Before you assume too much of me... it's not a big stretch to think that a guy who grew up in LA on a steady diet of SST bands like Black Flag, the Mintuemen, and Husker Du has an "open mind". Anyone who has memorized every single lyric of the first 3 Bad Religion albums isn't a "set in his ways" kind of guy for the most part. I originally said "probably not" but not "never".

Still, nothing has really changed from my orginal perspective. The critmass was about fun, just as I said it would be. However, some of you gave it to me in the threads asking "What's wrong with fun?" Ummm, nothing is wrong with fun. I just said "that's what it's about". After experiencing it first hand, I still say that it's less of a "movement" and more of a kickass bicycle parade.... just as I originally believed.

And as I expected, I saw some needless confrontations, the kind of which I enjoyed when I was in my teens, but am pretty bored by now. It is empowering to have the "us vs. the world" mentality when you are in the minority that has suddenly been handed the power. Cyclists often feel like they're being kicked while down and this is more "revenge therapy" then anything else (thanks Blake). Nothing wrong with that though.

Surprisingly, I only saw once person go down the whole night and that wasn't even a cyclist but a rollerblader. LOL. She was ok though. How the group managed to avoid touching wheels and eating asphalt all night long was a mystery to me, but might have had something to do with the "slow contest" in which we participated for the most of the night.

It was good to see some of the pedestrians and automobilists honk and cheer with support, just as is was depressing to see some other poor saps in their cars, trapped for an hour or so in traffic while they lost a couple days off their life from the high blood pressure experience. It was easy to picture many of them taking a gun to their heads and ending it on the spot. I did get a kick out of one critmasser yelling "We hate your freedom!" to all the cars watching in anguish.

There was an accident in North Beach that was pretty lame as a truck tried to get through a few bicycles and hit one guy, ruining the paintjob on his truck but doing little to the bicycle. There was definitely a mentality that went beyond just the "let us inconveniene you for a moment" vibe going on for most of the night when the group liked to seek out the busiest intersection and camp there in circles until they were sure that they had pissed off every last soul in the area.

So in conclusion, Critmass is a great time. Crowd mentality can be a blast in small doses, and it's not something i'd want to do everyday so it's nice that it's only once a month. I heart the kid with bumpin' stereo and dig the enthusiasm shown at the "event". Good vibes overall. The true idiots were no more prevalent then any other event where you're fielding thousands of people. Since I guessed that the idiot rate would be higher per capita, I guess that's where i'll eat the most crow. I was wrong. The idiot equation was equal to any other crowd.

I'll participate again in the future. Cheers and enjoy.