Having bought the bike, and the numerous extras needed (lights, lock, helmet, mudguards, etc.), this morning was pencilled in as my first ride-to-work day.
Happily, was dry - but pretty cold. Set out, my front light doing everything d8veh promised for it in the dark, no actual ice as far as I could tell. First major traffic interaction - it is a very quiet area really - and managed to get across the big roundabout without stopping. Then a long gentle downward slope - 20+mph very comfortably. Street sweeping man in full yellow reflective gear head to toe standing in the gutter. He looked my way and, so it seemed, right at me. I carried on. Just at the point of commitment, he started to walk out into the road in front of me. Thankfully he noticed just in time, and I hadn't actually sent myself over the handlebars.
Last bit, no vehicles at all this morning, just another pedestrian who walked across without looking up from her mobile's screen, but I had anticipated that many metres away and it was not a problem.
Then into work. With lovely warm glow, cold hands, freezing face. Satisfaction that I had done it. For an overweight ageing bloke, very out of condition, who hadn't sat on a bicycle for more years than I can remember (possibly over 30) until a couple of weeks or so ago, it was a minor achievement. One I could not sensibly have managed without the electric assistance. It has certainly made me look forward to slightly warmer weather and travel further afield.
One of the people who works in the same place is a very keen cyclist - yes, carbon fibre frame and all - he took it for a spin at lunch time. Seemed quite impressed by the smoothness and appreciated the assistance up the very steep hill.
Happily, was dry - but pretty cold. Set out, my front light doing everything d8veh promised for it in the dark, no actual ice as far as I could tell. First major traffic interaction - it is a very quiet area really - and managed to get across the big roundabout without stopping. Then a long gentle downward slope - 20+mph very comfortably. Street sweeping man in full yellow reflective gear head to toe standing in the gutter. He looked my way and, so it seemed, right at me. I carried on. Just at the point of commitment, he started to walk out into the road in front of me. Thankfully he noticed just in time, and I hadn't actually sent myself over the handlebars.
Last bit, no vehicles at all this morning, just another pedestrian who walked across without looking up from her mobile's screen, but I had anticipated that many metres away and it was not a problem.
Then into work. With lovely warm glow, cold hands, freezing face. Satisfaction that I had done it. For an overweight ageing bloke, very out of condition, who hadn't sat on a bicycle for more years than I can remember (possibly over 30) until a couple of weeks or so ago, it was a minor achievement. One I could not sensibly have managed without the electric assistance. It has certainly made me look forward to slightly warmer weather and travel further afield.
One of the people who works in the same place is a very keen cyclist - yes, carbon fibre frame and all - he took it for a spin at lunch time. Seemed quite impressed by the smoothness and appreciated the assistance up the very steep hill.
