Critical mass in the city of Detroit is dead! Rain or not, zero people showed up for this event. With the rain it felt more like a fall Vancouver ride, one which REI sells gear for. Yet after all this time reading about critical mass throughout the country and here in Detoroit not one person showed except yours truly?

Phil from event tickets as walking around near the stadium so I take our conversation and catch up as being a good enough reson to be there. After leaving the meeting place I enjoyed a tour along the river and in and around the stadium, soaking wet I ended early and changed in Honest Johns Parking lot. It was the first ride out sporting the new Bike Detroit T-Shirts and Gear, (thanks to Armadillo and David in Berkley, Great Job), so with a new shirt on I stopped in at the Motor City Brewery to catch up with Dan and to say hello.

A fellow from Portland Oregon walked over to strike up a conversation about Bike Detroit given the new shirt I was sporting. We talked quite much about Portland and how over 8% of the population there rides bikes to work! Wow! I in turned offered a view of a city that is for the most part empty and discussed at length the freedom from dealing with cars south of the boarder, being 8 mile. All and All another good time even with the no show.

J. Meyers bike explorer

For all you bloggers out there, this is more like a short story narrative than a-typical blog. With that being said I made it home and found myself changed and in the garage studying the city street map in an attempt to explore some different areas than before. I decided to head out on the familiar path of Lincoln. Heading due east and through Royal Oak I made my way into Hazel Park and onto John R just three blocks north of 8 mile, enter therein…

For those of you who have not been, the area south of 8 mile down to 6 mile, west to Woodward and East to I-75, is probably one of the seediest parts of the entire city. Deals are going on, Ladies are heckling from the street, (sweaty and all) they do not care. I snaked my way east on the first block south of 8 mile off of John R. Burned out houses, drug deals are all the rage. I made my way to the State fair I-75 intersection and went onto the other side to Conant. From there I headed south into the heart of Hamtramck. Unlike the area just to the North, Hamtramck has houses that are diverse and teaming with life. Known as Pol-town back in the day the neighborhoods that I visited were a mixed bag of all sorts of colors and religions. It felt all at once worldly and international. Back and forth sensing the direction rather than following it I made my way down onto Mt. Elliot where the road turns into a freeway like overpass. Heading North East I was blown by the wind back out and around the massive industrial rail CSX center to Mc Nichols.

I turned East and tried to find my way through the maze of mixed industrial businesses. Numerous roads have been reclaimed and blocked off by many of these privately owned entities. At every turn I wondered how many ‘Officials’ from the city have been out to inspect the plethora of land grabs that have taken place since the riots in the 60’s? I wonder if any of the ‘Officials’ ever stopped playing/portraying ‘Important’ long enough to head on out to the field where real importance has a desperate need and inspect what is going on in this area? I wish they would! Half crazed glares, eyes lit with a questioning view, people asked me what in the hell was I doing there? Just exploring riding my bike was my reply once again, which seemed to suffice I turned around just the same.

Onto Van Dyke I again tried to find a way back into the neighborhood away from the intense energy of the road. Every place I turned was blocked off again. Make Shift Concrete Barricades set hap hazard right on top of the once free entry road stopped my every turn. Back onto Van Dyke, near the rail road crossing I found St. Cyril Street. Unlike any of the grid roads this one was ancient. It lazed along in a random crescent up on a high prairie that had not been steamed shoveled by rail road engineers into submission. The ley of the land was original and true. I surmised that this was one of the oldest roads in the city, thinking it must have lead to a village of sorts back in the 1800’s.

From there on I finally stumbled back onto Mt. Elliot and headed down past the Heidelberg project and onto Jefferson. From there east for a quick Belle Isle loop and then back round to the waterfront with a stop into Andrews bar. Detroit Synergy was there the night before and I thought it would be fun to see the place again. Once there I struck up a conversation with a fellow patron to discuss the merits of what a true man means? The Promise keepers came up in our discussion as well as owning it, admitting it taking reasonability for one actions, a good discourse indeed.

Onto the next river front sidewalk I enjoyed the fountain of youth for a while and then headed out near the Ren Cen and made my way through Greek town and then on past the Temple up to HJ’s once again. Sitting there, after 32 in to the wind I started text messaging to see if I could get a lift? Of course my wife said “slap the peddles on home,(not in so many words but nine the less)” I did. But…… first I made a stop into Motor City for some of their new Blueberry Seltzer, more water, more Seltzer and some more water again. I enjoyed the breeze all the way back, almost 50 and yet just another wonderful journey.

J. Meyers Bike explorer

At 1:45 in the afternoon the Mercury had risen to 91 degrees and the hot wind was blowing 15-20 mph from the South.  Knowing it was going to be a sweaty challenge I decided to head due South and get the worst of it out of the way.  Slicing through Oak Park and down Church Street I happened upon/found about a half mile of lawn which appears to have been a shut down/reclaimed street?  Heading south it becomes Hubble as I continued across 8 mile I headed in once again…

From there I slid a little East and went by Lugar Park and then down and by Diack Park on Thatcher Street.  From there I continued South, crossing over School craft I decided to take the rail road grade/bridge over I-96.  Without any guardrails or handrails the sight line drew numerous honks and views from the people trapped inside their steel cages on wheels.  As a fitting tribute I had to drop down and give 25 slow and deep to the only portal open in the North.

Onto Fullerton I decided to head East to Schaefer Hwy, turning South the automobile  interface energy was not all that good, breathing deeply I continued South past the CSX Transport Center and arrived at West Chicago and turned West onto Freeland Street.  Freeland is Strategically Keyed to a Beautiful Masonic Temple.  If you look up in the sky you will see the floating temple on the Spire that appears to have been influenced by the Art Deco Movement.  This place is commonly known as the Daimler Chrysler Jeep and Truck Engineering Center now emptied?  I wonder how connected Dick Chrysler was in the Masonic Order of Detroit?  The Crysler Building in New York seems to say it all!  I wonder if he was using his knowledge in a self serving manner, as Yoda would say, “the one that leads to the Dark side”? From what I have read anything that is selfishly wrought and or is supportive of the materialistic paradigm, invoked by speaking the hidden words of the Secret Mysteries leads to the corruption of the soul???  Was the fall of Chrysler predestined by wanton selfish acts of long ago?  Maybe ask John Bravata, he might know?  Oddly enough our local Ponsi Schemer recently destroyed Mr. Chrysler Historic English Tudor Summer Lake Cottage in Brighton to build his new palatial estate with other peoples money.  All that is left now is a foundation of concrete that was built upon the destruction of History by selfish greed.  Sounds like Detroit to me?

Anyways, aligning myself to the Center Axis/Ley Line Vortex, I faced perfectly North and dropped and gave the concrete and the abandoned temple 25, slow and deep, as an expression of Modern Day De-Construction right into the face of the Temples and Gods of Man that were built upon shallow selfish foundations and not upon the foundational principles of the Lord of Spirits.

None of us can experience the energys and Vortexs of our city while strapped in an automobile, we are moving to fast, ahead of the moment, focusing on the future rather than availing ourselves and our experience to what is right here and now in the moments as they occur.

As my tribute to Raphael was finished, I mounted up and caught the Southern breeze North and back to my garden of delights, Jen and Sephera with little Neum on his way down soon.

J. Meyers bike explorer

Only 7 of us joined Alex from Detroit Bikes/Detroit Synergy as it was pissing rain all morning long.  The most interesting fact that was shared was a particular style of Architecture that was created by one of the car designers that worked at Ford Motor Company in between 1900-1920.  Numerous homes were designed and constructed for the upper level managers and their families in and around Dearborn.  The homes are a-symetrical and have a simular theme expressed in all colors.

One of the new riders to the group was saddled with a leaky valve on his back tire.  This particular tire was not a quick connect/dissconnect so after 2 shots of CO2 the group decided to break off early and do better next time.  I look forward to next years tour, (hopefully with a scheduled rain day alternative) so that I may learn more about this amazing city that is hidden north and South of the Michigan Ave cooridore.

J. Meyers bike explorer

With the handle bar cam mounted I took one of the trail ways down this time so as to show people what we have been talking about.  I forgot how much fun all the twisting and turning and rolling climbing was!  Out Technical support J.P. will be having fun editing out and speeding up so that people can see the way past there fears.

I could think of no better way than ending the month of July with a semi-epic ride.  People were overtly friendly as I was being engaged firs,t with hellos and way to go’s!  When I made it onto John R were it becomes one way, I did my best to capture the freedom of the trail.  Sweeping back and forth across 4 lanes of emptiness Mile after mile, no passing cars nothing.  A view that was hopefully captured on the video which will be posted soon.

Passing by Comercia Park was worthy of a slow down to a point of crawling.  The Vans warped tour brought in a massive younger crowed down to the D, they were expressing their freedom at various levels of mood, illumination and style.  Community has many faces and many expressions with one common tone being ever present, it only happens outside of cars.

Snaking through Greek town I made it down to the waterfront to enjoys the sights and sounds of the Fountain of Youth.  For those of you who have never been, it is a delight to watch the children play in the dancing fountain in front of the Ren Cen.  Laughter, surprise, shouts of glee and yah!  Made may way around the waterfront and headed back into the East side of Greek-town to Jacoby’s to get the dusty pipes wet.  With Oberon in hand and with two waters previously consumed I met a wonderful couple who were down from Saginaw to watch their Sons band play in the Warp tour.  We talked about sites to see, historic Fort-Wayne as I listened to a Mothers wishful hope that her child would have finished his degree so that at least he could have that piece of paper.  I counters and said, the people who are in touch with the other side of their brain a.k.a. artist do not do well at University cause they are drawn to the other side, the side of visualization and feeling.   I suggested to embrace the difference and the freedom of the artist and let the boy sing, sing and sing.  With good smiles they headed off to the show and then the drive back to Saginaw whence they came.

From there I motored on up to the Motor City Brewery to say hello and try some summer ale.  What a relaxing place/event.  Sitting halfway in and half way out it was fun to take in some breath and say hello to the people that i have come to know in my travels.  Once again it is a house of community, no judgment, no disdain, no poison, no pain, we all the same.   Looking at the clock thought it best to head on north west and home, one last stop at hero’s park and hit my last set of 32 before those tired triceps began to fail.

Another beautiful ride, free from the cars and more over the drivers who are still caught up in the illusion of the race.

J. Meyers bike explorer

Heading out solo from HJ’s I contined with my explorations of the West side.  Traveling out Martin Luther King I turned right onto West Grand Blvd and then left onto Toledo, which if you followed the signs would bring you to Toledo Ohio.  Ditching onto Vernor I snaked my way down to Patton Park.  What drew me there was the watershed topography that rolls on down to the rouge river.  Across the park to the Northwest I was drawn accross the open grass discovering Holy Cross Cemetary.  The roadway that leads you in and through is simular to a dna strand as it is in the shape of the inner patterns of a Celtic Cross!  In all of the cemetarys I have ridden through never will a person find more Catholic Symbolisum.  The monumenbts are you unique given the singualr undertone of their combined expression.  Check it out.

Riding on the designated only bike trail (oh ya baby) I followed the signs to Lapeer park and what I saw/experienced there was truly beautiful! Near the Southern End of Dearborn more than 1000 people were out enjoying/creating community.  Kids on bikes all over the place, riding once again on the non motorized bike path.  Numerous Moms with veils and reveils were out walking, working out pushing strollers, talking amongst them selves.  Groups of men playing numerous soccer games and even larger groups of men taking in the site of the lady parade!  All culture differences aside I wish a T.V. crew was there to catch a glimpse at a part of the city that know one has ever heard and even fewer have ever seen.   The total experience was/is community, something that has been lost along the highway of Detroit life, as we continue to commute where fear forced suburban directives allow us to keep burning fossil fuel, hurting our planet more and more. If you have been to Central or Stanley park then you have cought a glimpse of what is right here around our corner.  The question is can you leave your judgement and brainwashed cultural prejudicial differences behind so that you can be present to the stream?

On Northwest from there I stumbled on a gang of teenagers vandilizng a once beatufiul and expesive wrought iron trash receptical.  I stopped and said hey what the hay?  Pushing with boastful words a little I did not budge.  I asked them abotu there moms and sister and friends who might need to use the trash can to keep the park clean.  A few rumbles later the leader of the group spoke up saying “ok i will fix it tomorrow”, to that i suggested that, “to gain honor in this life is to choose to speak words that were only true”.  After a few moments of silence I started to peddle when the same leader shouted “Ya what about you man?” I stopped and turned slowly to all once again and said, “I have been practicing with all heartfelt intent for the past 8 years”.

From there it was onto to Jerry’s place.  Been in his family for 60 years.  Simple put an excellent place of community were no one is trying to impress, dress or mess with a new guest.  Jerry himself served me an ice cold beer and warmly welcomed me with heart felt cheer.  All colors all religions all makes.  Everyone relaxing i felt right at home!  I learned that it is a Ford Rouge Plant hang out full of good cheers.  I was happy to tell everyone that in spite of my wife’s pension for German made engineering and in spite of drive train, transmission and hub issues,I was a ford man since 1993!  A girl who was a little to fascinated with the tale bought me a drink and slid down three bar stools so that she, “could hear me better”.  That was just the time I started to talk about my wife’s garden and the flowers that I, as her worthy gardener, care for. She then comenced to tell me about her gardener of sorts who was notguiding the bloom?  i suggested to her that all gardens need a high fence so as to not allow unworthy tresspass and once the bar has been raised then, just maybe then, a worthy gardenr would ask about be invited in?

From there it was a hard fast peddle slap all the way back to Motor City were I ordered up a summer ale and then headed back home to my awaiting garden and Sephera a true fruit of the divine inspiration.

J. Meyers bike explorer

For the first time I took out the diamond back mountain bike bought in 1993.  Nothing Trek makes can match it’s efficiency as the Italian made rims spin and spin and spin.  A warm and wonderful journey.  Kind of hot and sticky, so when you add in 4 sets of push ups on the way down it equals an immediate trip into the rest room.  So upon arrival at HJ’s I made a bee line for the restroom so that soap, water and paper towel could be used to clean up and not stink the place up!

 Steve Hoover and I celebrated his pending nuptials with a beaker full of Mr. ‘Smooth as Silk’.  From HJ’s headed onto the Motor-city Brewery were I enjoyed good conversation and the-glow of community were truth is spoken and judgement is left somewhere else.  Angelica was getting excited about her pending nuptials next week.  Ahh romance what a wonderful thing! 

Said my parting good byes and headed on North with a few more sets in mind I gave fitting tribute at Hero’s park and pushed-up until my arms failed. 

J. Meyers bike explorer

Bike Mike, (co-founder Bike Detroit) showed up in Lathrup Village around 8:15, water filled and chatting done we jumped on our Mountain Bikes and headed out to beat our best time down which had been 57 Minutes.  That big Son-of-a-Beeach slapped the pedals hard all the way down.  We picked up a road-iee around Palmer Park, avg 20+ the Boy could not pass and held on as we enjoyed the competition.  At Warren we got caught at the light and as our new friend arrived he passed on thru saying see you later and hit it as hard as he could.  We caught him and Blew by him at Willis, just in time for our left turn at Seldon and on to honest John’s.

Our Buddy Shawn was waiting as we dismounted I had to walk around for 5 and catch my breath whoa what a slapping down through the sticky mud like air…  A group of 12 riders were parked all over the fence as a smile came to my face the word is out and everyone is starting to enjoy biking in the City.  A beer and 3 glasses of water later we were oft again Sailing sliding around the cars stuck in the log jam we came into the area that had been closed to cars.  We all started to make wide sweeping Arch’s back in forth enjoying the freedom from all that steel.  Hundreds of people were doing the same thing bikes everywhere wow!

The display was wonderful and the sounds and booms riveting through the depths of our chest down to our feet.  With the finale being done the mad dash was upon us, bikes streaking out and in every direction.  The Police gave us special treatment and held the steel at bay.  We flew up to the Motor-city Brewery and as we arrived the place was awash in it’s golden community light-glow.  Relaxing with some Vegan Curry Soup the bikes started to pour on into the parking lot.  At 11:30 there were 3 times the bikes than cars as the Traffic Jam Parking Lot looked all of a sudden to big and kind of out of place?  when the Green Alleyway project is completed what a hub this area will be!

 Slapping North through Wayne State Campus we encountered a pick up truck, (you know Big Truck, Little Johnson?), on the other side, whose driver thought it would be fun to roll on past us a little to close.  With that being said the rest of the journey North West was fantastic.  Through Palmer Woods Park we only saw one car.  Onto Livernois same thing only one car.  Once North of 8 mile no cars were encountered at all! We own the streets at night.  Arriving back in Lathrup Village we commented on the trail and went our separate ways me oft to bed and Big Mike on up to Rochester Hills.  This was our third year in a row so this is going to be a tradition from now on.  You are all invited…..

 Bike Detroit!!

June 23rd.  Blasted across Southfield Road, cutting the massive rush in half, no real close call just ripping fun.  Headed through Lathrup Village and by the Historic Mansion that burned to the ground last week.  With the smell of cinder still in the air I was wondering why no one had thought of a Lighting rod?  From there snaked over to the ‘Ridge’ trial.  Turning right onto Bell Road I headed North to Valley Crest drive.  Turning left and then left again down to the turn around on the right you will find the trail entry.  I was being followed a little to close by a revved up unsatisfied women when I made my dart into the trail entry.  Turning left I happened upon the slanting road trial and started my way down the hill, for those of us who have been there, the words oh shit came out of my mouth as I was standing up on the pedals ass back, no en-do please….

 Whipping along the rivers edge and across the DNR bridge I climbed my way out the other end.  At 12 mile road I turned east and slapped the pedals all the way down the sidewalk hill back to Bell Road once again.   You cannot believe that something like this is right here around the corner.

 Bike Detroit!

Took the usual way east along Lincoln and down to John R.  South of 8 mile there was nothing but nature making noise.  I encountered only one car prior to Grand Blvd.  Free fun with push ups meet the family at the Motor City Brewery and headed home.

 J. Meyers