CicLAvia is coming to Los Angeles at last!

Inspired by the ciclovias that Bogotá, Colombia, has been putting on for thirty years or so, these street openings will clear our valuable public spaces of cumbersome cars and make room for good, clean, booty-shaking fun on bikes, boards, skates, feet, strollers, wheelchairs, whatever…. Sunday, the 10th of October, from 10AM to 3PM, on a route leading from Boyle Heights to Orange 20!

Anticipate dancers, picnics, martial arts demos, cookouts planned and impromptu, dodgeball, and lots of room to ride your bike freely, without having to deal with road hogs and lane bullies!

LA’s urban cycling community and Villaraigosa’s administration have put in a lot of time, thought, and hard work to make it happen, so come Sunday, be there!

For more information, maps, rides, et al, go to the website:

First rain of the season, and I can see the headlines now: “Drizzle Batters LA; Freeways at Standstill!”

And a corresponding diminution in the number of cyclists out there…though to be sure, it’s not as bad as it used to be. I still see lots of old-school commuters out there in the rain, sure, but a lot of more normal folks on their bikes heading to work or to shop, even though it’s pouring mist.

For the record, I’ve commuted to work through rains so hard that intersections were six inches deep in running water in Hollywood. It ain’t so hard, and you won’t melt. And fixies, so prevalent now in our town, are really great for rain riding: good traction, and you can stop even if the brakes ain’t gripping so well.

But you gotta do a few things differently.

First, screw fashion and put some lights on your bike. Even bright yellow clothes aren’t as visible as decent lights on a dark wet day. Orange 20 has an excellent selection, and can order in the fancy stuff if you’re doing some serious rain miles, or riding a lot at night.

Second, screw fashion and put some fenders on your bike. The water falling from the sky is clean; the wet crap flung up by your tires would choke a dog. If you’re just too damn hip, get some Raceblades from the 20; they’ll fit any bike, no matter how tight the clearance, and you can take them off in a few seconds.

Third, screw fashion and get some raingear. Rain capes work best; rain suits heat you up too much. Even a war surplus poncho works. My fave is the Carradice Pro Route, though it requires a helmet for the separate head cover. Talk to TJ about some decent rain rags.

Fourth–and you don’t have to screw fashion for this one–get some wool. Sweaters, pants; fancy stuff from me or Rapha or Swrve, or vintage wintergear from Goodwill. The 20 carries some good wool stuff sometimes. You’ll look good and stay warm even if you do get wet.

Most people in the world ride in places like London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Beijing, Tokyo, Mumbai, Portland…places where it’s always raining. You’re not going to let yourself be dropped by some old lady in a trenchcoat, just ‘cuz it’s raining, are you?

And besides, it feels great. You’ll never know LA to look so fine or smell so sweet as during a rain ride. Try it!

Just watch out for the potholes and motorheads, of course….