???

Does anyone know if the Public Bike contest winners have been named?

I assume no news means I didn't win anything, but I was hoping fora grand announcement in case any internet friends won.

Oh Hello!!!

It's been far too long and the longer it gets between posts the harder it is for me to come to the table so to speak and write. My brain is both filled with posts to write and full of fluff like Pooh.

So I'll just start with a little photo dump and ramble to get me back to speed.

I:

Back in October I test rode a Public Mixte. I had been talking it up as a bike worth looking into to my friend. My friend is looking for a bike to use with a trailer to ride her 3 year old to school and back some days, as well as to tool around with both of her kids for short easy jaunts around the neighborhood. She doesn't own a bike, yet is intrigued by biking. She even made an order for a Madsen but at the last minute cancelled it afraid she would not use it. As she lives in the Bay Area I suggested she give Public a try. Of course then, the Mixte frame was about 700 or 800 dollars and she found that a bit pricey. Now the new under $500 frame is out she should give that a try.

In anycase I figured I should ride one before I recommend anyone else to try it and went over to Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington. At the time few of Boston Bike Bloggers were talking about Ride and it's interesting niche of bikes and cafe. Velouria wondered how long they might stay in business. I wonder the same thing. When I arrived I had planned to chill out in the cafe and eat a light lunch before my ride, however for whatever reason, the cafe was closed that day. So I had to go across the street and get food elsewhere and then I came in to the very quiet shop.

Lexington is right on the Minute Man Trail, so I first took the bike out about 15-20 minutes down the trail and then back. The ride was smooth and stable and fairly nice. I was riding behind a woman on a road bike all decked out in spandex (just a fact- not a judgment!!) and my first thought was " I wonder if I could keep up with her". She was coasting along slowly and I was pedaling not fast but moving nicely along and stayed right behind her. Then it was clear that if I choose to pedal fast I would pass her. As we got to an intersection in the trail and I pushed the button for the light to allow us to cross, she complained about having to start and stop- she wanted to just get in a groove. I smiled at her and at the light, I zoomed ahead of her and never saw her again until I turned to go back. I respect her need ( for speed? ha!) although I did just fine pedaling happily and crossing at every break in the path with no issue. I wasn't out for excersize mind you- but I did feel like my body was moving well- like going on a brisk walk.

Once back in lexington center I had the bike adjusted a bit and then took it through the neighborhood to see how it faired on hills. I scaled a few hills fairly nicely and it handled the real suburban terrain I am used to quite well.

I enjoyed the bike a lot except for a few things. The fit was wonky. I felt like I needed the seat up too high to extend my legs straight enough. While I pedaled along the flat trail my knees were squeaky and ached. My leg alignment was much better once the seat was lifted, but my knees were already sore so I couldn't tell if I was feeling any new soreness. I also felt like my torso was too short to reach the handlebars. I don't know why they didn't put on those swept back type handlebars instead of the straight ones. I wanted a more upright feeling that I didn't get as much. Finally I think Mixtes are not the right bike for me as the top bar was still too high for my leg to get past when dismounting. I admit I am used to a moving dismount with my townie and halfway ( both with low bars) and I do a jump off the bike and then walk quickly alongside as I slow the bike to a stop. I attempted this without thinking and nearly fell off. I could convince myself to get used to the new height, but I think that was a deal breaker for me. Even being mindful while dismounting I was awkwardly dragging my foot over the bike.

Now I see they have a new loop type frame and I am very intrigued by it. I am hoping beyond hope that I win one in the contest that just passed. If I don't I hope Ride Studio Cafe stays in business long enough for me to test ride one to see how I like it.

II:

Around Halloween I found myself with a weird amount of time on my hands one day. Tuber's class had a Costume parade in the middle of their three hour school day so when it was over I had about an hour to kill before picking him up. I decided to stick close to the school and was going to sit with a cup of coffee and check email during that time. On my way to coffee, I stopped into Harris to buy a taillight. I noticed outside a Giant Electric bike on sale for $1600 instead of $2100. I decided I should take the bike for a spin. Harris is right in West Newton at the base of the Prestigious West Newton Hill and so I took that bad boy around the hills I would never attempt to scale under my own power. I hate walking these hills ( especially with a stroller as I did when I first moved here) But before I got out on the street- there was a gentleman in the shop buying a new pair of clip-y shoes ( like my technical terms?). He overheard me ask about the Giant for a ride and while Susan ( who works there) went to the back to attend to his shoes being adjusted he turned to me and said " you won't get much excersize" I looked at him and smiled and paused. I wanted to kick him quite frankly. What sexist presumptive bullshit. Who is he to tell me what I will and will not get out of a particular bike. I didn't tell him I thought his shoe were silly. ( I don't really- don't really care about them either way). But I was polite and after a pause I said " I don't do it for exersize." Then he nodded and said " Oh you commute " I nodded even though to be accurate I don't, I ride around town. But his small mind could only categorize me in those terms so I agreed. I mentioned that Newton is a really hilly place and at night when I am going to a meeting I'd feel safer with a boost then mashing up a hill and swerving in the dark.

Ok- on to the ride. I was a bit scared of the bike but it was actually quite gentle and pleasant. I rode up some of the biggest hills with almost no effort. However it wasn't like riding a scooter or a motorcycle, I was still moving my body and while I didn't break a sweat scaling hills that would have killed me otherwise, I felt a nice warm feeling- much like I felt riding the Public along the flat trail at a nice and easy pace. I enjoyed it a lot except for one detail. The battery pack was on the rear rack and every bump or crack I went over reverberated through the bike and made for a bumpy ride that I didn't care for. I also didn't like that the battery pack took up a lot of pannier space and required ( ?) one to use their bag on the back. I would want to use my own bag and switch it up like I would a purse. The bike also felt slightly too big for me- but manageable. Finally I find the giant ugly and the frame itself does not inspire lust or love within me. Too bad b/c if it didn't have the weird bumpy feeling and was a more pretty bike- I think I would have snapped it up at that sale price. What I liked most was the feel of the motor helping me along. If I could get that feeling on the Sorte I would shout from roof tops.

III:

It's Mid November and the Farmers' Market seems so long ago. The one place I used the Sorte the most was on trips to the Market. I would go with it even by myself to pick up our frozen meat CSA as well as with the kids bringing home big pumpkins. The Farmer's Market is my favorite thing each summer and every late October I am sad it's over. Can't wait for next July.