FYI from Frank Schwende, RAT Coordinator:

I sense, right now, that this ought to be a serious RAT!, if not somber. And if there’s enough discussion beforehand, perhaps we could do a pre-RAT! to Maple Road where one of our commrades in spokes lost his life. Or, it may be more successful to lay out plans for a memorial ride the following day while we relax and converse at the RAT! hole. The RAT! hole will be at the ABC, to celebrate its smoke- free atmosphere.

What’s this RAT! all about anyhow other than to raise the consciousness of bicyclists that we have this passion in common, we love to ride, and that we can see that this form of transportation has been nearly squeezed out of practicality by an unsustainable overdependency on the automobile. On the RAT! we take TO the streets, not take OVER, ride with traffic, follow all applicable laws, and enjoy all the teaching moments with our fellow travelers. Bikes belong – in the road, in our lives.

On the lighter side … my new rat is a lady (Rico, an unreliable male, apparently, hopped out of my pannier bag in June). Her name is Ricotta. A rat named after a cheese seemed appropriate! I’ve crocheted a skirt for her!! But she’s in desparate need of undergarments. Donations will be accepted. She’s a size, uh, normal … for a rat.