Blue Hour Bicycling

Photo info: OLYMPUS E-PL9, 9mm, f/4.5, 1/80 sec, ISO200
“Blue Hour Brompton” Cedar Park, 2023

Days are getting warmer and longer, which means that evening bicycle rides are getting more pleasant. I enjoy picking up the mail at our mailbox which is just down the street, and then continuing on for a lazy cruise around the neighborhood. It’s fun to say hello to all the other people out enjoying their evening strolls.

It’s funny, but most people don’t wave, but almost everyone waves back. This was something that stuck with me when I read Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes by Jessica Pan when she was reaching out to strangers. I also like to wave when I’m running – always to other runners, and sometimes to walkers a bicyclists. And 95% of them wave back.

Photo info: OLYMPUS E-PL9, 9mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO400
“Blue Hour Brompton” Cedar Park, 2023

Blue Hour Bicycle Ride

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/800 sec, ISO32
“Blue Hour Piplup” Cedar Park, 2023

Piplup and I went for a ride after the sun went down and enjoyed the nice weather and fresh air. We even came across a few deer! Very cool. Oh, and I also picked up the mail. I love the Brompton Borough bag. It holds so much.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/120 sec, ISO64
“鹿” Cedar Park, 2023

Evening Ride

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/120 sec, ISO80
“Cloudy Ride” Cedar Park, 2023

I went for a ride this evening, hoping the rain held off. It was about 7 pm and getting dark, so I wore my beautiful hi-viz reflective “vest”. Better safe than sorry!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 2.71mm, f/2.2, 1/40 sec, ISO400
“Hi-Viz” Cedar Park, 2023

Blue Hour

Photo info: OLYMPUS E-PL9, 9mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO3200
“Mail Run” Cedar Park, 2023

I rode my Brompton to pick up the mail this evening, and the weather and light was so beautiful that I went for a nice ride around the neighborhood. Blue hour is so great!

Photo info: OLYMPUS E-PL9, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO800
“Goodbye Cloud” Cedar Park, 2023

Sophie and the Bluebonnets

Photo info: OLYMPUS E-PL9, 10mm, f/9, 1/250 sec, ISO200
“Sophie” Cedar Park, 2023

Today I went with Sophie, my 1972 Peugeot UJ-10 bicycle, for a ride on the local hike & bike trail. I mentioned previously that the bluebonnets were on their way out for the year, but to my surprise, they were blooming like crazy! So I guess we have a couple more weeks to enjoy them. 🙂

Ever since I got Piplup, my 2022 Brompton C Line bicycle, I haven’t shown Sophie or Rossa much love. But today reminded me how much fun the vintage French road bike is. What I like about it is the speed and quietness of it. The 27-inch Panaracer tires, at 95 psi, roll so smoothly and the quick acceleration is noticeable. Also, the freewheel emits a very subtle and precise clicking sound which is super elegant. Many of today’s mountain and gravel bikes that I see on the trail are super loud (and annoying in my opinion). I remember reading that two signs of inefficiency are heat and noise. Not sure if that is the case with modern bicycle cassettes, but I prefer the quiet rather than the loud buzzing.

Speaking of loudness, I have a Crane Suzu (bell) on Sophie. I had forgotten how loud and crisp it sounds! I guess I got used to the Brompton’s tiny (in size and sound) bell. The Crane Suzu is so loud that it can be a bit alarming to hear, so I make sure to ring way before I actually pass people. I like Crane a lot. The company is from Osaka (my wife’s hometown) so I feel some affinity towards them. I’m thinking about replacing the little Brompton bell with a small bell from Crane – another fun and beautiful upgrade to consider!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/5300 sec, ISO32
“Sophie” Cedar Park, 2023

I hope you had a nice day!