It's been getting warmer, my layering strategy is a bit wonky.

Been using the pannier on my Tikit more--street shoes and "just in case" rain pants and booties go in very nicely.

Alas, my shifting has been all over the place. I cleaned my chain, adjusted, adjusted some more, got a work buddy to hold up the thing while I adjusted--it's put me in quite a foul mood.

Finally I figured out the derailleur itself was grotty enough to be stiff. Which accounts for why shifting to a bigger cog seemed especially balky--being as it just lets tension off, to where the spring is supposed to do it, it's not as much a "forced" action as shifting to a littler cog.

Now I just need to get at it with a toothbrush and some proper lube, I think. Yay, learning maintenance! Boo, ignorant frustration!