Okay, this can be a bike weblog, proper? Let’s discuss driving bikes and shopping for stuff that makes it simpler to experience bikes!
3… 2… 1…
As you will have gathered, I’ve been doing extra commuting these days, and right here’s what the two-wheeled rat race appears like within the New York of 2023:
Pathetic.
Thankfully, in contrast to all these different losers who in all probability had to purchase their very own stuff, I’m a semi-professional bike blogger, which suggests I’m an excellent larger loser than they’re, however not less than as soon as in awhile somebody asks me if I need some free stuff. Generally the stuff they provide me is silly, like bizarre e-bikes or interviews with assholes who promote luxurious mushroom journeys, however sometimes it’s one thing I actually need–just like the Metropolis Rover Energy 700 gentle from Portland Design Works:
For probably the most half you don’t want an precise headlight for metropolis driving, so I’ve solely been utilizing the Arclight Execs. Nevertheless, there’s a stretch of the West Facet Greenway simply north of the George Washington Bridge that will get fairly darkish, and I’ve begun to understand that with no good gentle it’s solely a matter of time earlier than I experience into one in every of its many potholes. So the supply to attempt the Metropolis Rover Energy 700 was fairly well timed, and listed below are the small print on it simply in case you couldn’t bear to go to the PDW web site and spend even a second away from this glorious weblog:
Right here’s what’s inside:
The mounting bracket is cleverly designed–mainly you simply loosen a screw (as you’ll be able to see they even embody the device), alter the diameter of the band to suit no matter bar you’re utilizing, and then you definately tighten it up once more. When you’ve accomplished that, you’ll be able to connect and take away the bracket with out utilizing any instruments:
Then you’ll be able to simply go away the bracket in your bike and slide the sunshine itself on and off of it as wanted:
All you do to take away it’s finger the little launch nubbin and slide it off–and sure, all of this was merely a pretense to make use of the phrase “finger the little launch nubbin:”
Apparently in addition they promote one thing known as a “Gentle Nug” which helps you to get artistic along with your headlight placement, which is fairly cool:
In addition they promote one other thingy that allows you to mount a headlight to a basket, which might be nice for my Platypus:
Anyway, as if the sunshine wasn’t sufficient, Two Wheel Gear additionally despatched me some luggage, and for the previous week I’ve been utilizing the Pannier Backpack Convertible:
It’s modular!
Extra useful for my functions, it additionally converts from a pannier right into a backpack, because the title would recommend:
Right here’s the way it works in apply:
First you open up the again of the bag:
Subsequent you unclip the shoulder straps, tuck them in, and fold the again cowl down:
Then you definitely clip the bag to your rack (the one-finger attachment/launch rack mount thingy is possibly my favourite factor about their stuff), and at last you employ the shoulder strap clips on the backside of the bag to type of hug your rack for somewhat further stability (although the primary time I used the bag I didn’t hassle with that and it labored simply superb):
Now you’re able to commute!
There are many compartments and pockets within the bag, it’s padded so you’ll be able to stick a laptop computer in there, it feels good and safe with no wobbling, and I haven’t had a single incident of heel strike. I don’t know the way waterproof it’s, and I’m not wanting ahead to discovering out, nevertheless it says it has a “TPE waterproof coating,” and it additionally comes with a hi-viz rain cowl. I’m certain ultimately I’ll get caught in a downpour with it, and relaxation assured when that does occur I’ll let you understand how it fares simply as quickly as I regain mobility in my fingers.
Within the meatime, you could be certain I don’t salmon, although I do put on salmon:
As you’ll be able to see, different bike path customers discovered me extremely intimidating:
I kept away from informing them that their whatever-those-things-are don’t belong within the bike lane, as a result of I don’t think about it might have turned out effectively. In actual fact, in my pink shirt, even I kinda wished to beat myself up. My solely remorse was that I wasn’t driving the matching bike:
Nonetheless, the pastel hues of the Eye Of The Tiger Bike complemented it properly:
And as a lot as I really like the Faggin for city driving, it’s not a full-dress commuter like this child:
I’ve received the headlight…
I’ve received the bell…
And I’ve even received an emergency toolkit:
I discovered it from Grant Petersen. He even despatched me the magnets.
In any case, I daresay I’ve received my commuting setup just about dialed in, although I’m sorry to report I did expertise a crotchal pant failure, and I’m even sorrier to share this image of it:
I can’t inform if my saddle appears responsible or happy with itself:
That’s an older pair of Vulpine denims I obtained in all probability three years in the past. I don’t keep in mind which of them they’re, however they’re not the Opus denims I’ve been carrying like day-after-day for the previous yr or two, which have a way more subtle scranial association:
In actual fact they also have a little cloth “insurance coverage layer” inside, presumably so your…state of affairs doesn’t come out within the occasion of a blowout:
Although for that to occur you’d should be driving commando and…effectively let’s simply go away it there.
BY THE WAY, wanna hear one thing humorous? As I used to be taking these images of the indestructible crotch on the Opus denims…the button fell off:
How do you want that for irony? My favourite denims, too.
A lot for that.
I did put on the shit out of them although.
As for the headlight, sundown retains getting later and later, which suggests it nonetheless wasn’t utterly darkish as I received nearer to the unlit part of motorbike path:
Nonetheless, it was darkish sufficient to warrant firing it up. Word the useful battery life indicator:
It additionally appears prefer it casts a pleasant beam:
I imagine I had it set to “excessive,” however once more, it wasn’t utterly darkish but.
Eventually, my commuting bike is all set:
Now all I want is a few extra pants.
