At simply over a yr older than the Platypus, and having undergone some modifications since I first acquired it, the Homer is now just about precisely the bike it desires to be:
And sure, that is an all-Rivendell weblog now. However don’t fear, it’ll be a Softride weblog once more quickly sufficient:
Watch out what you would like for.
Anyway, as I’ve talked about, I get pleasure from driving the Homer a lot I’ve been contemplating partaking it extra for commuting responsibility so I can spend much more time on it. Nevertheless, being as happy with the bike as I’m, I’ve been reluctant to additional add any sensible accoutrements to it. Alas, my resolve buckled like an under-tensioned wheel yesterday once I actually felt like driving it, however I additionally wanted to select up a number of issues from the grocery store. So I put an affordable Nashbar rack on it and grabbed one other one of many luggage Two Wheel Gear just lately despatched me:
So far I’ve been utilizing the Pannier Backpack Convertible 2.0 PLUS (I believe), and with at the very least 150-ish miles on it to date I’ve been more than happy with it. (Although luckily I’ve but to check its water- resistance.) This bag is the (I believe) Magnate Pannier Messenger Backpack:
Like the opposite one, it’s convertible–however this one turns right into a backpack or a messenger-ish bag with an across-the-chest strap, relying in your temper.
And sure, I do know I’m taking on treasured rack house with my capacious saddle bag:
However I would like the stuff that’s in it, and I can’t put it on the bars as a result of the cables are in the way in which:
Clearly if I had been utilizing the bike in a full-on commuting capability I wouldn’t depart a saddle bag on there in any respect–or a pump, for that matter:
I don’t know if anybody would steal an previous Zefal pump, however I additionally don’t wish to discover out, since I hear they’re being discontinued. Little doubt the body pump will quickly go the way in which of the rim brake, and the short launch, and the mechanical shifter…although possibly meaning I don’t want to fret about it getting stolen anymore since there gained’t be anybody left who is aware of what it’s. Most individuals assume utilizing a pump as a substitute of a CO2 is like hand-cranking a automotive or dialing a rotary cellphone as it’s.
Oh, and talking of motorcycle theft, on Friday I shared my concept that possibly thieves are skipping over common bikes in favor of e-bikes. Effectively, that could be, however there may be at the very least one gravel-specific confidence man at work in New York Metropolis:
His alias is “Anthony Restic” and he has some…distinctive traits:
Right here’s a composite sketch:
Don’t let him close to your bike, and if he makes an attempt to promote you a White Industries crankset use an Immobulus spell and alert Hogwarts safety.
As for the pannier, it’s wider than the backpack one I’ve been utilizing, however after some preliminary adjustment I had no drawback with heel strike:
Although have in mind the chainstays on the Homer are fairly lengthy, and I’d prefer to see the way it works on the Eye of the Tiger Bike earlier than formally declaring it heel strike-free.
There are many supermarkets inside strolling distance of my residence, however on this case I used to be on the lookout for an excuse to go for a trip, so I left the town limits and went all the way in which to this one:
It’s identified all around the world for its flavorful meat:
In fact, being a grocery store in the US, there isn’t any bike parking*, however I didn’t let that cease me:
*[Certain Whole Foodses excepted.]
Eradicating the bag, I had a selection between backpack mode and messenger mode, and since pace was of the essence I went with the latter:
The dangerous factor about supermarkets like that is that there aren’t any bike racks as a result of no person cares your bike, however the advantage of supermarkets like that is that you should use a flimsy lock as a result of no person cares about your bike:
My bike safe and my convertible messenger bag throughout my again, I entered the grocery store:
Someplace in a room with a two-way mirror (or is it a one-way mirror?) a safety guard noticed this picture, straightened up in his chair just a little bit, and leaned in direction of his monitor:
As for me, I salivated as I surveyed this cornucopia of commerce:
There’s a lot apart from meals right here to beguile the bicycle fanatic. For instance, for those who’re a weight weenie, you may see how a lot your Goat Gloves weigh:
They weigh precisely this a lot:
I don’t know what meaning, however I do know the sight of my filthy gloves on that scale ought to function a reminder to all the time wash your produce.
When visiting a grocery store by bike, you all the time have to be cautious to not exceed your portaging capability. On the identical time, you need to all the time get juuust a litle bit greater than you assume you may handle, because it’s vital to problem your self, and it forces you to be inventive. After getting what I wanted I thought of many further objects, such because the gluten-free Oreos:
The stay lobster:
The Boston fern:
And any variety of flavorful meats:
Finally although I went with the bathroom paper:
All the things else match neatly and discreetly in my pannier, and I’d wager the stay lobster would have been fairly comfortable in there as properly:
However as any frequent bike shopper is aware of, it’s all the time essentially the most embarrassing merchandise that should be carried essentially the most conspicuously:
By the way in which, it took me a number of tries to safe it, however in the end working the bungee twine over and round each the bathroom paper and the pannier proved to be the best methodology–and doubtless helped additional stabilize the bag within the cut price.
As soon as I used to be happy that the bathroom tissue wouldn’t jettison itself, I continued my trip:
I admit I felt self-conscious driving round with a dozen rolls of bathroom paper on my bike, however then I remembered that everyone makes use of it…properly, aside from this man:
Feeling higher about each my cargo and myself, I extended my return journey by taking in a few of the Bronx River Greenway:
There have been the same old derelict shared scooters and bikes:
Plus the occasional novice try at pathway beautification:
However none of these items might undermine the exuberant great thing about spring:
Certainly, so comfortable and assured was I that I even took in my favourite little riverside path, rest room paper be damned:
A clean-up crew was at work–they had been even cleansing out the river itself–and for a second I had a glimpse of what the Bronx will need to have seemed like again within the nineteenth century when it was rural and bucolic:
Little doubt I might have relished visiting it on my extraordinary:
We certain are coddled at the moment, what with our security bicycles and our splinter-free rest room paper…
Typically we overlook how good now we have it. However I’ll wager utilizing nineteenth century rest room paper after which driving a penny-farthing (or vice-versa) would remind us actual fast.
