another bird story

Claire Petersky said:

I pulled up to the light that had just turned red at the intersection of a frontage road and a
major arterial. It had been a day where it had been rain mixed with showers. Since it was going
to be a long wait for my turn at the light, I first shook out one arm of all its rainwater, then
the other. Then I tipped my head and let all the rain run off its top, and then gave it a good
shake too.

Quoted message said:

Then I looked up, and saw a crow land on a tall lightpost nearby. It shook out one wing. Then it
shook out the other. Then it fluffed up all the feathers on its head and shook its head out, too.

Heh. It gives me a good visual as Claire-as-Crow, shaking the rain from her plumage. Then taking
wing and cycling to the next perching point. Perhaps pausing to peer perplexed at the creatures who
carry their cages with them.

Quoted message said:

I guess that's just what you do in a steady downpour, when you have a chance to take a break.

I haven't had one of the days yet this year where you reach the point of saturation. i.e. That there
is no way one can physically get any wetter
. I remember quite a few of those last year, including one where I got a front and back flat
simultaneously and realized I only had one spare tube. This was of course in the middle of a
torrential downpour, by the roadside, with no shelter available. Did I mention how hard it is to
patch a tube like that?

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g "Sometimes, you can't do anything about
something that sucks, until later." -Slovotsky's Law #19 REVISED

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dane Jackson said:

a front and back flat simultaneously and realized I only had one spare tube. This was of course in
the middle of a torrential downpour, by the roadside, with no shelter available. Did I mention how
hard it is to patch a tube like that?

The humble cyclists' rain cape can be used as a sort of tent in such circumstances. Along with a
detachable Cateye headlight to use as a flashlight if need be.

I haven't had to patch a tube under mine yet, but it's served me well a couple of times for
effecting chain repairs in the pouring rain.

So, there's another "plus" for rain capes as cycling rain gear.

cheers, Tom

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As I was driving down to Santa Cruz yesterday I passed a pickup truck that was carrying a huge steel
cage in the back inside of which was a Macaw which was panic stricken about driving down the road
like that at 65 mph. What a jerk those people were.

Tom Keats said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
Dane Jackson <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a front and back flat simultaneously and realized I only had one spare tube. This was of course
in the middle of a torrential downpour, by the roadside, with no shelter available. Did I mention
how hard it is to patch a tube like that?

Quoted message said:

The humble cyclists' rain cape can be used as a sort of tent in such circumstances. Along with a
detachable Cateye headlight to use as a flashlight if need be.

Ah yes, I tried to do something like that with my jacket. Totally inadequate. Luckily I was
rescued by a good samaritan who pulled his minivan over and gave me a 700c x 23 tube. Now I tend
to carry two tubes and I'm running better tires, so hopefully I'll not have a repeat of that
particular scenario.

Quoted message said:

I haven't had to patch a tube under mine yet, but it's served me well a couple of times for
effecting chain repairs in the pouring rain.

Quoted message said:

So, there's another "plus" for rain capes as cycling rain gear.

I might like to pick one up for use when I'm shopping. That's when I couldn't care less how fast I
go. It would presumably be good for just riding along to the vietnamese grocery and getting some
fresh fruit and veggies.

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g "A timid person is scared before the
danger, a coward during the time, and a courageous person afterwards."
- Jean Paul Richter

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dane Jackson said:

Quoted message said:

So, there's another "plus" for rain capes as cycling rain gear.

I might like to pick one up for use when I'm shopping. That's when I couldn't care less how fast I
go. It would presumably be good for just riding along to the vietnamese grocery and getting some
fresh fruit and veggies.

Yes, they really can slow you down in a headwind. Other inherent problems with them include:

- can't hand signal very well from under them.

- when you get to the store, you've got to take it off. Then you have this wet, drippy sheet of
fabric draped over your arm. And if it's still raining when you leave the store, you've got to put
it back on.

- they interfere with handlebar-mounted headlights (which is one
reason why I mounted my Union headlight onto the fork blade).

- when the Scotchgard wears out, your knees and forearms can get clammily damp -- the same nose-
scrunching (Eeewww!) sensation as when you stick your hand in cold, last night's dishwater to pull
the stopper out.

So, they're not perfect, but they still have their advantages. They're comfortably cool, they help
keep the drivetrain a little cleaner, and they're cheap. There also eminently portable as a take-
along for those excursions when the weather is merely threatening at the outset. I just wish the
neck zipper on mine was accessible from the inside.

cheers, Tom

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Quoted message said:

As I was driving down to Santa Cruz yesterday I passed a pickup truck that was carrying a huge
steel cage in the back inside of which was a Macaw which was panic stricken about driving down the
road like that at 65 mph. What a jerk those people were.

On the other hand, Macaws LOVE lower speed situations. I once saw a guy riding a bike with a
scarlett macaw perched on the stem with wings outstretched like a glorious hood ornament. Another
time, I came across a lady on roller blades with a blue and gold macaw on her shoulder again with
wings outstretched. They really seem to enjoy being taken out and having a little thrill.