City Cycling Lost In East St. Louis Labor Day Weekend Bike Blogger

[@vikky-p4l]

Been watching your videos for the past few years with my son. They're so relaxing and interesting to watch! Feels like we're riding with you 😁

[@distantcyclist]

Enjoyed watching this adventurous bicycle trip.....cool video!

[@TheAed38]

Someone from up above must have been watching over you. You just took an hour long tour through one of the most dangerous locations on the planet.

[@s8terseeyal8teryah8t]

*in the united states

[@Jahebe]

East St. Louis isn’t even that bad. CUT IT OUT

[@memestarhiphop5787]

@@Jahebe I mean it's bad but people over react

[@COATES77241]

You have a great channel with superb info. Glad I subscribed. I ride a recumbent three-wheeler, but I learn a lot of relevant bike tips just watching and listening to your presentation and narrative. Best Wishes, Stuart from Canada

[@tgarre6]

You rode a bicycle in East St. Louis? I won't even stop for gas in East St. Louis!

[@Gospelwatcher]

It's fear like that that keeps east St. Louis poor. They don't mess with folks that don't mess with them plus they have supreme city bus service. The only bus service that leaves the state and returns. If you own a wealthy business, move it to East St. Louis because they need jobs, and as it stands now, if an adult wants the best jobs, they have to leave the state to St. Louis to get them. Encourage your rich buddies to do business there; fearlessly. How would you like it if you lived in one city but couldn't work there because of the lack of jobs and opportunity? How would you like it if half your block was full of nothing but grass lots and boarded homes? How would you like it if you couldn't find sickle cell services in your city because it's located across the river? How would you like it if despite being the majority race in your town, you were treated like a second class citizen and constantly expected to fail? How would you like it if the town you lived in was known for crime...and nothing else? There's more to that city than poor blacks and crime. Whites do live there, but they only make up 1.9% of the population whereas blacks make up 98.7%. Miles Davis lived there, and so did Ike and Tina Turner at one point. This is a large city; the largest all black city in the country, so if bikeblogger can ride through there unprotected, you can get gas there....during the day time.

[@oldguy537]

enjoyed watching , love sightseeing video's , and that was an entertaining one .. thanks for sharing .. Cheers

[@TimothyC.84]

For all the comments about E. St. Louis, you see he had no people bothering him over here. Chill with the rhetoric and get some facts first.

[@Stanan26]

Timothy C. Exactly, the comments are pure ignorance..... i live in estl and all the crap they are typing is bull

[@eruetifoster6184]

My Great-grandfather was born there 1871 he moved to Washington state then emigrated to NZ before the turn of the century. I appreciate seeing the place where he was born.

[@IrishBiteGirl]

That's because he did it during the early day, when all the drug dealing black dudes were asleep lmao He woulda been in trouble being a white dude on a bike at night there, especially wearing a helmet.. They'd go for him hard.

[@DRSATAN]

you sir are brave....

[@billoberg6716]

Enjoy your videos, man. You do realize you really shouldn't have been riding in east St. Louis and Brooklyn, right? Especially having no spare tube, water, and no light and with the sun setting. You're really lucky you didn't get a flat on one of those roads. It wouldn't have ended well. Not trying to preach, just very concerned while I watched as a stl local who knows those areas. Stay safe.

[@BikeBlogger]

+Bill Oberg Yeah, I kind of got myself in that situation but fortunately no flats. I had some heavy puncture resistant tires.

[@drdreddmanofmystery9482]

"And in the crack house on the left you'll notice..." Man, get the hell out of there!!!

[@BikeBlogger]

Hi, Hayden Zenor. My typical bicycle commute is 4 miles (6.5 km) in 20 minutes. I think this is the sweet spot because it's long enough to build up a little sweat but not so far it is treacherous in bad weather.

[@haydenzenor1074]

Thanks

[@almatsailaukhan9181]

My commute is 12-14 km. Depends on where I ride but I get to school in like 30-40 minutes. I do ride on the sidewalks since motorists are not that friendly around here BUT today I got out on the road. It was quite pleasant and at this point I'm confident enough to ride with cars i think. Need to improve my gear shifting. When spun out i just change into a harder gear but my legs start hurting a bit. It's good "just worked out" pain, not that bad "ugh my leg is in a bear trap" kind of pain". i guess i'm not as fit as i thought i was. My legs aren't very strong too. When spun out i change into a harder geat but find muself struggling a bit to pedal. But it can be sloved.

[@ft6755]

Have you ever been stopped for riding on pavements? In most countries I believe it's against the law to ride on them but I'm not sure.

[@BikeBlogger]

+Traitorbagel It depends on the local jurisdiction. Video coming up on that.

[@vm24seven365]

+BikeBlogger Thank you kind sir for being so positive when blogging about East St. Louis...I know the area well. If more people would be open to how (all) people of (all) back-grounds live, well, the world would be a kinder, more thoughtful place. Excellent video...just became a new subscriber. Safe travels, and peace friend.

[@mschrage618]

Super cool ride, but I’m genuinely amazed he didn’t have any problems.

[@Brett.Simpson]

3:13 - Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (green dome on the left).

[@LucianMelb]

Ouch...man..I live in Melbourne Australia and I grew up in Eastern Europe (Romania), I have to say...some of the areas you rode in this video gave me the chills , and I have been in some weird places in my life ... Why are some of those neighbourhoods so deserted? where is everyone? Looked so dangerous.. Stay safe man

[@guitarest452452]

That mistake of taking the Eads bridge hahaha I've done that before and ended down on East Broadway haha I can't believe you rode down threw the Pitts and survived... those are some rough projections hahaha You came over the Mckinley bridge into Venice IL where i live hahaha hope you enjoyed our shitty water xD great video

[@feelthafury1698]

Eric Hearst especially for a white boy with no protection

[@BikeBlogger]

@R Ayala That's excellent, R Ayala! It's a very practical way to stay healthy, relieve stress, and get in a workout while maintaining a busy work schedule.

[@addictedtopiano]

Longest BB video I've watched, but strangely enough, it was not boring. Cheers

[@Richie858]

"cycling lost in east st. louis" sounds dangerous.

[@JohnDoe-hv2gn]

+Richard Southwell It ain't just dangerous! It's suicidal! East St. Louis is an all out war zone!

[@insect45]

+John Doe do u comment on everything u ain't een frm thea

[@Richie858]

ian yah

[@JohnDoe-hv2gn]

I personally have been through East St. Louis and was terrified for my life! My parents and I were going to a conference just west of St. Louis when my stepdad took a wrong turn, we got lost, and ended up in East St. Louis. It was harrowing! Vacant houses all over, all boarded up and with paint peeling and looking on the verge of collapse, a couple houses half burned down including one that half was completely on the ground and the other half was a trellis of charred rafters and plywood, a school building on 13th Street and Bond Avenue that looked like a tornado hit it, and even a few entire parcels that looked like the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. Forget robbed and shot! I thought we were going to get downright blown to smithereens by a roadside bomb or IED attack! East St. Louis is easily as bad as, if not worse than, Afghanistan! I was ready to shove my parents into the back seats, get behind the wheel, floor it out of East St. Louis, and drive as if trying to outrun Mount St. Helens on May 18th, 1980 at 8:32 in the morning!

[@kob3nme]

nice videos. I graduated from SIU in eville 3 years ago. Miss the weather down there

[@frankducett9]

Good job BB. Watch those railroad tracks.

[@veedubmatt]

Wow! This was an epic ride. You really did get "lost" in this video, and it was a fantastic journey! Thanks for sharing. Have you ever encountered any hostile situations while riding, or ever ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time?

[@BikeBlogger]

+VeeDub Matt I have seen some weird things on my rides but nothing really hostile between motorists, pedestrians, or animals. Thankfully.

[@TheAed38]

A ride into East St. Louis is a fantastic journey??? Did you travel back in time from 1950???

[@B_COOPER]

@@TheAed38 estl ain’t a bad place if you just mind your business and respect people.

[@dreamwavedave]

I once rented a bike at Urban Shark and rode some of streets before heading over the bridge and into Illinois. good times.

[@eruetifoster5162]

My Great Grand father was born in East St Louis in 1871.

[@BillyBurgh]

I can officially say that a video of a guy riding a bike got me dizzy, right around 31:00 on that bumpy road. Holy smokes! That must’ve felt great on your rear end. 😉 Nonetheless, great content as usual. Stay safe.

[@montecarlo4294]

Does East St Louis get to claim the Cardinals and the Blues?

[@rasvonquez8674]

some do and some don't claim them

[@elviesriosavillan7089]

hey , Nice to see you ride multi-speed road . Did you convert your drive train to 1 x 8 or 9? Even tho you got lost . How do you feel riding your new bike ? By the way Thank you for your videos . You are a stand up guy. Because of you I been working on my own commute videos. Even tho I use pro cam hero , its been working out . Your city roads is nice . In Phoenix we have false - flats roads and avenues on a deserts and some easy to very difficult climbs .

[@BikeBlogger]

+Elvies Rios Avillan Hello fellow bike commuter! I am in the process of converting my Lemond bicycle to 1X. Stay tuned for videos on that. ;)

[@elviesriosavillan7089]

+BikeBlogger alright bro! I definitely stay tune . keep up the videos . keep me motivated :)

[@cook7772]

Seeing you ride on the right of the lane on some of those roads had me cringing. When there a car in the next lane over, people tend to squeeze by ar full speed. I always get close pass if I do that. 45mph is mostly what I end up riding on. Then again I realized I've never seen anyone close pass you.

[@tombisson3186]

Do you use a mirror in your helmet? If not, you would really like having one. It's essential when riding in traffic. Nice video!

[@StephenNu9]

I do quite a bit of biking myself but you're obviously faster than I am -- and more gutsy in traffic.

[@williammoseley17]

Not all the ride is in East St Louis, IL. They don't have bike lanes. Mostly St Louis, MO

[@WheelersAtLarge]

You're never lost, just finding alternative routes 😂

[@BikeBlogger]

Yes!

[@Disconn3cted]

Did you really accidentally ride that nice looking bicycle into East St Louis? That's kind of hilarious. Glad you didn't get murdered or robbed.

[@Jahebe]

Disconn3cted you sound so ignorant

[@dawsonsimpson4867]

Jahebe but it’s true. Your town is ignorant

[@Jahebe]

I’m going to assume you’re a white person, and at that, I’ll leave this conversation alone

[@lav3nd3r09]

What a peaceful ride. Riding here in Manila, Philippines is an everyday war.

[@vettvega]

i look at the hold vd and enjoyed it i live in est st and i no you didnt hear me but i was telling you which way to go people make comments about esl but they dont live here been hear all my life a lot of great people here you did not encounter no problem and yes i know you were a little nervous but that is natural thaks for the ride along i use to ride by myself candace was great 19 to 23 mph getting ready to get back into it with a recombent trike take care be safe ralph

[@activepotato7240]

Hey what a great video , how much is that kind of bike?

[@thomasallen4340]

I LOVE getting lost on bicycle. I the other day took an old unused back road in the boonies. It was the BOONIES. The road was literally a one lane cow path. Awesome freedom on a bicycle

[@BikeBlogger]

+thomas allen I agree! I got lost on purpose in this video and it made for interesting ride, albeit aggravating at times. :)

[@dapsapsrp]

Cool video. I work in the West Downtown are near Union Station so I'm familiar with some of the streets you were on. Do the exhaust fumes bother you much? I know cars are much cleaner these days but in congested areas of heavy traffic it must get annoying.

[@BikeBlogger]

In my city there are car emission regulations preventing heavy pollution, so for the most part it isn't bad if I'm not following too close. The worst are city buses and big trucks. I tend to avoid the large roads for other reasons though including noise and lack of shelter from strong winds.

[@misha1ofakind]

wait so what state did you started from?? thank you for sharing this was very intersting

[@BikeBlogger]

+vanessa velazquez I started on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River.

[@leepacoindustries55]

Was so wishing I could give you directions when you were looking for highway 3 (which you passed blocks ago by the time you checked your map. I make vids about East Saint Louis...hope you check them out maybe. Thanks for a really interesting video.

[@haydenzenor1074]

How far away from home is your work?

[@albertcastro409]

That’s a good bike to take you that far.

[@billymcc4369]

cool video...by the way on the Missouri side, going south, the longggg wall is called a "levee" not a floodgate....i took the amtrak from san antonio tx. to st' louis last april... i recognized a lot of the st. you covered in st. louis...we had a pizza in the one near the courthouse.... i went to clark jr. high in east st. louis in 1963, i was in the gym when JFK was shot in dallas ! i wanted to see what east st. louis ( aka) " east boogie" looked like now...i drove all the way down "state st." to bellville>>>you should have gone that way....try it on your next trip over there.>>>>if you want you can ride the "metro" back to st. louis... you will see the real east st. louis going down state st. the school i went to is on state st. around 33rd. st. it is a burned out shell now ! 2009, they set it on fire...the sub-division i lived in is "parkside n 69th st. off on state st. i went down there....nothing left of the house we lived in, just the cement slab, and weeds and trees growing around it... incredibly east st. louis was designated an "all america city in 1959" unbeliveable what happened to it ! its a good thing you got out of there, before the sun went down !

[@jaiyamarley6801]

billy mcc .....yes he should have rode down state street to see how the city really looks....from state street downtown to like 89th and state street ....i grew up on 79th and state street in the 80's.....

[@jamielovespink26]

you are very lucky.......there are some streets over there where for sure your bike would have been taken and sold for 20 bucks, I was born and raised in that area

[@snapshotok2000]

I just bought 2 bikes for $20.00 a piece!

[@danielsalm6410]

Could you do a video showcasing the mods to ur new Lamond bike?

[@BikeBlogger]

+Daniel Salm Hello Daniel Salm. I am in the process of creating a series of videos on that topic. It's time consuming and taking multiple days but it's coming. ;)

[@billymcc4369]

oh the next time, try the "chain of rocks bridge" its the famous route 66, that goes from chicago to los angeles....take your GPS, and type in "state st."

[@BikeBlogger]

+billy mcc I got it on my list. Maybe before winter!

[@terryg995]

I ONLY GO TO THAT BRIDGE DURING EAGLE DAYS OR SET EVENTS. THAT IS ONE EERIE PLACE AND I HAVE A STORY TO TELL ABOUT THAT PLACE FROM 1993.

[@bjnkmlklk]

@@terryg995 TELL ME THE STORY

[@danceradiointernational9695]

How are you still alive.

[@robindegu7294]

is there a bike path now to cross over?

[@OrthodoxofUSA]

I'm thinking about moving to Saint Louis. I did some Google Maps bike routes, and they directed me to streets with no bike lanes. Are you allowed to bike on the sidewalk in Saint Louis? Where I live, there are many bike lanes, but you can't bike on the sidewalk.

[@blitzn00dle50]

Yes, you legally can, not that it would matter because cops only use laws like that to racially profile whoever they want

[@wouter_scholten]

I like this area where you cycle, and I saw in another video St.Louis has nice parks. A lot better than in NL where parks are usually rubbish, and in any case there is almost no opportunity to use/enjoy parks even in summer as it rains so often! At ca. 22:33: "Not the prettiest of neigbourhoods. It sucks being poor.". Do you mean poor about not everything being very neat, such as grass? I actually like that and that area where you ride looks nice to me, much better than the often obsessive-compulsive cleanliness of not just houses and gardens but in the maintenance of nature in NL (or rather I should call it shaping nature, such that to me it feels fake/made/fabricated). In some sense I admire your stopping for the stop signs, I would simply glance and if there is no traffic just run past them at high speed :) The comments about crime were suprising. I looked it up and found the top cities with deaths or violence are from esp. Brazil and the USA. The difference with Europe seems to be caused simply by easy availability of guns, as crime rates otherwise are not that different. Situations can easily turn to stuff with guns in the USA simply because they are there. In Europe that can't happen. So if there is a sudden mental breakdown situation of "going postal", then guns are not involved.

[@batbawls]

I probably would have turned around at the coin laundry / Illusion strip club at 18:50 and made a new PR headed west

[@CyclingCPA]

Hey BikeBlogger are you not using a mirror anymore? Did it not workout? I remember you used the bar end mirror at one time. I'm can't decide myself to use a mirror or not.

[@BikeBlogger]

+Chad B. There seems to be two types of cyclists - those who strongly suggest using mirrors and those who find mirrors only as a means to see what is going on behind you but not for changing lane positions. I think I fall in the latter group, so have not bought and installed mirrors on all my bikes. You don't really need to know what is going on behind you, only in front of you, but I know others will disagree. Definitely try it and see what you think. It may make you feel more comfortable on the road knowing if a car is coming up behind you etc.

[@CyclingCPA]

+BikeBlogger Thanks!

[@kindnessark8064]

I hate when you get lost. It is worse when you see a confusing junction with random lanes and road restrictions

[@nikelquint]

How do gears effect the bike? Faster? Slower? Easier to pedal up hills? When do you change gears? Sorry for all the questions.

[@BikeBlogger]

Every time you shift you slow down because just the act of moving the mechanical parts creates an inefficiency in the drivetrain, but it also helps keep a consistent RPM which is good for your legs. You downshift just before a hill and upshift near the crest of a hill. I'm no expert by any means though since I usually ride/prefer single speed.

[@nikelquint]

Okay, thanks!

[@teslamodelxlowell4549]

What happens to your phone navigation system?

[@trinacrawford8150]

Interesting to see the bike lanes from a bikers perspective. I always thought ya'll were a major pain in the ass. Awkward when making a right in a car.

[@activepotato7240]

How much is that kind of bike sir bikeblogger?

[@JoJanDiezel]

Hi BikeBlogger. How many PSI do you usually put on your tires for your road bike?

[@BikeBlogger]

+JoJanDiezel Hello JoJanDiezel. I usually use the maximum PSI, but generally you can safely reduce that by 20% for more comfort and better traction, maybe reduce more for the front tire because usually less weight is supported by it. Too little air pressure increases the risk of a flat tire of course.

[@JoJanDiezel]

BikeBlogger Thank you so much for the fast respond. You just wrote all the info that I needed. Cheers mate.

[@rc28ify]

No rear view mirror?

[@hamzehelhasan1954]

you were at my liquor store at 20:15

[@albertcastro409]

You have a spare battery. No water or spare. Be safe out there.

[@almatsailaukhan9181]

shifting into an easier gear before stopping is a nice habit to have. Or, since you have clipless pedals, you can just pull the rear wheel up start spinning and shift into an easier gear at the same time. I'm just assuming that you don't know this since you're a single speed rider. If you knew this, then there's got to be someone who didn't reading comments right now. So it's not a total waste of everybody's time

[@elviesriosavillan7089]

Best way to shift , especially in traffic. If you have to stop on red . On green is easy acceleration. During your peddling ,you shift gears ..to pick more speed .. shifting so fun .

[@suvtropics]

I see u everywhere.this is si the 4th time i think

[@raymondnoya5653]

Thx for the videos

[@dreamwavedave]

I'd bet you like that bike alot more than your gmc. huh?

[@codeblue8109]

God was with you. Because you are obviously not from the St Louis area.

[@ELI_TMWSTW]

I like the separated bicycle lanes but it does seem like someone is likely to get run over because the cyclists are obscured. Was it nice having gears? btw come hang out on 4chan n!

[@BikeBlogger]

+klarth1234 The gears were nice. It was certainly easier on my legs but I still very much like single speed, and I am doing some modifications to my Lemond because there are multiple things I want changed for my personal preferences.

[@254171275fb]

how do you keep stamina from long rides

[@BikeBlogger]

[phone]fb Food every 2 hours. One water bottle per hour. Some suggest a pinch of salt in the water to prevent cramps.

[@ED75804]

Хорошее видео,спасибо.Развлёкся морозным Январским вечерком)))

[@kevingary7018]

Welcome to the world of multispeed bicycles. Extra gears = extra energy, which allows us to get lost!

[@chairmanofrussia]

Camera is in a funny spot, reminds me of a robot with its head at the center and nothing on top of its broad shoulders lol

[@nalley21]

what do you use to film your rides ?

[@BikeBlogger]

+Ryan Nalley Hello Ryan Nalley. I use a gopro camera with the chesty mount. I call it the kangaroo cam because it looks like you are riding in the pouch of a kangaroo.

[@nalley21]

Thanks.

[@willbygosh4887]

You were lucky not to get knocked off your bike in East St. Louis.

[@yardsalecycles]

do u have a strava?

[@BikeBlogger]

+Enrique Jauregui I don't, Enrique Jauregui. Just my website bikeblogger.com

[@ELFYHO]

Do you prefer fixed gear or road bike ?

[@BikeBlogger]

+ELFYHO I prefer single speed with a freewheel. A road bike is fun too though. All bikes are fun!

[@albertcastro409]

Your do all the peddling and making me tried. Lol

[@guitarest452452]

bad day to be lost in the hood haha

[@CullenCarter]

When you're stopped at red lights do people in cars near you give you looks of curiosity that ask, "Why are you talking to yourself?".

[@BikeBlogger]

+Cullen Carter Haha! Not sure, but I tend to focus on the intersection in front of me instead. With more people using those bluetooth wireless ear piece phones I'm sure more are familiar with people talking to themselves. I commented on this in a previous video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGSxYZJoh9-ko5o

[@jeezydb8507]

This man was enjoying a bike ride in a city that had more promise than St Louis back in the day. Say thank you to the big businesses for leaving the city with no jobs. Imagine if GM Chrysler Budweiser Purina etc left St Louis how would that effect St Louis.

[@lunaticbunnydc8269]

🛣️🚴 Welcome to the hood"East St Louis, IL"OMG be careful riding a bike in the streets over there, ESPECIALLY STATE STREET, ST CLAIR & ETC DUDE!! Be careful at any state and city streets, highways, interstates riding bikes PERIOD!!

[@codeblue8109]

Hey Dog, DO NOT try that again!!!

[@VladisRed]

Pretty sweet ride! )))

[@LLOPEZJF]

GREAT VIDEO !!

[@frederickadkins2212]

I hope you don't have a flat tire in East Saint Louis

[@pancakes6119]

I thought the first part east st loius but it was st loius instead

[@militaryrep]

I know this is old....but its still worth saying...YOU'RE FREAKING CRAZY!!!

[@Piggly618sf]

why say youre in east st louis when you clearly are in st.louis mo. wth

[@albertcastro409]

Your brave man !

[@ahmadabdeen9975]

Why you don't commute on a bmx bike

[@BikeBlogger]

+Ahmad Osama Hello Ahmad Osama. BMX bikes and folding bikes have smaller wheels. I just prefer larger wheels.

[@80s_kid.]

The worst thing you can do in st louis is "get a little lost" lol..

[@ED75804]

Thanks from Russia,Samara-you are lucky one to drive just the way you are on the empty routes with the setting sun on your bike that shadow left only- one could give anything to do the same - i am talking about all who is inside the correctional places now doing the longest imageable streches for like hundreds of years back to back Какая-то пустота,где весь народ? Wanking in front of monitors or torture some victim in basement?

[@jeremystewert4303]

Got me on that one.

[@OefOui]

I live here and are crime rate is horrible but it’s nice

[@patatoh71]

this is .. *)?

[@pablotupone4190]

Not all abandoned

[@frederickadkins2212]

Riding a bike to East Saint Louis without a AK-47 you're brave white boy

[@katherinepoindexter4380]

GPS vs. Paper Map...?? Paper

[@halfmoon106]

you're lucky you didn't get killed

[@moea2632]

Man wooooow!

[@BusterABrown]

Don't try this at home!

[@willtuanaki1854]

Actually... try it at home... but never in St. Louis.

[@Jahebe]

All of you have never been in East st.louis or only heard negative things about it. Your ignorance is showing extremely. It’s not even that bad out here, it’s just rumors you guys have heard

[@activepotato7240]

@bike blogger