Critical Mass

For the past few months I've taken part in a really fun and often slightly odd Chicago event called Critical Mass. It happens on the last friday of every month rain, sleet or shine. It' a huge collossal bike ride through the city. I'm not sure how many there were last night but the last few times there were a reproted 2,000-3,000 bikers. Last night was especially fun because of all the costumes. I saw grown men dressed as babies, an oompa loompa, wonder woman, a witch, the Mario brothers, a lumberjack, a bug, a man dressed as the internet, and a mime (who actually got off his bike and blocked car traffic by putting up an invisable wall). Anyhow, you get the drift. It's always a good show and it doesn't need to be Halloween in order for people to come in costume. Last ride, we rode most of the way with Mr. T. That was fun in and of itself but when we biked through neighborhoods the look on the kids' faces when they saw Mr. T come through in an already amuzing bike parade, was priceless. They ran along for as far as they could and gave Mr. T. high fives. Some of them even jumped on their bikes and joined up. And did I mention the bikes? Some of them are amazing. Some people build their own and build them up high in the air or low to the gound or with crazy colors and fenders or with a snap sound system. When drivers lay on thier horns -as you might guess the ride blocks up a bit of traffic- a loud cheer rips though the bike crowd and people holler "Happy Friday!" to the people with the sour faces(Hey- I frown in regular traffic, forget what I might do during thousands of friday night crazed anarchist biker traffic.) But people pass out candy and cookies and I'm actually very surprised with how friendly eveyrone is, and with how the many people stuck in cars are actually smiling and waving back at the bikers, and with how much I really enjoy the whole thing. Oh and with how kids still know who Mr. T. is.