@dkel 80467 wrote:
My pre-teen son has his MTB, but he’s desperate for a cross bike (he likes drop bars). No beach cruiser for him!
Good timing for the video I just finished, as I was riding a beach cruiser in the proper designated area (the beach). (Note: I don’t really like cruiser bikes, but I rode one for this video and actually enjoyed it.)
[video=youtube_share;ipO2ImYVRSA]http://youtu.be/ipO2ImYVRSA[/video]
I was in LA for a few days last week to visit my cousin, and on the last day (Saturday) I went biking with her from Venice Beach to the Santa Monica Pier and back on beach cruiser rentals. I did Strava it for the heck of it http://www.strava.com/activities/123001375, but we were cruising at such a laidback pace (6.5 mph average) that I don’t think there are any KOM’s in my future for that ride.
It being my first time in LA, I was surprised to see a few different traffic techniques:
– Motorcycles/mopeds are encouraged to ride between lanes and will do so in moving traffic.
– People get beeped at when the nth car behind a left-turner “perceives” what they think is a safe enough gap in traffic for the front car to turn (usually it is not even close to a safe enough gap).
– At least 2 additional cars go through every red light, but there’s a difference in what they do versus the DC area: they don’t speed up to 60+ mph to beat the light, they just follow the car in front of them at normal traffic speed through the intersection like the light hasn’t already turned red. Oddly enough, it seemed safer as everyone seemed to expect it like it was the proper way to drive.
– I witnessed at least 2 cyclists at different times who multi-tasked extra exercise into their rides in the bike lane (which doubles as a bus and pick-up/drop-off lane). Seriously, in midday traffic to see someone doing torso rotations or fake boxing movements while keeping their balance without holding onto their handlebars (I’m already jealous of people who can do this in general as I never have been able to) is quite mindblowing- er, dangerous!
I left last Wednesday afternoon in 40 degree (F) rainy weather, had sunny 70 degree (F) weather the whole time in LA, and returned to 44 degree (F) weather on Saturday night. I did not miss out on this area’s sub-freezing temperatures and snow, but (sigh) I miss that sunny weather!
.
