Mission Mission

Estimates indicate more than 1,000 lined the half mile race course earlier this evening for what was possibly the first legal bike race to take place in the Mission.

76 racers competed in two races that lasted about 40 minutes each.

“There was one crash but it was minor” said volunteer, Stephen Grady. “It seemed to be very well taken care of. The paramedics were on it but everybody walked away from it.”

Nearing the final lap, Marc Marino about to overtake his friend Chas Christiansen.

$700 in cash prizes were distributed to the podium finishers of both the women’s and men’s races.

Winners – Women’s

• 1st Veronika Volok
• 2nd Kora Colasuonno
• 3rd Christina Peck

Winners – Men’s

• 1st Manuel Barra
• 2nd Marc Marino
• 3rd Chas Christiansen

Today on the Alamo Drafthouse blog, former Roxie boss and new New Mission honcho Mike Keegan gives us the skinny:

What are we going to show at the New Mission? The short answer is, anything we think should be seen with an audience.  The slightly longer answer is: Hollywood blockbusters, independent pictures, classics, not-so-classics, foreign films, insane rediscoveries, restorations, rarities, documentaries, cult stuff, music stuff, interactive parties, and lots more.  From family-friendly sing-a-longs to gigantic space operas to brain-damaged total trash, it’s all under one gigantic roof at the New Mission.

Speaking of the New Mission, want to see how it’s coming along?

This is our big main room on the ground floor.  That scaffolding on the stage is where speakers are going to go, behind the screen.  Do you see those little holes in the ground?  Back in the day, each seat at the New Mission had individual heat blowers in the floor for each guest.  We’re not replicating that particular quirk, but we figure being able to eat and drink from your seat is a fair trade.  EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: We ARE replicating that personal atmospheric maintenance system!

Epic! Great work, Mike!

Read on for more pics and info.

Last week, our pal Lil Tuffy submitted a suggestion regarding J. Rusten Furniture Studio, a Mission-based business doing some really cool stuff:

You should interview/feature businesses like this that are still in the Mission. There’s still a lot of cool stuff being made here and I’d love to see pictures of his shop and work.

I thought that was a really good idea — and then Jared Rusten himself answered all our prayers with an in-depth history of his famous California tables and desks on an Instagram #tbt yesterday:

This Saturday about +70 people will be racing what may be the first fully legal, closed course bike race in the Mission District. Ever.

In NIMBY, USA it’s a miracle out of scripture that Mission Crit organizer, James Grady, was permitted (literally) to carve out a triangular velodrome on a Saturday night.

The total cost to produce the race is nearing $10,000, which is coming from a handful of sponsors and a crowdfunding campaign. In an unconventional move, the SFMTA agreed to waive the $30,000 fee normally charged to reroute buses. Some members of ISCOTT, the committee that regulates street closure permits, “were dumbstruck,” Grady said. Race registration fees go towards cash prizes for the winners.

Mission Crit features two 120 degree turns. Spectating should be good and harrowing.

Spectators can buy tickets to win prizes like Kryptonite locks, Tshirts, and GoPro cameras. Proceeds go to the San Francisco Bicycle Messenger Association’s Broken Bones Fund, which helps messengers in times of need.

Last year’s Mission Crit featured 20 racers in a parking lot. This year the mens race sold out and has a waiting list of 17. Two teams are coming up from Los Angeles.

In organizing the event, what was most remarkable for Grady was, “how supportive the Bay Area bicycle community is. I’m just a guy with an idea. This could not have happened without the overwhelming support of the community.”

Sunday’s 60 Minutes piece on the other coast’s brakeless fixed crit.

Like any track race on a real velodrome, all bikes are fixed (no coasting). And while it may seem counterintuitive, riding brakeless is essential to the participants safety.

“There’s been a dramatic increase in the popularity of cycling but there are very few opportunities to see an actual bicycle race” Grady said, explaining his motive for organizing the race. “The goal of the Mission Crit is to promote cycling and community.”

Wanna race?

The men’s race is at capacity but if you’re a woman (1 in 10 registrants at press time) there is still time. Register here. Winner gets $200 in cash.

Official Rules:

• Fixed gear only (no freewheels)

• No brakes. Even if they’re disconnected, take ‘em off.

• Drop bars

• Clipless pedals strongly encouraged

• Lights and GoPros permitted

• Helmets required

Wanna watch?

Just show up this Saturday, 4/11. The women’s race is at 8PM, the men’s at 9PM.

The best spots for watching should be 18th and Treat, or 17th and Harrison. If you want an inside corner (to get closest to the action), stake out a spot before the race begins. Crossing the course during the race is extremely dangerous for you and the racers.

To make sure the crit is invited back next year, pack out your trash and use the provided Port-a-potties.

Our pal Nattles got to do it, last year at a Karaoke Underground show in Austin:

A video posted by Allan Hough (@punkgirls) on Mar 15, 2014 at 10:19pm PDT

The Karaoke Underground is in SF for the very first time this Sunday night at Rickshaw Stop!

We originally reported that they were opening on Record Store Day (April 18th) — but in fact they are softly opened right now! And chock full of good stuff!

(I won $100 in a music-related bet last night, and spent every last cent of it at 1-2-3-4 Go! this morning.) (Also, if you spend $100 you get a free t-shirt.)

[via Adam Thorman]

On tap at Rosamunde right now. So good. Just look at it.

Bummer dude.

[via Ticklefight]

Timbuk2 have been pumping bags out of their Mission factory for 25 years, and tomorrow night they officially open their Factory Store to the public, on the corner of Shotwell and 20th Street. The free party starts at 6pm and features fine entertainment like a Skeeball Tournament (from Joey The Cat), a live Polka cover band called Polkalicious, local beer, drunk factory tours, raffles, discounted stuff and way more!

While this is a free event you do need to RSVP on facebook to get in, so go to the event page to do that.