transpo_4b83b9683c99b.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrxLaLpXXx6vpW8PQAru6nhhqFPEqua_xMtQoe4pB7IisaUvQLHOtjPptH1GbHsMuqU9Nwk710DSAm6eMlj76JkTfMVeWaHcItZBdcVYJeRdTborqkDDWn8HghWoMBGCsA8-HK62qLZ8/s1600/1www.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487252532470647522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrxLaLpXXx6vpW8PQAru6nhhqFPEqua_xMtQoe4pB7IisaUvQLHOtjPptH1GbHsMuqU9Nwk710DSAm6eMlj76JkTfMVeWaHcItZBdcVYJeRdTborqkDDWn8HghWoMBGCsA8-HK62qLZ8/s400/1www.jpg" /></a><br />This blog has to do with the future what it should look like on our streets - with Cargo bikes. They are very much in use in Europe and are starting to gain popularity here in the US and are now being manufactured here.<br />The Europeans don't fool around with these they use then for child transport and small businesses.<br />I would think having the children upfront would be far safer than the usual small trailer behind the bike setup for small children here in the US. It looks like they are having alot more fun riding up front too!<br />Would be nice to see some of these on the streets of Hollywood in the near future.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQv0OvqYfe9kEbpO3afnZRsSVXWvOsQ4s-Lhj-zHANuzBlQmW3RnqDXch1oNNJDxnc8XevkSk6o5e3z06azpCjberfIlGKTHDYeq8AekUo43uiV_pBFVkCwogz0ov3eaWI7LJPSeOhFc/s1600/DeRedding_KDV__P_4b719d7f02fd7.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487251160484987762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQv0OvqYfe9kEbpO3afnZRsSVXWvOsQ4s-Lhj-zHANuzBlQmW3RnqDXch1oNNJDxnc8XevkSk6o5e3z06azpCjberfIlGKTHDYeq8AekUo43uiV_pBFVkCwogz0ov3eaWI7LJPSeOhFc/s400/DeRedding_KDV__P_4b719d7f02fd7.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneYHikiqjgJdN29BJPfBDUg86mB9-lvNWLseh_LdIFBMktvzHWvFaJARS4usFSA188nOHfjvaoLu3pRY8bH0Of0NYglOTcFvF5SAk1mJLuoAEbFLVWBtQ8MXM4xb6U7HWqfjyKI25bZQ/s1600/Bakfiets_nl_Carg_4b717788787ee.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487250538239943650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneYHikiqjgJdN29BJPfBDUg86mB9-lvNWLseh_LdIFBMktvzHWvFaJARS4usFSA188nOHfjvaoLu3pRY8bH0Of0NYglOTcFvF5SAk1mJLuoAEbFLVWBtQ8MXM4xb6U7HWqfjyKI25bZQ/s400/Bakfiets_nl_Carg_4b717788787ee.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9oFrZEaCPxfUN3Ea7-FQv8u-p6JBLsAMCIvFCgQIdShUkKMO-C032bpTGKh-AixqnzCoRHofWC5uL5mPMR0bGhhDE5M6c9icESJGmq7PgBryQm67vfzEYhyphenhyphenyJGFliolfURZrazmLUxU/s1600/Bakfiets_nl_Carg_4b7177c3e0b88.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487249615025870354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9oFrZEaCPxfUN3Ea7-FQv8u-p6JBLsAMCIvFCgQIdShUkKMO-C032bpTGKh-AixqnzCoRHofWC5uL5mPMR0bGhhDE5M6c9icESJGmq7PgBryQm67vfzEYhyphenhyphenyJGFliolfURZrazmLUxU/s400/Bakfiets_nl_Carg_4b7177c3e0b88.jpg" /></a></div>Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-53844072828462992682010-06-24T21:28:00.000-07:002010-06-24T23:18:55.631-07:00Home Depot, Jedi mind bicycle tricks, more local bikers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjKCrRpmYgfccP9Ld0QDqlarITtDaXhS8jhM0uQcYfJc-ZX_f94AMp61KNnkVObtZ0rHHZ6eQILky2Y5-Gld2kGiiPaXUhQ7zfxJZmrKtWE_AVy2t6yrjaNmooDlQaK5E-MYgxvaPqlM/s1600/DSCN2392.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjKCrRpmYgfccP9Ld0QDqlarITtDaXhS8jhM0uQcYfJc-ZX_f94AMp61KNnkVObtZ0rHHZ6eQILky2Y5-Gld2kGiiPaXUhQ7zfxJZmrKtWE_AVy2t6yrjaNmooDlQaK5E-MYgxvaPqlM/s400/DSCN2392.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486567166885452210" /></a><br />Here are some of the people I encountered on a little trip to Home Depot in Hollywood followed by a ride to Nature Mart in Los Feliz. <br /><br />These are the first Bicycle people I came across on my way to Home Depot. I followed the new "Sharrows" on Fountain Ave. (see previous post.) I know what they actually mean after I did the research for my previous blog. This is Sergey and Yana both from Russia now living locally just returning from grocery shopping. They don't own a car and bike all over preferring the sidewalks to the streets.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism3IpIbfCJwG8oCtmFcEFlGo-u-SJV5-umxxCa8QC1SjC7QlkcWX76I8Pp6sz_e-ZYsKu0CWMkMYQL7khuUgC96pm5BGO9SKev-8-bMEzTuNiUKxvFUm1zc5D4-ms9hSypZud2tzYrOE/s1600/DSCN2393.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism3IpIbfCJwG8oCtmFcEFlGo-u-SJV5-umxxCa8QC1SjC7QlkcWX76I8Pp6sz_e-ZYsKu0CWMkMYQL7khuUgC96pm5BGO9SKev-8-bMEzTuNiUKxvFUm1zc5D4-ms9hSypZud2tzYrOE/s400/DSCN2393.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486566490573309938" /></a><br />This is Paolo a filmmaker originally from Italy on his way to give a lecture.<br />He rides all over town on a regular basis.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rpuVsQb2O9N7wxMu9wa4rD3n8puRqXEBdNaOlNb07ENkYxnEH-Rn3icOrwOQWydEtU_e33CxeWAeiXgN0wa_dJikaW_UQttHxSSCkwsxGNu2RU7pE7ZE-kzLQouF-G9ehVE5ygItOK8/s1600/DSCN2396.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rpuVsQb2O9N7wxMu9wa4rD3n8puRqXEBdNaOlNb07ENkYxnEH-Rn3icOrwOQWydEtU_e33CxeWAeiXgN0wa_dJikaW_UQttHxSSCkwsxGNu2RU7pE7ZE-kzLQouF-G9ehVE5ygItOK8/s400/DSCN2396.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486566227269021666" /></a><br /><br />This is my beloved Globe Carmel bike parked in the lumber isle of Home Depot. I roll it past the security guards as if it was the normal thing to do and use it as my "hipster shopping cart" (You first heard that term here) or for pricing materials for an estimate for a job (I am a carpenter.) Pre-bike I would have driven over and not had nearly as much fun and no exercise. Now is Home Depot that bike friendly, can anyone do this? I don't know, I do believe I am the only one that has done this before and I also happen to have some pretty good skills. In my senior year of high school I wore flip flop sandals half the time which was totally not allowed. I reasoned the teachers didn't look at kids feet much and with an occasional stealth maneuver and some teenage Jedi mind control (over the weaker minded school officials) and a little bit of Ferris Bueller thrown in I was able to pull it off. If you attempt this please go full Jedi (otherwise it'll be a half-retard performance) and the security guards will realize what I have been doing. If it looks like you're getting into trouble try the Obi Wan Jedi mind control wave as a last resort.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Vm5l1Bf5551UecTNA3yV8kuhx916v0y5KWf151Z0xaoZBCWs3JN3_90UelBXHLVYnGK58GQSuKSMA4pgzReoIXpnFALm4lSArcGN_Bef7BlMGVJiAeV7CJW7B1_bJECqDDfzQp8Crgs/s1600/DSCN2397.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Vm5l1Bf5551UecTNA3yV8kuhx916v0y5KWf151Z0xaoZBCWs3JN3_90UelBXHLVYnGK58GQSuKSMA4pgzReoIXpnFALm4lSArcGN_Bef7BlMGVJiAeV7CJW7B1_bJECqDDfzQp8Crgs/s400/DSCN2397.JPG" border="0" <br />alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486564638318026066" /></a><br />Hollywood moment:<br />This is Brandon Johnson a Hollywood writer who bikes all over town between film studios and interviews - does it all on his bike. I found him leaning up against the building checking his messages around the corner from the Vista Theater<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkaqu8nestg5FWaPzgdOfKSyxzDvM9YEbgRzLiz0pePsFGlP_mCQkfb2QlFNCOJcfgFLDYV3rh1Tc6FV3mYG4FnciN65oE96xb1xcyYy7ZAw9aJs_KpAUUMixs-EI_B024bedR3wPYeY/s1600/DSCN2400.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkaqu8nestg5FWaPzgdOfKSyxzDvM9YEbgRzLiz0pePsFGlP_mCQkfb2QlFNCOJcfgFLDYV3rh1Tc6FV3mYG4FnciN65oE96xb1xcyYy7ZAw9aJs_KpAUUMixs-EI_B024bedR3wPYeY/s400/DSCN2400.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486564638318026066" /></a><br />This cool little bike was parked outside the Mustard Seed Cafe. I passed by a major A-lister casually hanging out there several months ago. I like this photo because my flash hit the bikes reflector making it appear as if the headlight was fully on.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IknmG9wTIO8eyrF5iUSYGC-chOqpdRXxLSmiCjUgzFQbCFjcf7bPY47u8_sNweSfERYdB9TYMKImv8BlqrJjWbEQQL03zJEJDz0ha1JOOyOVoaGqUyCzwVC0H4yKBVq7bP6AhyNRNhY/s1600/DSCN2399.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IknmG9wTIO8eyrF5iUSYGC-chOqpdRXxLSmiCjUgzFQbCFjcf7bPY47u8_sNweSfERYdB9TYMKImv8BlqrJjWbEQQL03zJEJDz0ha1JOOyOVoaGqUyCzwVC0H4yKBVq7bP6AhyNRNhY/s400/DSCN2399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486564155999757682" /></a><br />I found Jabier chillin'out at the Green Leaves my favorite Vegan Cafe. He works for Green Peace and commutes 60 miles a week on his bike. Green Leaves, Green Peace I shoulda said he was "Greenin'" instead of "Chillin'" again you first heard that term here and yes you can use it.<br /><br />Greenin'<br />Definition of: What someone who is ecologically active does when they are relaxing after doing some ecologically cool things ( like riding a bike home from an eco job and eating vegan food).<br />Sentence: Jabier was Greenin' after a long hard day at Green Peace.Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-79706206431876459272010-06-23T19:36:00.000-07:002010-06-23T20:53:56.548-07:00Plenty of local style and riders out in Los Feliz on a summer afternoon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias_p4JNd4tDGQvsRL5GwP5kvJR_OSAAYCEqSj3MvyjRL4hn4DbL5a84or3P2hRzGhGZtFfmfcjTkShKYRHEJdmqPLe7t4m0EyHMF6mrEBgvh_0vK9EclAhGCEgtdFZxfAyR0gokeejfA/s1600/DSCN2379.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias_p4JNd4tDGQvsRL5GwP5kvJR_OSAAYCEqSj3MvyjRL4hn4DbL5a84or3P2hRzGhGZtFfmfcjTkShKYRHEJdmqPLe7t4m0EyHMF6mrEBgvh_0vK9EclAhGCEgtdFZxfAyR0gokeejfA/s400/DSCN2379.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486175788472681746" /></a><br /><br />Hollywood racks and plenty of them too! They've been altered somewhat though I wouldn't quite call it an improvement but certainly it is a form of aesthetic enhancement. I guess this being Hollywood perfectly formed racks can't just be left as they were originally intended.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-htfj_PLf-zXGW1e8KvvPijQhDllpmw2HuvPS65fs9gvVNM8oTlWtYl7FGxncjrEJYE15OXOBAmSYKRURnBfWc2kFTEJ5CDV64j_ccysEShSSMsSIZh6Pcuz4BFC8hKJ-8IcU2U97lm8/s1600/DSCN2380.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486173284009189394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-htfj_PLf-zXGW1e8KvvPijQhDllpmw2HuvPS65fs9gvVNM8oTlWtYl7FGxncjrEJYE15OXOBAmSYKRURnBfWc2kFTEJ5CDV64j_ccysEShSSMsSIZh6Pcuz4BFC8hKJ-8IcU2U97lm8/s400/DSCN2380.JPG" /></a><br /><br />These two bikes belonged to Dan and Chris who were chowing down at the House of Pies on the corner of Vermont and Franklin after a 1 1/2 hr ride coming all the way from Sherman Oaks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4gJasG2VkoYOz_HQ7HV-F3eKpEOF2KmXLgPlxOncFS8zNfWNYbWqIKamiIgxqNmAXQLg3GvOlTxLtbdcj37UbwjB5FVL4Ys0x8EDikwOqnRLh1i9shywlHmkx3vvziuyrDgbKosPOf8/s1600/DSCN2381.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486172558864283426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4gJasG2VkoYOz_HQ7HV-F3eKpEOF2KmXLgPlxOncFS8zNfWNYbWqIKamiIgxqNmAXQLg3GvOlTxLtbdcj37UbwjB5FVL4Ys0x8EDikwOqnRLh1i9shywlHmkx3vvziuyrDgbKosPOf8/s400/DSCN2381.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I didn't get this guys name but he said he had just got back from riding along the LA River which he does several times a week.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxWDkI_DPftf6rRGOepy6YoEjMCCzJiw_OrIa4nPVSCveOEgO5X4XBtUYw9LOLD2eDWcWEBcCXRxOLqg7Qq4FIYy5mjWqaeOhHqzMetttKu0YXQs7mRoepa-1gw1JFMNjyZAV3eg9OQU/s1600/DSCN2388.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486170836573542322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxWDkI_DPftf6rRGOepy6YoEjMCCzJiw_OrIa4nPVSCveOEgO5X4XBtUYw9LOLD2eDWcWEBcCXRxOLqg7Qq4FIYy5mjWqaeOhHqzMetttKu0YXQs7mRoepa-1gw1JFMNjyZAV3eg9OQU/s400/DSCN2388.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This rolling work of art belonged to Enrique who works at the Dresden Restaurant where the principal scenes for the hit Indie film Swingers was shot. He says he bikes several miles to work each day. Enrique was pretty relaxed about the photo and I think this wasn't the first time he has accommodated a photo request.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR5xOKG17Ym2fbYwYHYU0pVZOWeipwNS9kR01rIJHS0-658qCwrC8M1S96iuGYO78UqSr5sHjKf2pJWO2kFhv-gwT0y_diMUIUwXnWrQBtTEBhT6Xbfgteg7hV8uaZGwd0T1W3BX5HLE/s1600/DSCN2378.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486170386068825874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR5xOKG17Ym2fbYwYHYU0pVZOWeipwNS9kR01rIJHS0-658qCwrC8M1S96iuGYO78UqSr5sHjKf2pJWO2kFhv-gwT0y_diMUIUwXnWrQBtTEBhT6Xbfgteg7hV8uaZGwd0T1W3BX5HLE/s400/DSCN2378.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Two more styling bikes parked along Vermont Ave.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4axgvE7tXTHF7hGUYNBLe6JG-zUTrxEbfkxZSXczlEdmxjCFi-WqNz9hdL3P-DYzxnLn01IRfhJI1I-EZKfklVpqGGGJAIPlqtu1GSNPwDH_4252kfyQRD6vOTcTX1z0b5rhgvU0TAFI/s1600/DSCN2377.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486169395932384866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4axgvE7tXTHF7hGUYNBLe6JG-zUTrxEbfkxZSXczlEdmxjCFi-WqNz9hdL3P-DYzxnLn01IRfhJI1I-EZKfklVpqGGGJAIPlqtu1GSNPwDH_4252kfyQRD6vOTcTX1z0b5rhgvU0TAFI/s400/DSCN2377.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div>Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-33186812461641374312010-06-23T10:44:00.000-07:002010-06-26T18:35:42.356-07:00New sharrows (shared lane markings) on Fountain Ave. and some Bicycle Style<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVIMPpdeqhVR7m1RbIro2qmU5MsXSQg68loSxP1OBqiozENAcPtzvFHJUR6zK6sWRmjeQ3uXgBhIjNnBmqtuS32pJIEIZCIXzTyJ_2mhcJBDDEaKcImWJuB-aMD0RrMqUHuHUUar0K2k/s1600/DSCN2376.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVIMPpdeqhVR7m1RbIro2qmU5MsXSQg68loSxP1OBqiozENAcPtzvFHJUR6zK6sWRmjeQ3uXgBhIjNnBmqtuS32pJIEIZCIXzTyJ_2mhcJBDDEaKcImWJuB-aMD0RrMqUHuHUUar0K2k/s400/DSCN2376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486039123375781634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRH58U6LS3xEeziA8RWU8xsf69T5iYpKm1aqhcfsgDQuzahtymP6EksO30oiRoFzuxuUinQGZTWXsGb_sAAPdYmjZ8SbcBE1LkHKrP0fDP6L3TuHbibsPk1MAj5xj0yxZVbcHQ_vUizE/s1600/DSCN2375.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRH58U6LS3xEeziA8RWU8xsf69T5iYpKm1aqhcfsgDQuzahtymP6EksO30oiRoFzuxuUinQGZTWXsGb_sAAPdYmjZ8SbcBE1LkHKrP0fDP6L3TuHbibsPk1MAj5xj0yxZVbcHQ_vUizE/s400/DSCN2375.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486035659190651586" /></a><br /><br />Photos: Fountain Ave. at Normandie Ave.in Hollywood<br /><br />About six weeks ago or so I was driving my car down Fountain Ave. on the way to work when I spotted two people by the side of the road with a cardboard sign directed towards cyclists. I stopped and asked what was up and was told that they were from the LA County Bicycle Coalition and were surveying bike riders on the street to see about putting signage for some type of bike lane. Several weeks later while riding my bike I noticed that there were spray painted markings on both sides of the street indicating locations for the signs. Shortly therafter (June 11) came the sharrows which run on Fountain Ave from Vermont Ave. west to Wilton Ave.<br />The markings are commonly added to streets where lanes are to narrow for cars and bikes to ride side by side and let drivers know they may encounter cyclists in the lane, show cyclists what direction they shoud be traveling in and keep them a safe distance from doors being opened into the street. (if there are no parked cars the sharrows are 4ft. from the curb if there are parked cars they are 11 feet from the curb.) If you stay in line with the sharrow you won't get doored. This thing about the sharrows is all new to me. Sometimes new road markings can be confusing.<br />One of my greatest mysteries when I was a little kid was seeing the word PED XING or XING PED depending how you looked at it painted on roads. I forgot about it but years later one day out of the blue a lightbulb went off in my head, ah ha Pedestrian Crossing! Bizarre cause I wasn't even thinking about roads at the time.<br />Sharrows are perfect for Fountain Ave. as I find it be a tough street to ride on and I switch from the sidewalk to the street depending on what feels safer. Theres only two narrow lanes and next to no room for a bike off to the side or for a driver to go around you.<br />According to their website they have been working on this for years and finally with the help of LA City Councilman Eric Garcetti were able to make it actually happen. There are five more areas around LA scheduled to get sharows in the near future<br />Thank you LA County Bicycle Coalition!!!!<br />http://la-bike.org/index.html<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEKpcDhnzYMTC889BUQVqYy3bgPNm05V_9umuUGVQWjhbnBEXUPC8eJJfKlqCU3vGHfnP1urg4mRo9E1J7HaCDmrE7XdtaSQ_l0WkY-tW-kLc-26l4pCDBHjMiQeRyMl1o_BPTt4FZ-s/s1600/DSCN2371.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEKpcDhnzYMTC889BUQVqYy3bgPNm05V_9umuUGVQWjhbnBEXUPC8eJJfKlqCU3vGHfnP1urg4mRo9E1J7HaCDmrE7XdtaSQ_l0WkY-tW-kLc-26l4pCDBHjMiQeRyMl1o_BPTt4FZ-s/s400/DSCN2371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486033428286273106" /></a><br /><br /><br />Los Feliz European Style Moment<br />Spotted this stylish Linus parked across from the new Artisan Gelato shop on Hillhurst Ave. the other day. <br />The Linus website states in part: " Inspired by the French bicycle designs of the <br />50's and 60's we have created a bicycle that preserves the simple elegance and benefits of modern comfort and reliability<br />So we have a french styled bicycle from a city called Venice parked across from an Italian ice cream shop - very Euro I'd say.<br />The main store is located in Venice, Ca<br />http://www.linusbike.com/Bicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4772910383560547752.post-47523262891912312592010-06-20T20:01:00.000-07:002010-06-20T20:31:18.324-07:00I am not really a blogger but...Much to my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">surprise</span> I have just started this blog (my first) after being offered a blog while registering for the Slow Bike Movement Blog .<br /><br />I got a new Globe bike several months ago and have been doing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">alot</span> of riding around East Hollywood --which is not a very bike friendly city by the way. I try to ride my bike wherever practical, to the store, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">restaurants</span>, bank, park, to work, to Home Depot ( more about Home Depot later) anywhere I can.<br /><br />I have been watching <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">dozens </span>of bike videos on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">YouTube</span> and have become pretty passionate about the subject of bike friendly cities and how bike riding can help your health and the environment. But more than that I really enjoy riding around on my bike! It is a very cheap and affordable form of entertainment for me and I become like a little boy again ( I'm an older dude)<br /><br />I would like to see Hollywood become more bike friendly! There should be more people riding bikes every day round here!<br /><br />I guess my purpose here is to encourage more bike riding in my neighborhood and making the streets safer in Hollywood for bike riders.<br /><br />Hollywood is a city where the future is created through the art of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">filmmaking</span> and numerous films depict a future of flying cars ( Fifth Element , Star Wars etc.)<br /><br />Interesting to me is that based on current trends and plans by cities across the US and the world it looks like the flying car is not gonna be the mode of transport within cities but the bicycle will be the dominant mode of transport and I find this fact extremely fasinating and ironic<br /><br />Therefore I have named my Blog; Flying Bicycles over Hollywood to reflect my idea of how the future won't be filled with flying cars over Hollywood but we'll be riding bikes down below instead.<br />Like I said I'm not really a blogger so this may be my first and last post we'll see...<br />RJBicycle Pilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889436930434016742noreply@blogger.com2