Founded in January 2007, the Southbay Cruisers host social bicycle rides and bicycling events in the beach cities of Los Angeles,CA including Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Torrance, and Manhattan Beach.  The Southbay Cruisers are made up primarily of a group of recreational bicycle riders and bicycle commuters. We believe that people riding their bicycles in the streets of the Southbay is a good thing. We live in the community and we ride in the community. Southbay Cruiser bicycle cruiser rides are free and open to anyone. (If you are under 16 years of age, please come with a parent or guardian.) The Southbay Cruisers ask that you help your fellow cruisers out along the way. The Southbay Cruisers are not a gang, or a church group, nor are we a ‘pub crawl’. We’re just people in the community that enjoy a night ride through the Southbay Cities of Los Angeles.CA.  (You don’t need a cruiser style bike by the way. Any kind of bike will do on our rides-mountain bike, tandem, tall bikes, foldies, road bikes, cruisers...they are all good on our rides.You can even skate with us instead if you like.)

Liliana(L) and Jollly (R) enjoy the performances at The Southbay Bicycle Music Festival II: The Pajama Jam”

(See a recap of this event below)

We had a great time at the Southbay Bicycle Music Festival II on September 20th, 2008, thanks in part to our performers-Kris Angelis and her sister, Jennifer “The Bronx Babe” Vazquez, and returning Southbay Cruiser performers, The 3 Heads. Thank you to all of you! We were thrilled to have you join us! You rock!

Who would you like to see as Southbay Cruiser of the week? Send us your suggestion to info@southbaycruisers.com

The Southbay Bicycle Music Festival II:

Another Cool Night in Valley Park....

This time while wearing our pajamas.

When we first received the idea of holding a bicycle music event from the  San Francisco Cruisers, we thought we would hold it once a year like our Northern California Cruising compatriots. But we had so much fun at our first event in July, and we have such great weather down here in Southbay Los Angeles, and with such a wealth of musical talent to choose from how could we wait a whole year before doing another Bicycle Music event?

With that in mind, the Southbay Cruisers held their second Southbay Bicycle Music Festival on Saturday, September 20th, 2008. We had an awesome time at our first event, and even better time at this event.

The evening started out at Hermosa Pier where about 20 of us headed off on a 10 mile cruiser ride through Redondo and Hermosa Beach. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and although the sun was still shining high over head, we rode down Hermosa Avenue in our pajamas and waited for nightfall, amid cheers from passing drivers, people waiting in line at the Hermosa Comedy House,  and apartment dwellers along the way.

We saw some unique pajama outfits includiing those of Faith, Jolly, Mary, Speedy Petey, Sparky, Hercules, Two Step Tina, Liliana, Jeffery. and Nick, who although concerned about whether he might get arrested cruised in his underwear the whole way.

Arriving at Valley Park we were greeted by another 20 or so people, as we settled into a night of feasting around the barbecue pit. We anxiously waited for our first performers, Kris Angelis and her sister to perform for us. Performing her original tunes ‘Painted Eyes’ and ‘No Place Like Home’, and ‘Manifest Destiny’ these young up and coming performers captivated us with their harmonies and  unique blend of country/folk rock acoustic guitar music.

Next came Jennifer Vazquez, “The Bronx Babe” voted the best unsigned independent artist in Los Angeles in 2005.  Playing songs from her most recent album including “Lone Pine” and her yet to be released “Strawberry Milk”, Jennifer held the spotlight well, which was composed of various bicycle lights and an ice Down Low Glow from the xtracycle aimed at our performers who sat on park benches next to the barbecue pit. I first spotted Jennifer three or four years ago performing at Santa Monica Promenade and was glad to finally see her perform for us at our Southbay Bicycle Music Festival II.

Returning Southbay Bicycle Music event veterans, The 3 Heads took our park bench center stage next. Belting out “Undertow”, ‘Home” and their anthem “World Was Ours” brought us to our feet as we danced on the grass. Especially noted are Jolly’s interpretive dance to “World Was Ours”. We even saw them bust into their own acoustic rap song.

We had some challenges on this ride. Sparky stepped up to help a cruiser repair two flat tires along the esplanade. No sooner did the 3 Heads take center stage that one of their capos busted. And finally, playing late at night in Valley Park we learned about the importance of staying off the grass when the sprinklers turn on. 

We also raised close to $200 for A Window Between Worlds(www.awbw.org), this money went towards our goal of $500 to sponsor a woman to go through their Art Healing Program.

This was so much fun we can’t wait to do it again. Pictures of this event are posted on the ‘Photos’ page.

  Changing Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach one bike ride at a time.

                        People Riding Bicycles in the Streets of the Southbay - It’s a good thing.

Join our mailing list to learn about upcoming Southbay Cruiser Group Bicycle Ride events. Send your request to: info@southbaycruisers.com

(The Southbay Cruisers don’t sell, give loan,trade, or pass out email addresses to any person, group/organization, or company.)

We had a blast at our first roller derby ride several months ago. The Roller Derby Ride II was even better...much more intense than our first Roller Derby Ride. All the thrills and spills from last ride we’re there again and then some.

We met at Hermosa Pier wearing our custom made Roller Derby Ride II outfits that we hand painted ourselves. About 15 of us headed up the Southbay Bike path and then cut through residential streets in Manhattan Beach before doing a few “Roller Coaster” runs under the new Green Line Douglas Station tunnel. I noticed a little roller Derby action taking place on our bikes on the way up as “Hercules” Shari and “Galloping” Mary Caldera clad in their roller derby outfits, engaged in a little bike bumping on the way up. 

Riding through the Manhattan Beach Mall and the industrial areas of El Segundo was a new experience for many, and we were greeted by cheers and questions from curious onlookers and people driving by.

Arriving at the Toyota Center we were entertained by the Angels City Derby Girls, specifically the Shore Shots vs. the Block Steady Crew.  This was intense....about 1,000 times more intense than our first game. The bout, which combined precision skating combined with hard hitting floor sliding action, was so close that both teams were very aggressive  going after the win up to the last few seconds of the game. It wasn’t uncommon to see girls “slingshotting” their jammers” past opposing members to score. We had front row seats and were greeted on several occasions by several girls sliding inches into us. Yes, this was more real than widescreen TV. No this game is not for those weak at heart.

At half time we were also entertained by a tall unicycle rider who juggled his way around the track.

We had an awesome time and want to congratulate Heather and Sonia  on the outstanding job they did at the match. Both were MVPS for their respective teams for this game. We look forward to Roller Derby Ride III, with the Angels City Derby Girls, offering the best alternative sports entertainment in Southbay, Los Angeles.

More pics of this ride on the ‘Photos’ Page.

Three Roller Derby Girls you wouldn’t want to mess with-Liliana(L),Shari (C), Mary(R). The Roller Derby II Ride - Sept 13th, 2008

Our very own Heather, the MVP of the game.

Tall unicyclist at half time.

Block Steady action.

The Creepy Cruise II is Next!!!!

Cruiser Ride/Barbecue/Karaoke/Games

Saturday, October 18th, 2008

Tito making his moves on Ioana at last year’s Creepy Cruise.

Can you believe it? Another year of cruising has nearly come and gone. Halloween is right around the corner and that means it’s almost time for the Southbay Cruisers Creepy Cruise II!  We will cruise through the streets of the Southbay to the sound of the soul cycle in whatever costume you choose. After the ride we will barbecue, karaoke, play our own unique set of halloween games at Valley Park.  We will meet in front of our usual spot in front of the Lighthouse Cafe at Hermosa Pier at 7:00PM/Ride at 7:15PM on Saturday, November 18th, 2008. Details on the Calendar Page.

Lola, Sofia and their mom rock out to The 3 Heads in their pjs

Diggin’ the Pajama Jam lifestyle

Two Step Tina and Jeffery gobble down some marshmellows

Settling down to a night of acoustic jams.