Urbana-Champaign Bicycle Commute

another work week begins and it'll be slimy and dark going back. Trip out was a little early, and I wondered about the precision of the commute time (whether being more "between the hours" means less traffic than close to the top of the hour, when people would be close to their designated arrival time). Could be that 8:30 is also an arrival time, since people seemed a little more in "we're late! we're late! to a very important date!" mode than when I've been ten minutes later. ( at 8:42-ish, I've had totally clear passage across Prospect several times, even when not at the optimum position in the light cycle).

Hoping the tire that is oozing GU from its boot, applied on the weekend ride when we saw that the sidewall was worn through, gives me 8more miles for the trip home. Good hallowe'en image but it's pouring out there... calling on my weather goddess powers to have it dissipate before 9:30 ETD.

Had a riding 'first' over the weekend - whilst the group gathered for the Fixing of Flats (first Steve F's), an ambulance went screaming by. THen while we were still trying to get my unwilling tire to sit right (just extracting the tube from its bondage to the tire was difficult; getting it anything close to sitting roundly was a real challenge) the Big REd Fire Truck (Broadlands VFD, I believe) comes hauling by... careening over to inquire as to our well-being. Seems the ambulance folks had sent 'em out. I'd been trying hard to convey control of the situation to passers by (and several looked inquiringly, and one stopped and asked), but perhaps I looked maniacally happy or something...
or perhaps it was something in the air, since higher than the average number of drivers waved at us on the route out. Snort those leaf emanations, good people!!