brianmovinginvan’s blog

Wow Sometime things just seem to work out better then you could ever plan them . This Saturdays Vancouver Bike Club at the spur of the moment decided to bike to the Burnaby Velodrome. Eleven Bike Club Members set out for a Saturday Bike Ride to Iona Breach club a tried and true destination but I would suggest something different a ride to the Burnaby Velodrome near Simon Fraser University I read on the net Velodrome Track was having a May Days event open to the public.

So at the start of the ride I took a vote 8 people voted to go the Velodrome. That was the Good News but there was a problem for me I did not now exactly how get to the our new chosen destination. Thats were the Team work came in Ben who came from his first ride in a while said he pretty much new the way. Also Cameron as always has a great sense of Bike Routs in the Greater Vancouver area. Neil had his maps and back up GPS system and it was time for the start the ride. It was Overcast sky's but the streets were dry.

We headed east thought the Adanac Street Bike Route to Frances/Union Bike way via Cliff Ave to Barnet Road to the Velodrome there were some hills during the ride but nothing too bad. As we approached the Velodrome there was a short steep hill we had to climb to enter the Velodrome Parking Area.  The lot was full of cars but we did not see a any sign of bicycles and there were no bike racks to lock up to.  We locked the bike to some posts and into the Velodrome bubble we went. After a short walk to the viewing area I saw my first ever in person bike sprinting going on live in front me.

There were about 25 Riders in Bright Colored Jersey's Speeding around the 200 meter Track in Fixed Gear Bikes as a team member did a hand off they (there were Women and Men on the Track at the same time) would push the other rider forward like a small catapult. The Club watched the racers and got some snacks and turned the whole proccess around for the most part and where back in Vancouver by 1:30 it was about a 45k ride total and I am really glad I did it.

Velo3

Two Guys on the Bridge

Last Week Club Ride Was a Classic. A Quartet of Committed Riders Start In Kits ride thought East Van Over the Second Narrows Bridge Stop At the Sea Bus Sation for coffee and over the Lions Gate back to Vancouver and it rained for the full 3 plus hours of the ride

Was it Raining?

DSC00768

Originally uploaded by hessam ebrahimi.

I have supported Hillary Rodham Clinton since January. I support her message of experience and respect. Sadly both Obama and Clinton have made a fair share of mistakes during the campaign but Obama has made less of them and tonight the people spoke he has won more votes for some time now. Hillary Clinton needs to make some tough choices in the next few days.

On a side note about the Auction a contact of mine wanted to go Auction on Friday but you needed to pay $10.00 to get in a view the bikes.

Able Auctions may have made more then $5000 of their income from entrance fees. What a Scam.

Things need to Change around this Bike Theft Issue or Urban Bike Commuting will only be effective transport for the elite few that can trip plan very carefully far in advance for the best lock up locations, or have off street bike parking or have can use the most elitists solution yet proposed the Bike Locker on Public Property.

VanmarathonWomen Leaders

Originally uploaded by Brian of Vancouver.

This morning Shelley and I walked down the street to watch the Vancouver Marathon. I took this photo of Women Race Leaders at about 5 miles into the race. Women on the Right California's Mary Akor won the race with a time of  finishing in 2:37:52

Vancouver Police Bike Auction Celebrates the Failure of Law Enforcement to control the Bicycle Theft problem. Although nearly every media source in the city promotes the Auction as Bargain event of the year It really just a place to buy a Cheap Stolen Bicycles for deal seeks and second hand dealers. Many of the Bicycles have been recovered by Vancouver Polices but because there

is no good way to find the rightful owners of the bicycles. The Police do what is easy and sell the stolen bicycles at auction and keep the profits. Many Bicycles are stolen in Vancouver by Biners/Recyclers  that break bike racks off there anchor bolts.

Vancouver can address the problem of Bicycle Theft if it wants to

We could have a Lower Mainland database that logs/registers the rightful owners of the bicycles and uses a tag system that would allow the Police track and ID stolen bicycles and parts when the bicycles are disassembled.

Bike Theft is a Crime and the thefts need to do time for possession of stolen property.

 Building Owners and City Agencies must do a better job maintaining bicycle racks in our community see photo of a broken bike race. If you cant secure your bike they you not going to use your bicycle and that means you need to use a carbon adding form of transportion.   photo by redbike606

CBC has reported that the Thieves swipe cash from VanDusen plant sale. So here how the Story Goes Down. A 78 year old man collects that receipts from annual plant sale (My Wife and I have went to at least 5 of the last 8 plant sales and we always pay cash because the lines are shorter)

A Tall Slim White Thug knocks down the 78 year old volunteer and takes the bag with cash from the afternoon tills. Police say the Thug got away with about $1000.00.

I bet it was a lot more then that. Always under report the amount stolen this is supposed to discourage other thief's.

But this misses the Point of Why I decided to post on this story. Where was the VPD?

Have you ever every been to a Protest in the City of Vancouver there are at least 1/2 dozen Offices milling around do what Police do which is a lot of well milling around. Cop Milling Around Discorage "Thugs" from knocking over 78 year old men that are trying to do some to make there community a better place to live just my thought of the day.

This Past week CBS News did story Inside Barack Obama's "War Room" it was hosted by CBS News anchor Katie Couric it was to show alleged behind the scenes look at the Obama's Campaign the people that have made it so successful. I watched the report and it pretty good for a Network New Story but after the report was over I was left with a strange feeling and all of sudden it hit me All the Key Positions in Obama Campaign are Staffed by Whites (See it for Yourself). Watch the story it runs about 5:30mins. About 11 Staff People were featured in the store and all I saw were three Black Staffers and there were not in featured positions. Obama is getting 85% of the Black Vote in the US. Something just seem funny about this picture. I am not the only person that noticed it either Wanted: basically young and white, no black need apply. Location: Chicago. Job: help an African-American become President of United States. I cannot understand why the media has been so silent about the people working at Senator Obama headquarters. The people working at the headquarter do not represent the highest percentage of people that are voting for him. is a post from a CBS news viewer on it web site. To me this very much part of the Conversation on Race that Barack Obama wants America to Have.

April's Critical Mass Vancouver had a very large turn out of about 600 bikes. This there was also a Police escort which overall I felt was a net positive. As the Mass approched The Lions Gate Bridge Motorcycle Cops held back Traffic entering the bridge which I feel protected both riders and auto drivers. I did seetwo or three rides take falls off their bikes but they did not seem to get hurt badly. On guy in older Tercel tried to jump a medium and was confronted by the rides. Overall the ride went well with few incidents.

Car Keying Suspect arrested but murder's still walk the streets in Vancouver B.C. I really do applaud the Vancouver Police Department for arresting the social misfit who may have damaged more the 100 cars here in Vancouver but I feel even better if the Vancouver Police Department arrested person or person(s) for the 13 targeted shootings/killings that have happened in the City over the past 8 months or so.