The Chainlink

Critical Mass Discussion

After slamming Critical Mass, I'm thinking of doing the one in September so I can see what it's like to participate. I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I can't reconcile all of the inconvenience and disruption caused by CM with its lack of meaning. I appreciate civil disobedience, but only if it's to work toward some goal, which CM doesn't seem to have.

Can you help me understand CM better to help me decide if I should participate? I'm not trolling or being a devil's advocate - and I understand if no one wants to beat this dead horse yet again.

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Permalink Reply by Bike Smut on September 25, 2012 at 10:14am

I feel I should offer up the rest of Chris Carlsson's quote from "Aftermass"

"People have always castigated us. 'What is the point of this?' It's really crucially about public space. We live in a culture that has destroyed public space. The point of this is to live together—well—in the city and occupy space together for our own purposes, which is the purpose of human conviviality. It doesn't need any other reason, in my opinion."

I hadn't thought about it under the pretext of those who dislike the chaos of 1000s of bodies with different intentions riding together. It does suck to have a mess of blotto bro-dudes thugging tough because they ride a bike for two hours once a month. I know from personal experience those guys are not easily shamed, but its better than staying home because of the fear that you might have an awkward conversation or being run over alone. If those are my options I'll take the brodudes, cause beer pong CAN be fun.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on September 25, 2012 at 4:11pm

For any chainlinkers going this Friday -  We are going to try to get a group shot for a video clip for chainlink. At 5:30 meet on the front side of the picasso statue (south side I believe). We could use as many smiling faces as possible!

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on September 25, 2012 at 4:34pm

I'll be there!

Julie Hochstadter said:

For any chainlinkers going this Friday -  We are going to try to get a group shot for a video clip for chainlink. At 5:30 meet on the front side of the picasso statue (south side I believe). We could use as many smiling faces as possible!

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on September 27, 2012 at 5:13pm

In the third paragraph it mentions 10 years. I'm guessing a bit of recycling from the last GRAND FINALE.

h' said:



Davo said:

Should we keep an eye out for a red eye article or letter to the editor soon? ;P

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 27, 2012 at 5:28pm

The line "a victim of its own success" looks to be in a smaller font and slightly out of alignment with the other lines. 

Looks like that part was schooped if you ask me. 

Juan said:

In the third paragraph it mentions 10 years. I'm guessing a bit of recycling from the last GRAND FINALE.

h' said:



Davo said:

Should we keep an eye out for a red eye article or letter to the editor soon? ;P

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 27, 2012 at 6:13pm

Can't put anything past you guys.

Juan said:

In the third paragraph it mentions 10 years. I'm guessing a bit of recycling from the last GRAND FINALE.

h' said:



Davo said:

Should we keep an eye out for a red eye article or letter to the editor soon? ;P

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 29, 2012 at 9:47am

I would like to thank the drunk angry shovey person who was wandering around in the Mass and was trying to push over bicyclists.

When he got to me and gave me a mighty shove I didn't fall over like he expected and instead corrected by turning my front wheel to maintain uprightess, in the process running over his ankles in what felt to my hands on the grips like a very painful way as it ground up and over his shoes and rubbed against both of his ankle bones in quick succession.    

This only made him angrier and he jumped away to attempt to push someone else.  On the way back to where he was going he gave me another even mightier shove which, this time, caused my quill stem to rotate nearly 90-degrees in the steer tube.   Even with my handlebars sideways I again failed to give him the satisfaction of falling, but again ran over his ankles once more.

I see that my fork is also twisted now,  looking down at the crown it is no longer perpendicular to the wheel and axle although the bike still tracks true and I can ride no-handed without it pulling to the side.   I  have a feeling that shovey dude is going to wake up with some really bruised, contused, and painful ankles/feet this morning.   I'm sorry about your feet, man, but you pretty much did it to  yourself.  

To Kiltedcelt, I'm sorry I disappeared after that incident but I had to stop and fix my handlebars before traveling on.  The extra set of handlebars I had just bought from you weren't damaged in the scuffle. 

Permalink Reply by Bike Smut on September 29, 2012 at 11:51am
That was excellent. Really nice seeing the police take an active but not overwhelming role in helping keep the ride flowing through busy intersections. One of my top masses of my life, and what an amazing afterparty!

Thanks Chicago!!
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 29, 2012 at 12:01pm

It all turned out OK.  I wasn't hurt and I don't think anyone else was seriously hurt.   Drunk guy walked away without too much limping so I'm going to assume that other than some foot/ankle bruising there will be no serious injury to him either.   Hopefully that is the case.

I was able to limp through the rest of the ride with my bars mostly straight and was home by 9-ish.   I'm not too big on after parties and I wanted to go home and snuggle with my lovely wife instead. 

kiltedcelt said:

James - I was just a little ways behind you when that first shoving incident occurred. I saw you give him "what-for" with your front wheel and watched as he walked along the sidewalk giving us all the finger. I heard other riders daring him to come back out on the street to try that with them. Sounds like he took up the offer. I waited a few minutes to see if you'd catch up but the Mass kept coming, and coming, and coming, and I realized then that you might have gotten way far back or had passed by me and I didn't see. Anyway, I guess I know the full story now. Too bad your bike got jacked around. It must suck to be that stupid and angry (drunk shovey pushy guy).


Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 29, 2012 at 1:10pm

ABC/channel 7 news actually ran a story about the ride on the evening news that day basically quoting this release verbatim.

Never showed up online and was not repeated at 10 PM though....

James BlackHeron said:

LOLz  

Someone must have studied at the Joey Goebbels Institute of public relations.  If you say a lie often enough maybe, just maybe, it might become truth!  Hope springs eternal for that kind of Change & 47% of the people are never going to go for it...

But back to reality, it'll probably take a little more than a lame (and fake) press release. Hoards of Cops & Tazers might not be enough.  Perhaps they can enlist the help of the Ohio National Guard?   Too bad this wasn't April 1st -It'd be funnier that way. 



h' said:



Davo said:

Should we keep an eye out for a red eye article or letter to the editor soon? ;P

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 29, 2012 at 1:14pm

As always, the rides with the most amazing, wonderful moments come off looking like giant rolling bar fights in the retelling.

You know, I still don't think I can pick you out of a crowd.... did you stop and were standing in front of Walgreens on Division near Clark perhaps?

James BlackHeron said:

It all turned out OK.  I wasn't hurt and I don't think anyone else was seriously hurt.   Drunk guy walked away without too much limping so I'm going to assume that other than some foot/ankle bruising there will be no serious injury to him either.   Hopefully that is the case.

I was able to limp through the rest of the ride with my bars mostly straight and was home by 9-ish.   I'm not too big on after parties and I wanted to go home and snuggle with my lovely wife instead. 

kiltedcelt said:

James - I was just a little ways behind you when that first shoving incident occurred. I saw you give him "what-for" with your front wheel and watched as he walked along the sidewalk giving us all the finger. I heard other riders daring him to come back out on the street to try that with them. Sounds like he took up the offer. I waited a few minutes to see if you'd catch up but the Mass kept coming, and coming, and coming, and I realized then that you might have gotten way far back or had passed by me and I didn't see. Anyway, I guess I know the full story now. Too bad your bike got jacked around. It must suck to be that stupid and angry (drunk shovey pushy guy).


Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on September 29, 2012 at 2:42pm

I was witness to way too many incidents along the ride even from the beginning but I met the winner of the bike winter sticker. I'm such a fanboy.

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