Added the head and tail light and a easily removable small pannier bag (An old lap top bag I converted for light trips, to carry tools, locks, sun block, etc).

http://stickypawz.timduru.org/Misc/Stuff/NuBic/IMG_1991.JPG

I spent part of yesterday and a lot of today riding the new bike. It goes so fast it scares me some times. I actually had a Police officer wave at me, giving me the signal to slow down as I must have been over the speed limit (15mph was the limit). A trip to my local Wal-Mart (one-way along the bike trail) used to take roughly 10 minutes on my old bike; now takes only 6 minutes on the new one (That is faster then if I drove a car there). My usual exercise path (roughly 13 miles) used to take 45 minutes on the old bike, on the new bike takes 29 minutes (That is averaging around 25mph).

I have thus far rode it about 40 miles in the last 2 days (give or take a few). Trying to break it in/get used to how it rides, and in so doing had my first minor accident. It started to rain hard, and I took a familiar hard corner like I was on my old – much slower, heavier, and wider tired - bike. The pavement was recently repaved, and slick with the fresh torrential rain. The new bikes breaks locked the front wheel, and the narrower tires lost grip in the turn. I was literally sat down on my butt as the bike slid away from me. I have a bruise on my rather cushy tush, and the bike was unharmed, save for a small scrape to the paint on the derailer (first of many I am sure; I keep telling everyone I am hard on my bikes).

http://stickypawz.timduru.org/Misc/Stuff/NuBic/IMG_1988.JPG

I went back to the bike shop today to ask a few questions about future modifications to the bike, and mentioned my accident and how it happened. The attendant gave me instruction on how to ride my bike. When and where to break, and how to handle wet conditions, etc. I can't do the same “reckless” riding I used to on the new one. It has neither the same stability, or weight, and as I mentioned above is a LOT faster.

Once how I do what I always do when realizing I don't know something as well as I thought, “Research”. I found this very informative video which is some of what the attendant told me. The most of the channel is very informative for bicycling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygl00i-QmYE

I wonder what I could do if I joined a bicycle racing team. I do not expect very well, but I am curious. After all, the average speed of the 2014 winner of the Tour De France was 24.9mph... But that is all day long. I can keep that up 1-2 hours (maybe 3 on a great day), but not ALL day. A long distance bike race would be interesting though...

[Grin]
Ryngs