got grit?

It's pouring down an early November rain, Friday afternoon. There's supposed to be some kinda Critical Mass ride in downtown this evening. I've never participated in one - and generally avoid groups of strangers of any size - but thought I'd see what's it's all about, how motivated these "bicycle activists" are. It should be dark about then too. The HID and a rain jacket, some leather work gloves and jeans, Sidi's and a fixed gear townie sounds sketchy on wet and oily pavement during a Friday evening rush hour, but first, another hour crunchin' numbers in the lab then a few errands to run. Gotta get to the USFS office in Sparks (about a 25 minute spin across town) to pickup a firewood gathering permit for this weekend, then jet back to downtown by 1700 (?) for Mass. If I'm not hypothermic by then, maybe a session at the Tap House to close out the lab week. Stay tuned for some pics of this evening's goings ons.

Happy Friday,
J. rider

UPDATE- Monday, Nov. 6
i blew outta work last Friday at 3:50 and shot east from the Lab down that 13% (?) grade to Clearacre, whosh! made it across town in time to get the permits i'd need for the weekend's work, then back to downtown by 5:20 for that evenings Critical Mass ride. feet and backside were soaked, but at least the rain stopped.

props to the riders that showed up for some wet pavement rush hour/happy hour bicycle activism. we had an old Schwinn tandem cruiser, about a half a dozen fixies, and about as many geared road and mountain bikes in the ranks. it was probably a subcritical mass, but a few laps were had around downtown with only minor exposure to aggravated booger eaters. i'd say riders and drivers were relatively tolerant, or that the flash of lots of bike lights and reflective swatches in a drenched landscape disarmed most drivers. the apre party and Quicksilver viewing was entertaining. thanks for the hospitality, fellas.

see you in the mountains,
Japhy rider