Nacho Libre joins CicLAvia

Cape flying and mambo music blasting, Nacho Libre joined the packs of bikers who took over parts of L.A. on Sunday.

Jim Nissen, 43, took his colorful costume -- based on Jack Black’s character in the wrestling comedy “Nacho Libre”-- and bike from his nightly ride along the strand to the streets for his first L.A. Ciclavia.

“Biking is fun,” he said. It’s “not just for transportation.”

Nissen, publisher of the bike magazine Momentum, said he’s missed the past few Ciclavias but made sure he was in town for the longest event in the city so far -- a 15-mile car-free route from downtown to Venice Beach.

“Cars have a great place in our culture, they just don’t have a great place in our cities,” he said.

Nissen said biking is easy, but some people may not be aware of it, he said. The more people out there, the more people will try it, he said.

Some bikers shouted, “Look, Nacho!” as Nissen took off down Venice Boulevard. He started at Venice Beach and plans to go downtown and back, meeting up with friends along the way.

Jose Gallardo, 48, and his wife, Carmen, 44, of Anaheim Hills, came out for their second CicLAavia with their four kids and a group of family and friends.

Jacob, 5, still on training wheels, kept up with his parents on an attachment to their tandem. It was his first time on that bike, his mom said, and he’s having a lot of fun.

Jaquie Gallardo, 18, said she likes coming out with her family because there are so many different people to see.

“It’s a great event because not as many people bike as they used to because of all the electronics we use,” she said.

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samantha.schaefer@latimes.com