[Lead_Teeth]

I was feeling restless earlier and decided to head out to the coast to visit Mulholland and the Rock Store. It was a little colder than I expected and the freeway ride there and back wasn't very much fun.

But having the twisties to myself was great. I even practiced some of my MSF braking drills. It was cool to watch my headlight dive from side to side as I wove through the turns.

Anybody else ever go for night rides?

 

[Guest]

Anybody else ever go for night rides?

I do. I asked around at the last club ride and it seems as if we are alone in this. The other guys don't want anything to do with it. I've been up Little Tujunja and some of the other local roads at night. My only tip is to wait until it's completely dark, twilight messes up your vision bigtime. I might go for a ride now(1:30 AM I can't sleep, have to be at work at six ) it might be fun to wake up the other aprt. dwellers...

 

[terrible_viking]

I like night-time canyon driving in a car, not so much on a bike. I've done it before, but I'm not crazy about it.

Keith Code writes something interesting in one of his books: he prefers not being able to see where he's going (such as in low-light conditions, being blinded by a setting sun, rain and fog) because it distracts him less and he can concentrate on his machine. That's track riding of course, provided you really know the track well. But I ain't Code, so I'll stick to daytime and good visibility whenever I can.

-R.

 

[ducman851]

The other issue with ridding at nite in those types of area are the nocturnal movements of animals (ie racoons, deer, ect). Yes they also move in daylight but its far easier to see them.

 

[Rideon]

I have had two guys come into my clinic in the past 18 months that had altercations with deer, both at night. Pretty scary! [smiley=shocked.gif] I tend to not ride at night in Sand Diego!

Regards,
Rideon

 

[Lead_Teeth]

I took it really easy... i don't think animals would have been that much of a threat. It was more of a spiritual thing for me- hearing my bike sing against the silent night. Riding alone. It was like meditation.

But it was cold. My perferd leathers didn't do much against the coastal chill.

 

[ericmonstro]

I used to enjoy riding around in downtown Dallas late late at night, without a helmet (I know I know) and just my goggles. IT was fun as hell.

(Was my description as good as 108gnfytr's )

 

[Lead_Teeth]

Re: When I ride

Because sleep is something I seldom know, I'll sometimes ride into downtown LA at around 3am. To a cop, certain streets hold significance. Dog-eared pages in a book. A pursuit here, a body there. All the dark drama authentic as steel. On a serpantine path, I'll gather as many memories as I dare. It reaffirms. It erases the petty regrets and the blind anger of being 10 seconds too late or too far to know. And I'll bark the exhaust over wide concrete beneath indifferent streetlights. My reflection a blur in puddles and glass. Visor up, eyes dry, the weight of a .45 hard against my chest. I haunt my self. When lucky, I'll see dark eyed friends working graveyard and I'll stop, have coffee and together, we'll watch. Back home the wife will tell me to let it go, to leave it alone, but she knows I won't. She knows I can't. So, she makes room for me in bed, throws an arm across my chest and lets me be.

Poetry....sounds like something from a Bukowski novel.

I'm glad you brought this up. I like how downtown becomes sort of a ghost town at night with only homless people wandering around in the streets like zombies. Especially in the fashion district area where they set up their temporary shanty villages.

You definitely have a unique perspective as a cop- any interesting things/ stories/ areas you would like to point out to someone who enjoys exploring the crazy dark corners?

 

[Lead_Teeth]

Re: When I ride

I'm definitely interested. But I guess that sort of depends on what you mean by "dicey business." I'm not scared of adventure or of being scared, if that makes any sense, but I'm also not looking to have physical harm done to me or my property. So, I guess it's kind of your call...

But I am definitely interested if you think of a good plan...

That, I believe, would be possible, but it would have to be very early morning, say, 4am. It's simply too dangerous, especially considering the numerous motorcycle gangs in the area.

What kind of motorcycle gangs? Hell's Angels types or Asian gangs??


As I said, I would love to take your "tour" if you think we could pull it off...

Anybody else interested?

 

[terrible_viking]

I wanna go. I lived by MacArthur Park for three years when I first moved to CA. I was burglarized, almost carjacked, shot at, and made friends with Jenny the crack wh0re and other creatures of the night. After a film shoot, I'd take the leftover pizza to Spring Street and distribute it out of the trunk of my car at 2 in the morning. That was my movie right there, dark figures separating from the black walls, silently grabbing a slice and disappearing as quietly as they had come.

A friend used to live in a rundown hotel somewhere on Main. I would pick her up and buy her breakfast on Sundays. During the week, Lissy would get up at 5am to drive her to rehab at the airport. Despite the years of crack and speed abuse, she was the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen. She was 21, looked like a gorgeous 35-year-old, and for a few weeks there we thought she would make it. Last I heard from her she was seen on Hollywood Boulevard, and her price had dropped to twenty bucks.

Downtown revokes memories. They're fond ones, in an odd way.

-R.

 

[kevdusmc]

BTW 108. Do you wear your vest on these rides as well?

I was wondering why Shawn's chest looked so big and muscular during group rides, that's it, he had his vest on.

 

[kevdusmc]

I may just be a paranoid lawyer, but I would get waivers from anyone who VOLUNTEERS to travel into KNOWN DANGEROUS AREAS of Los Angeles and does so at his or her OWN RISK and agrees to NOT HOLD YOU LIABLE for any "act of nature" that may occur.

 

[Lead_Teeth]

I'm in.

Is the police station between E. Temple and E. 1st ?

 

[terrible_viking]

Viking, when did you live near Mac Park? That was my beat in 2000-2001. I worked from 3pm to 12am. If you were there you saw my black and white rolling through the park every night. I loved that beat.

I was closer to La Fayette just down the street from Mac, on 7th and Hoover. Moved there August '99. 18th Street and MS held a shootout in our building once. Put a bullet through one of our windows on another occasion. Got the hell out June '02.

I actually liked living there a lot. My wife was very unhappy though, so we moved as soon as we could afford it.

I'll try to make Sat morning. Post up a confirmation Friday PM or so.

-R.

 

[Speeddog]

You Boy Scouts have fun. There may even be merit badges in it for y'all. That tour is well outside of my comfort zone.

Hey, Lead and T-Vik, either of you two packin'? Just in case 108's piece stovepipes on the first round.........

 

[terrible_viking]

Naw man, I don't believe in guns for self-defense. Imagine the paperwork after all is said and done! Seriously though, what am I gonna do, park the bike, take off my gloves, unzip my jacket, draw and try for a clean shot with the full-face helmet on my head?

Shawn can toss me his backup gun if the going gets rough. But given the choice, all the gunning I'll be doing is of my motorcycle...

-R.

PS: No stovepipes with the P228 or, if you prefer a .45, the P226 8)

 

[Guest]

You kids have fun.

I went for a ride tonight though the WILD streets of Santa Claria tonight...

**Beemers and Yuppies and Jailbait, oh my**Beemers and Yuppies and Jailbait, oh my**

It was so f*cking cold out there that I followed a city truck with a SNOWPLOW on the front of it down Vasquez Caynon. I not even making that up. It was colder than that day at ACH.

 

[terrible_viking]

So are we gonna do this, or what? 8)

-R.

 

[SoCalSar]

Wow, this sounds like some serious fun! Seems as if the Hooligan Gang is riding at full strength tomorrow! Coming up from SD to check out this part of LA is appealing to me. Certainly better than doing the touron (that's moron+tourist) thing. Since it's a full crowd I'll take a raincheck on this one but I'm in on another day. You fellas watch your six and have a good time.

 

[Lead_Teeth]

So are we gonna do this, or what?