At simply over a yr older than the Platypus, and having passed through some adjustments since I first won it, the Homer is now just about precisely the motorcycle it desires to be:
And sure, that is an all-Rivendell weblog now. However don’t concern, it’ll be a Softride weblog once more quickly sufficient:
Watch out what you want for.
Anyway, as I’ve discussed, I experience driving the Homer such a lot I’ve been taking into consideration enticing it extra for commuting responsibility so I will spend much more time on it. Alternatively, being as happy with the motorcycle as I’m, I’ve been reluctant to additional upload any sensible accoutrements to it. Alas, my get to the bottom of buckled like an under-tensioned wheel the day prior to this once I in point of fact felt like driving it, however I additionally wanted to pick out up a couple of issues from the grocery store. So I put an affordable Nashbar rack on it and grabbed every other one of the vital baggage Two Wheel Equipment just lately despatched me:
In the past I’ve been the usage of the Pannier Backpack Convertible 2.0 PLUS (I believe), and with no less than 150-ish miles on it thus far I’ve been more than happy with it. (Despite the fact that thankfully I’ve but to check its water- resistance.) This bag is the (I believe) Rich person 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 to your temper.
And sure, I do know I’m taking on valuable rack area with my capacious saddle bag:
However I want the stuff that’s in it, and I will’t put it at the bars for the reason that cables are in the best way:
Clearly if I had been the usage of the motorcycle in a full-on commuting capability I wouldn’t depart a saddle bag on there in any respect–or a pump, for that topic:
I don’t know if any individual would scouse borrow an outdated Zefal pump, however I additionally don’t wish to to find out, since I pay attention they’re being discontinued. Undoubtedly the body pump will quickly cross the best way of the rim brake, and the short free up, and the mechanical shifter…despite the fact that perhaps that implies I don’t want to concern about it getting stolen anymore since there received’t be any individual left who is aware of what it’s. Most of the people assume the usage of a pump as a substitute of a CO2 is like hand-cranking a automotive or dialing a rotary telephone as it’s.
Oh, and talking of motorcycle robbery, on Friday I shared my principle that perhaps thieves are skipping over common motorcycles in prefer of e-bikes. Neatly, that can be, however there’s no less than one gravel-specific self belief guy at paintings in New York Town:
His alias is “Anthony Restic” and he has some…unique traits:
Right here’s a composite comic strip:
Don’t let him close to your motorcycle, 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 the usage of, however after some preliminary adjustment I had no drawback with heel strike:
Despite the fact that take note the chainstays at the Homer are relatively lengthy, and I’d like to peer the way it works at the Eye of the Tiger Motorbike prior to formally pointing out it heel strike-free.
There are many supermarkets inside strolling distance of my house, however on this case I used to be searching for an excuse to move for a journey, so I left town limits and went all of the strategy to this one:
It’s recognized all over the place the arena for its flavorful meat:
In fact, being a grocery store in america, there is not any motorcycle parking*, however I didn’t let that prevent me:
*[Certain Whole Foodses excepted.]
Taking away the bag, I had a decision between backpack mode and messenger mode, and because velocity used to be of the essence I went with the latter:
The unhealthy factor about supermarkets like that is that there aren’t any motorcycle racks as a result of no person cares your motorcycle, however the benefit of supermarkets like that is that you’ll be able to use a flimsy lock as a result of no person cares about your motorcycle:
My motorcycle protected and my convertible messenger bag throughout my again, I entered the grocery store:
Someplace in a room with a two-way reflect (or is it a one-way reflect?) a safety guard noticed this symbol, straightened up in his chair just a little bit, and leaned against his track:
As for me, I salivated as I surveyed this cornucopia of trade:
There may be a lot but even so meals right here to beguile the bicycle fanatic. For instance, when you’re a weight weenie, you’ll be able to see how a lot your Goat Gloves weigh:
They weigh precisely this a lot:
I don’t know what that implies, however I know the sight of my filthy gloves on that scale must function a reminder to at all times wash your produce.
When visiting a grocery store via motorcycle, you at all times want to watch out to not exceed your portaging capability. On the similar time, you must at all times get juuust a litle bit greater than you assume you’ll be able to organize, because it’s essential to problem your self, and it forces you to be ingenious. Once you have what I wanted I thought to be many further pieces, such because the gluten-free Oreos:
The reside lobster:
The Boston fern:
And any collection of flavorful meats:
In the end despite the fact that I went with the bathroom paper:
The entirety else are compatible well and discreetly in my pannier, and I’d bet the reside lobster would were relatively satisfied in there as smartly:
However as any common motorcycle consumer is aware of, it’s at all times essentially the most embarrassing merchandise that will have to be carried essentially the most conspicuously:
Through the best way, it took me a number of tries to protected it, however in the long run working the bungee wire over and round each the bathroom paper and the pannier proved to be top-of-the-line means–and almost certainly helped additional stabilize the bag within the discount.
As soon as I used to be happy that the bathroom tissue would now not jettison itself, I persevered my journey:
I admit I felt self-conscious driving round with a dozen rolls of bathroom paper on my motorcycle, however then I remembered that everyone makes use of it…smartly, excluding for this man:
Feeling higher about each my shipment and myself, I extended my go back travel via taking in one of the most Bronx River Greenway:
There have been the standard derelict shared scooters and motorcycles:
Plus the occasional beginner try at pathway beautification:
However none of these items may just undermine the exuberant wonderful thing about spring:
Certainly, so satisfied and assured used to be I that I even took in my favourite little riverside trail, rest room paper be damned:
A clean-up group used to be at paintings–they had been even cleansing out the river itself–and for a second I had a glimpse of what the Bronx will have to have gave the look of again within the nineteenth century when it used to be rural and bucolic:
Undoubtedly I might have relished visiting it on my atypical:
We certain are coddled lately, what with our protection bicycles and our splinter-free rest room paper…
Now and again we put out of your mind how just right now we have it. However I’ll wager the usage of nineteenth century rest room paper after which driving a penny-farthing (or vice-versa) would remind us actual fast.
