Gloomy Sunday

If they call it stormy Monday, then today was gloomy Sunday. Or maybe it's a new plot to drive the cyclists out of Woodside, since the skies were clear just south of town.

I met up with some friends for a casual ride from Palo Alto, heading north. Our route included Cañada Road, a portion of which is closed to vehicles once a week for Bicycle Sunday. Joggers, rollerbladers, racers, recreational cyclists, kids on tricycles and tiny little bicycles - all turn out to take over the wide, smooth pavement and gentle rolling hills along Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir. I am always amused by the people who continue to ride on the shoulder, despite the road closure. Take the lane, it's yours for a day!

It was quite a bit chillier than we had anticipated, and as we ventured further north the clouds were low enough to sprinkle us. Two friends turned back, and my ride buddy suggested we divert to Burlingame for a bakery treat and follow an easterly route back along the bay, searching for sunshine.

Alas, no cake for us. We didn't get very far before my freehub balked and refused, intermittently, to freewheel. Coasting downhill, it was rather exciting to have the chain (now slack) slip off the big chainring in front, with the rest of the chain clattering onto the chainstay. While the bicycle is rideable, controlling it is a bit tricky. If the chain pops off toward the crankarm, it can get tangled and snap. If it goes slack and gets caught in the wheel, the bicycle will come to an abrupt stop, with even more damage to the equipment (and me). To keep some tension on the chain, I had to keep the pedals turning, and if my cadence wasn't "just right" for a particular gearing the chain would go slack anyway.

The bike already had a service appointment scheduled for tomorrow, and my plan was to drop it off after today's ride. One more kink for the mechanics to investigate.