Road Bikes are Fast

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec, ISO320
“Sophie” Cedar Park, 2022

One thing that I appreciate every time I go out for a ride with Sophie (my Peugeot bicycle) is that road bikes are much faster than mountain bikes on the pavement. Of course that makes sense since the frames are generally lighter and the narrower, smoother tires that are inflated to a much higher pressure have less rolling-resistance, but I am still taken aback at how quickly Sophie accelerates and gets up to speed.

She’s 50-years-old and I am 53, so we’re no spring chickens, but it’s still fun to ride fast. Or maybe it just feels fast. At any rate, it’s a blast.

Mail Retrieval Vehicle

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/90 sec, ISO3200
“Mail Retrieval Vehicle” Cedar Park, 2022

I’ve been riding with Mango to pick up our mail at the mailbox down the street lately, and the old Kona with its butterfly/trekking handlebars and rear rack is well-suited for the task. I’m able to put letters into the panniers, and if we receive a package too big to fit into the bags, I can rest it on the handlebars easily.

Additionally, Mango is a breeze to ride one-handed, with the right trigger shifters and rear brake lever easily accessed. Mango is not a beauty-queen like Sophie, but this ugly duckling gets the job done. What a wonderful bike!

New Bell – Crane Suzu Mini

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/45 sec, ISO3200
“Crane Suzu Mini” Cedar Park, 2022

Today I received a bicycle bell that I’ve coveted for a while now. It’s a brass Crane Suzu Mini. I really like it! The bell is made in Osaka, Japan, which is cool since that is my wife’s hometown, and the brass color matches Sophie’s gold decals and lug details nicely. Also, the name “Suzu”, which means bell in Japanese, is the same as of my favorite Japanese actresses, 広瀬すず. 😆

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO2500
“Crane Suzu Mini” Cedar Park, 2022