Every year I plan to go to the Bicycle Film Festival — the ever-bigger touring bike fest that brings together film, art, fun, games, parties, and of course, two-wheeling enthusiasts in cities around the world. The 2009 tour’s hitting 39 cities, from Austin to Zurich — and will be in L.A. starting Wed., Aug. 26 – Sun., Aug. 30!
Sadly, I’ve yet to actually go to the BFF — more about that later — but this year I’m planning to change that record! The 5-day L.A. event‘s got something for everyone: A Bikes Rock concert with Deerhunter, a Joy Ride art show reception, lots and lots of films both short and feature-length, an afterparty pretty much every night, capped with the BFF Annual Street Party, happening noon to 8 pm on Sunday featuring games, contests, and music. Most events are free, screening programs just $10, and a festival pass just $30.
The fun photos and photos of the Bicycle Film Festivals in other cities have convinced me I need to see what’s happening here. The photo above’s by Gretchen Robinette, who’s got a great Flickr set of the Bicycle Film Festival Block Party in San Francisco last year. The fun’s continuing this year, according to the calitexican, also in San Francisco, who says BFF can also stand for “bartering’s fucking fun” — because volunteering her time’s how she got in free to see Blonde Redhead at a soldout show.
In Chicago, Dottie at Let’s Go Ride a Bike also volunteered with her local bike advocacy group for a free pass to BFF. In New York, pocketmonsterd photoblogged (one photo below) the kick-off for the Bicycle Film Festival there, featuring lots of cyclists drinking Pabst and checking out bike-inspired art.
So why have I yet to get to BFF? Because the events always happen clear across town — a distance I can’t cover on bike because I do not have quads of steel. I also can’t do the bike-bus combo because my Townie’s too heavy — and driving there seems to defeat the entire purpose of the festival — which is why so far I’ve been a BFF lame-o.
This year I’m — carpooling! (unless someone’s got the pedal power to drag me over on a bike rickshaw). Are you going to go to BFF? If you’re in Santa Monica, email me to carpool. Otherwise, check out the festival dates to find out when BFF ’09′s coming to your town.
Photos by Gretchen Robinette, pocketmonsterd
How is the townie too heavy? Will the bus bike racks not hold it? I’d love to know–I’ve got one of my own, but haven’t tried to transport it by bus yet.
Comment by How Green Is My Valley — August 25, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
Hope you find a way to get there! We didn’t have one in Nashville, unfortunately.
Comment by Trisha — August 25, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
No. 1: My guess is Siel’s not underestimating the abilities of the bus rack to hold her Townie, but rather her ability to lift the bike onto the rack.
Personally I know she could do it.
Comment by Will Campbell — August 25, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
It’s true — My arms are puny and all the chaturangas in the world don’t seem to be helping….
Comment by Siel — August 25, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
I noticed many of the bikes marketed to women are too heavy and they don’t fit on the racks. My friend got this cute bike that I told her wouldn’t fit on the rack and she didn’t listen and we couldn’t get it on the bus’ bike rack. It wasn’t a Townie, but it was one of those cute type bikes. I wish they would sell a reasonable priced, cute, light weight bike that could easily fit on the bike racks.
Those beach cruiser type bikes often don’t fit on the racks (maybe you have to jiggle it a certain way, but unless you’re strong you’re not going to be able to jiggle it just right.) I spent way too much time trying to get one of those on the bus (and then having to ride my bike an insane distance several times) before I just gave up and got an ugly tenspeed looking thing, shockingly easy to pick up and put on the rack, so maybe its not you Siel, but your bike.
Comment by browne — August 25, 2009 @ 8:09 pm
sorry to hear about the townie being pretty heavy. i did a test ride of one about a year ago and i noticed the weight too.
i have a hard time lifting my mixte, but now that i can carry it up two flights of stairs, i can bring it on the bus if need be. but i really prefer not to!
Comment by the calitexican — August 25, 2009 @ 11:44 pm
oh, and have fun at the BFF!
Comment by the calitexican — August 25, 2009 @ 11:59 pm
Well I really love my townie so I don’t want to make it seem like I’m unhappy with it…. It definitely serves its main purpose very well — which is getting me around Santa Monica comfortably in heels :)
Comment by Siel — September 2, 2009 @ 5:36 pm
Good to know–I’ll have to compare the tires on my Townie to the ones on my husband’s bikes; he does a bike-bus commute every day.
Comment by How Green Is My Valley — September 3, 2009 @ 8:31 am