Polka!!!!

This past Friday was the Annual Critical Mass Polka Ride. This is the second year in a row I actually do this ride and it is one of the most entertaining rides of the year.

It starts as usual at Daley Plaza, where cyclist congregate at 5:30pm and we start riding around 6pm or so.
Some of the riders bring their trailers equipped with their sound systems and blasting great music.Well, that is if the weather allows it. Mother nature, always so finicky.
I arrived at Daley Plaza with my friend Greta and the first rider we saw was wearing this.

Now, I'm not exactly sure if this gentleman was trying to spell "Doug", which may or may not be his name and he run out of ink before he finished the "G"; or if he was trying to spell the name of a feminine hygiene product and he just happened to run out of space.
In either case I thought it was funny and a great sign to start the day's ride.
Usually during the winter we don't get the same number of cyclist that ride Critical Mass during the summer. Is more of the usual suspects that ride most of the year regardless of the weather.
So when we first arrived at Daley Plaza the scene looked like this.

Notice Santa Willow passing out free balaclavas and gaiters to the riders.
Soon we had at least 65 people ready to ride. A really small amount compared to the 600+ we get during the warm months.
After some trial and error trying to fix a flat my friend Shar's bike, we were off to Lincoln Square Lanes where The Polkaholics were waiting ready to serenade the mass with their music.


I would normally say that the best par of Critical Mass is the ride, but on the Polka ride the destination IS the best part. People arrive at the Lanes ready to dance, bowl, drink and have a great time.

This being my second year doing this ride I can honestly say that if you like having fun, making new friends and overall just have a blast.
Then you definitely have to come along for the ride.

You'll just have to wait till next year if you wanna Polka!