The new bicycle I bought from BikesDirect.com arrived a couple days ago. Had an epic adventure trying to get home in time to sign for it. And then after spending hours putting it together, it turns out that the rear fender is bent in a way that prevents the rear wheel from turning!
Hopefully swapping out the new fenders for my old fenders will fix it, but with my luck there will be other problems too. I've been afraid to check because I have not had any time for bike repair lately
The Shimano Inter8 internal gear hub was pretty cool to use. Being able to shift at a stop is so nice. The lowest gears felt about as low as the lowest gears on my old derailer-equiped bike. The highest gear may have been about 2/3rds of the way to the highest gear on my old bike, which is as high as I ever went anyway (except on rare occasion). It was hard to tell, especially because the rear hub on my old bike was so badly deteriorated that every gear felt harder to use.
Of course the features I want most out of the Inter8 is the hardest to test: rain resistance and low maintenance!
@sadie_bunny that's a very pretty bike. I'm lusting for a mixte frame just like that.
I have a non-sprung Brooks and it IS super comfortable. It's what let me reach past riding 3 hours without pain.
Are you putting a front bag on it?
@federicomena I'm going to ziptie a small basket to the front rack for now. After taking that photo I put a rear rack on and a big basket on it.
Eventually I might get a frame mounted front rack so can put more in it without throwing off the steering.
@sadie_bunny you'll be CARRYING ALL THE THINGS in style! Godspeed!
Last night I stayed up late futzing with my new bicycle. I got the rear fender into a shape where it doesn't hit the tire. The hubs still felt sluggish, but The Internet said that's normal for a brand new bike and goes away soon.
Then I took er out for a midnight test ride! It performed wonderfully! It was quick and easy to pedal. The position was more upright than I usually like but was honestly just delightful. The Brooks saddle was the most comfy saddle I ever used.
#mastobikes