Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Monday, October 17, 2011

RIP Eric LaRose, Electric Warriors


One of SD's key bike boosters and one of my friends, Eric LaRose, tragically passed away last month after having a seizure. Eric started a bike crew called Electric Warriors in late 2006 which, with the help of the Cretins, Kutters, and kids from the early years of Critical Mass, put on some of the most killer rides in SD.

I remember the first time I ever heard of the Electric Warriors was from reading about their first planned ride which was advertised via a poster at Kung Food (also RIP'd). The name and logo was a reference to the great T.Rex album.


But what I dug the most was someone taking the initiative to start something new in SD involving mobilizing people for fun on bikes.

The mission statement for EW was perfect:

The Electric Warriors is a night to escape the confines of cars, it is a night to behold our city, to savor the air in our face, to feel the ground beneath our wheels, to know that there is something more to San Diego than tourist attractions and over priced condos. The Electric Warriors is a group for friends, to make friends, to be with friends. The Electric Warriors is for everyone who knows San Diego is much more beautiful on a bike, it is for everyone who wants to unite and spend one night laughing, being boisterous and jovial, connecting, and most importantly feeling something other than the daily dredge of life. The Electric Warriors is a movement to take back the streets, if not just for one night, at least forever in our memories.

The Electric warriors is a group designed to bring together all of San Diego bike people under the common goal of fun. Many of you have ridden with other groups, many of you have not. This group is for the sole purpose of friendship, to motivate others to bike more often, and of course to have fun. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the monthly bike rides.

EW's broad appeal, combined with underground appeal of Cretins and Kutters, made the collabo rides super fun and increasingly popular.

In January of '07, the Cops & Robbers ride was the first known "unpermitted" ride in the mid city area to break over 200 people. Back then that was huge.

Eric was always down to get into some fun adventures and was a great person to have as a friend and as a community member. He will be missed.

(Eric (far right) with Ken and Jodi, circa 2006. Damn, that was a whole other era).


(Hung on Eric's bike at his tribute memorial).

RIP buddy.