On Slime

[roadrunnertwice]

Ah, the wet season. Let's get a great big "welcome back" for all the puddles of decomposing leaves and unidentifiable slime that will be assisting in wipeout-related program activities for the next six months. 

I think I managed to avoid any major slime incidents last year, but there was a real gnarly one in early '09 that involved slowing to a stall in the median to let a cop car pass  and then losing all friction as soon as I pushed to accelerate. It was epic: I was clipped-in and couldn't put a foot down, so I just fell sideways like a cartoon character hit with a poison dart. The cop totally saw me bite it in his rearview and did not slow down. I ended up with a bruise the shape of California on my hip. 

Also, I definitely spun my back wheel at a stoplight yesterday while idly thinking about this post on the commute. 

Anyway, take care of yourselves, and watch out for slime on the corners!

Comments

[forthwritten]

Haha, firmly seconded!

I managed to break my spare pair of glasses falling off my bike a couple of weeks ago, having already broken my main pair a couple of months ago. I thiiink I was trying to hop a kerb in the dark with the rain blowing into my face. I overbalanced, managed to correct it so I thought I'd be okay, then keeled over in a very slow and very inevitable kind of way. A taxi-load of students peered anxiously at me and asked if I was alright, which I thought rather sweet of them. I am currently rocking the sellotape look.

Watch out for rain blowing right into your face and slimy leaves!

[darkemeralds]

The slime of November in Portland is where I really value my big heavy bike with its 50 psi tires. The piles of wet leaves heaped up in the "hey, here's some empty road space!" bike lanes on busy boulevards are pretty hazardous though.

It's an exciting time to ride.