Here is the New Bike Report Card. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
Now for some details.
I love the color, deep foresty green that has a mat finish, rather than
the usual shiny. This means it will less
likely show up the odd ding or two, so I am told.
The bike handles really well. The turning ratio is tighter, thus making the
bike far more responsive than the Red Roamer, my old Surly. Wheelbase is shorter on the Sweetpea allowing
for tighter turns and easier climbing out of the saddle. It will take some getting use to as I was
accustom to really pushing the handle bars from side to side when climbing to
compensate for the bigger wheels and longer wheel base on Red Roamer. The other big plus: because it is essentially
a custom bike, my back does not hurt during riding and I am able to engage in
proper pedaling. It is geared low enough
that I am able to completely rely on my legs and gluts rather than my back to
help with motion. This above all else
has made this worth the whole project.
Disc breaks ROCK!! Oh
man, the ability to slow down without having to crank down on the breaks is
really saving my hands and wrists. This
also is important as I am just beginning to notice some issues with my
wrists. Not carpel-tunnel but some issues
with adhesions in the right hand. This
does not decrease my grip strength at all, just shortens my endurance. I am
currently getting some treatments for that which hopefully will reverse
that. Anyway so it’s nice to be able to
rely on the precise machinery of the disc breaks and to not stress my hands
more than they already are doing what I do for work. Weee.
I know there are some out there who would scoff at this
idea, but this bike is ART. Yes I will
stand by that…I am riding AAAARRRTTTT. :)
So first real ride was along the Banks, OR to Vernonia, OR
rails-to-trails. Round trip, 42 miles
and a beautiful day for it. Weather was
hot, for Oregon. And it was marvelous to
be out with my beloved husband. He ever
so sweetly suggested the next tour we go on (after the one in June around
Crater Lake) that we take 2 weeks off for a ride. I was hoping more for 2 months. : )
And here is some old bike poetry to inspire you all to ride more. Heart Bikes!!
Exodus
This morning, flat out
over the lost highway,
following the push
through to another
and another, then
another, eyes
still damp with sleep
and greedy,
I carry the sun in my
belly,
warm my center.
I reach forward, bent
over spinning wheels,
distended over
melted layers of stone
as immense
as the wide valley
spreading
loosely below.
Scars in the sky seep
through a bleeding dawn
staining the ground,
revealing the shallows,
what to avoid.
Untied ends fall away.
I leave them behind
for I am moving
ever westward creeping
upon
escaping horizons,
still becoming.
