2013 Chinatown Firecracker Bike Ride
2013/02/25 at 9:46 pm | Posted in Blog Stuffs, Discipline, Life, lifestyle change, Motivation, Photos, weight loss, weight loss blog | Comments Off on 2013 Chinatown Firecracker Bike RideTags: chinatown, cycling, los angeles, weight loss, weight loss blog
So how did my Saturday go, you ask?
I woke up at 4:30 am, took a shower, got dressed, had a little breakfast, put the bike on the bike rack, hopped on the train, got to Chinatown, rode my bike almost 30 miles…and by the time I got home, it was nearly 3 pm. I was exhausted.
Anyway, here’s the day in pictures since I’m pooped. I am having trouble uploading the video of me lighting the firecrackers but when I can do it, I will post it. I had a great time doing that and riding today.
UPDATE: The video is up! Scroll to bottom of post.
Union Station is incredibly awesome. So many movies, shows and commercials were filmed here.
Chinatown
Waiting for the event. I got there way early.
My bike.
Firefighter giving us tips on lighting. We had to wear helmets and goggles and when the firecrackers went off, even where we were standing, the debris was hitting us. We also had an option to wear earplugs which I did.
Near the top of one of the many hills we had to climb. Believe me, this was just the beginning!
Dodger Stadium, still looking as great as ever (even under construction).
Pit Stops were set up every 10 miles with goodies like this.
Warner Bros. Studios Gate 2. I worked here when I was on The Whole Truth.
Roy E. Disney Animation Building.
Walt Disney Studios. I worked there when I was on No Ordinary Family.
River sans bike trail. We rode along another river.
With my medal. It was pretty small. Here’s a better view.
I don’t drink beer but I thought I’d try. And to this day, I don’t know what compels people to drink that garbage. It’s awful stuff (but was free to all riders after the tour).
Even got a free meal afterward. And Chinese food in Chinatown? Nothing compares.
All in all, it was a beautiful day and a great event with awesome volunteers. Thanks to all of them, the organizers, and to the LAPD for keeping traffic in check while we rode along.
And seeing Los Angeles and its surrounding areas by bike? It’s just amazing as the pictures show. Being on a bike gave me a better idea of how big Griffith Park really is since we rode through and around it at times. The first 5 miles of this course were uphill and hearing into Griffith Park — and they were killers! That’s why I was happy to see the two rest stops at Mile 10 and Mile 20. They provided much needed nourishment for the ride, a very demanding ride at that. Riders were treated to peanut butter, energy gels, trail mix, Gatorade, fruit, etc. and it was all we could consume.
The Chinatown Firecracker Bike Ride was one of the most fun, well-run events I’ve done. It’s very close to Long Beach in terms of organization, helpful volunteers, etc. And even with few street closures, I was amazed at how well-behaved L.A. drivers were that day. It just made the day that much more brighter.
If you’re interested in my stats, then here they are via Sports Tracker app.
UPDATE: Here’s the video!
Like It’s Dynamite
2013/02/22 at 9:09 pm | Posted in Exercise, Health, Life, weight loss | Comments Off on Like It’s DynamiteTags: chinatown, cycling, firecracker, los angeles, running, weight loss, weight loss blog
Tomorrow morning I will be getting my first medal of the year when I cross the finish line of the Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker Run’s 30-Mile Bike Ride. It’s my first time riding in this event so I’m pretty excited yet somewhat freaked out about it since I’m roaming into unknown territory.
I mean, I know L.A. but this is nothing like riding in Long Beach like I have for the past 3 years (and again this year): no street closures, a lot more hills, etc. But regardless, I’m committed to it and I can’t wait to see what challenges lie in store for me.
But what’s going to be great about Saturday’s event is what will take place before it: the lighting of 100,000 firecrackers right in the center of Chinatown. It’s a pyromaniac’s dream and something that can only be done legally in Los Angeles during events in Chinatown since fireworks are banned within the city.
What makes that so great? Well, who doesn’t like firecrackers?
And it just so happens that the organizers of the event held a contest on their Facebook page a few days ago that would give 3 randomly selected riders a chance to help light the 100,000 firecrackers before the event starts. All interested parties had to do was change their profile picture to this to qualify for the contest:
Oh, you know what the heck it’s implying and what it actually means. Don’t act like you don’t.
I figured I had nothing to lose so I went ahead and changed my profile picture. So imagine my surprise this morning when I read one of their Wall posts that was congratulating the winners of the contest, one of whom was me.
Yes, that’s right, people. I was one of the lucky 3 riders who was selected to help light the 100,000 firecrackers and I can’t tell you how happy my inner childhood pyromaniac is. This is without a doubt a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I’m completely honored and stoked to have been chosen.
This is taking tomorrow’s ride to a whole new level. I mean, come on. It’s called the Firecracker Run because the lighting of the firecrackers is a BIG part of the event, and I’m going to be a part of that opening ceremony.
This is nuts. How did I get to be so lucky?
Meh, I don’t care. All I know is that I’ll be 1 of the 3 lighting up those suckers tomorrow morning then hopping on the saddle to tackle almost 30 miles around Los Angeles.
Videos and pictures will be posted Saturday. Stay tuned!
(Posting this video to avoid the painfully obvious correlation between Katy Perry and the lighting of pyrotechnics)
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