I like investments in infrastructure as a rule. Make the roads smoother, fix the sewers, that sort of thing. Can't say I'm a big fan of seal coating though. It's messy and makes for a hard bike ride.

My main east-west ride(42nd st,) has been seal coated last Friday. In an effort to avoid the dust and unsafeness of that mess, I have been using 40th street to get over to the light rail line. What a treat. Lots of up and down. Not a real exciting ride, but a great change from the normal commute.

I think I've fallen into the commute pattern of going the same way all the time. Tossing a bit of change in, riding down a new block, finding a few more hills is a great way to keep the ride fresh. And the new route also make me concentrate more, differently a good thing while on a bike. It's when I get into wool gathering mode, when I know which stop signs I need to be really careful around, and which only require a brief glance, that I get lazy and in to trouble.

On other note, Ray, get the knee scoped and cleaned out or what ever you need to do. When fall is in the air, the temps dropping and the wind is picking up, when I can get back to the HC Saturday morning rides with something approaching regularity, I want you on my wing.