Till now I’ve resisted temptation, however even the chaste amongst us ultimately succumb, and so I have to confess to you that I’ve now tasted the forbidden fruit.
I commuted on my Rivendell:
I don’t imply I rode it within the metropolis, which I’ve performed loads of instances. I imply I rode someplace within the morning, left it for awhile whereas I did stuff, after which rode it again residence within the night:
This may increasingly appear foolhardy, however I’m no dummy, and I gave that pigeon 5 bucks to observe it for me.
Anyway, I haven’t used the Rivendell on this capability because it was model new and I used to be so excited that I used it to trip to my radio present (RIP):
I’m utilizing no fewer than 4 locks there, should you rely the little locking zip-tie thingy on the saddle.
However sure, after yesterday’s grocery retailer journey I spotted it was time to come back to grips with the truth that, like Kramer within the bathe, the Homer is the place I actually wanna be:
And naturally I’ve come to this conclusion virtually instantly after reworking the Eye of the Tiger bike into one thing approaching the proper commuter, go determine:
Nonetheless, whereas not but absolutely outfitted for this form of using, the Homer guarantees to be higher. A few of it is a easy matter of parts; for instance, as a lot as I like these previous grime drops, they’re simply not as cozy as a pair of standard drops with chunky Campy-style brake hoods. Nevertheless, the most important distinction is how rather more secure the bike feels with a heavy-ish bag on it, which I assume is essentially as a result of Homer’s borough-spanning wheelbase:
[The front wheel’s in Brooklyn, the rear wheel’s in Manhattan.]
That is most noticeable when using up and down hills or over pace bumps. I’ve received cheapo racks on each bikes, and I’m utilizing the identical bag with the identical load, however the Eye of the Tiger Bike feels extra wobbly beneath these circumstances, whereas the Homer is extra composed. After all, you can definitely argue I’m bringing that wobbliness on myself by not loading the bike evenly, nevertheless it’s not just like the Eye of the Tiger bike is “Holy shit I’m gonna die!” wobbly or something like that, it’s simply that the Homer handles it higher. I additionally marvel if having the ability to keep a lighter contact on the bars as a result of this stability is contributing to my hand-related consolation much more than the completely different bar and hood configuration is, however who is aware of…and, on the finish of the day, who actually cares, both?
After all, to be a real commuter the Homer nonetheless wants a pair issues (ahem FENDERS), nevertheless it does have that dynamo-powered headlight:
I suppose if I used to be actually doing it proper I’d add a dynamo-powered tail mild, however for now I feel one thing like this Arclight is greater than enough:
And in no way am I retiring the Eye of the Tiger bike from commuting responsibility. Nevertheless, I do sit up for exploring this new chapter within the Homer’s life, in addition to my very own.
Talking of using within the metropolis, the conduct of my fellow bicyclists can at instances be vexing. For instance, right here’s the method to the Manhattan Bridge bike path. There’s a site visitors mild right here, and when it’s not in your favor it’s as a result of drivers are coming off the bridge. They’re additionally popping out of a curve, in order that they don’t have plenty of time to react to anyone working the sunshine–but regardless of this, as quickly as there’s even the slightest hole within the site visitors, everybody runs it anyway:
This was a fairly benign instance, and I usually watch folks roll proper in entrance of oncoming site visitors in a way that leads me to consider they now not wish to reside. Now, I’ve run loads of lights in my day, however why run this one? It’s only a dumb-ass place to take action. Why not simply hang around and watch the world go by? And even when we enable for the truth that a savvy bicycle owner can run it efficiently, that doesn’t excuse the opposite 5 or ten idiots who invariably comply with them.
By the best way, the motive force who honked at them nonetheless had the sunshine, and it solely began to show when he was already within the intersection:
No matter, it’s not my downside.
One other factor I’ve seen just lately–and I point out it not as a result of I discover it vexing, however just because I discover it noteworthy–is that an increasing number of folks appear to be portaging canine:
See?
I don’t know if it’s because folks really feel safer on bikes lately, or as a result of extra folks have canine, however I see it no less than as soon as per trip within the metropolis, which suggests it’s formally A Factor–and one I’m completely fantastic with, in contrast to pushing a canine in a stroller. Yesterday night I yielded to a pedestrian with a stroller, considering it was a child, however as they crossed I then realized the stroller contained not a child however a canine. Had I recognized that I’d by no means have stopped.
However in fact by far essentially the most vexing side of recent life within the bike path is the proliferation of e-motorcycles:
Right here’s one such doofus who, after tearing by means of the vacationer site visitors across the Intrepid at excessive pace, stopped and eliminated his helmet to absorb the setting solar:
Between this and the man on the brakeless monitor bike with gravel bars I could lastly have to depart city.
Nonetheless, on a spring night this beguiling, all is forgiven…no less than quickly:
By the point I reached the George Washington Bridge the solar had set on our collective sins:
And my beacon of self-importance shone brightly:
Little doubt it received’t be lengthy earlier than all of the bike path site visitors is motorized and I’m only a quaint pedal-powered relic, like that Little Pink Mild Home sitting beneath the Nice Grey Bridge:
Honk all you need, I ain’t transferring.
