Critical Mass

When I picked up Rowan after work and he wanted to "go see the yellow train." So we took the long way home and took the capital city trail through the farms area to John Nolen. Many people were running and riding along the Lake Monona path as it was a fine autumn evening. Rowan said "Hi!" to everyone as we went by.

As we were turning left onto North Shore, Critical Mass was rolling by so we had to jump in. I think it was a huge turnout, maybe 100 bikes. From what I have heard they rarely get half of that so this must be a good one. We were back on John Nolen taking up 4 lanes on the way underneath Monona Terrace at 5mph. Keep in mind it is 5:45pm on a Friday evening. Looking back over my shoulder as we approached Machinery Row I could see cars backed up all the way around the lake. Rowan was pretty excited to be in the "bike race." When the chanting started later as we were going down East Wash he wasn't so sure, it kind of freaked him out. I told him it was a song and he was cool with it. "Are these our bikes?!!" Yes!!! "Are these our roads?!!" Yes!! Or something like that.

Some motorists were pissed. Whenever we would pass an intersection cars would bolt left and right, squealing their tires as they sought alternate routes. Even so, I did see a lot of positive support from drivers. Some cheering and honking and righteous fists in the air. Of course most of that support seemed to come from drivers going the other way unimpeded. I think perhaps that our rig contained both the oldest and the youngest participants.

Now that Rowan was certified as an activist I figured it was time to take him home. It gets dark so early now. Not to mention pulling the loaded trailer around town with the SS cross' racer at 38x17 begins to burn sweetly around the 2 hour mark. It was a good ride.