Home > Get Out! > Archives > 2008 > March > 06 > Entry
Cycling gets a little crazy after dark
I used to think that only a David Hasselhoff wannabe who rode around on a talking bike while calling himself Street Hawk the Mustache Maniac could ever be taken seriously as a street-prowling cyclist.
That was until I found Midnight Ridazz of Austin, a loose network of bicycle riders, enthusiasts, rogues and hipsters who have declared the third Tuesday of each month a time to ride the streets of Austin like pseudo-pop icons on a mission to wage war against Class C celebrity stardom.
The multitude of riders gather at 9 p.m. at Don’s Depot on West Sixth Street for a pub crawl/ride and cruise all over the city, raising hell and taking back the streets. Now that’s a traffic jam I’d like to be a part of.
The themed late-night rides celebrate bicycle culture in a uniquely Austin way. In November, for example, participants dressed up as cowboys and Indians. There’s also been a Barbaro-themed ride, where participants dressed up as jockeys, decorated their bikes to like horses, and took part in races.
Rides are usually paced so any reasonably healthy adult with a bike and the ability to ride it can participate.
The idea for Midnight Ridazz comes from Los Angeles and began in February 2004, when cyclists took an impromptu tour of downtown. The idea of taking a monthly late-night group ride to see interesting and unusual aspects of the city spread quickly and grew by word of mouth. And that’s how most people learn about the upcoming themed rides — through word of mouth or online.
On these nights, the streets and the traffic laws belong to the riders, and Austin is the vehicle that these masses drive, using only people power and a sense of righteousness, where the only energy wasted iscaloric.
Why take part in Midnight Ridazz? Why not? Anytime there’s an excuse to dress up in a costume, ride my bike, meet people and own the streets as if I were starring in my own remixed music video of the “Knight Rider” theme song, I’m all over it.
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By Casey
March 16, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
Amen… great article. Come join us for the Leslie Cochran ride on Tuesday March 18th Donn’s Depot 9pm, don’t forget your thongue.
RIDE ON ! ! ! !
By Jackson
March 25, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
This was a funny article and Ill be sure to check out the next event. More stuff by this blogger please.