It all looks great, but these adjustments have drawbacks to them. I don’t know how well the fenders work, as it hasn’t yet rained when I’ve been commuting. I can tell you that what was a slight toe overlap issue has become more problematic. I’m more cautious when making slower turns, but it’s a little jarring when I hit the front fender.

More disappointing has been the saddle. I read enough posts on forums and blogs to know that Brooks’s leather saddle has a long break-in time. The problem for me is not the material– my tough old butt can deal with hard surfaces just fine, apparently– my problem is with the shape. No matter how I adjust it, the saddle rubs against my tender lady parts really badly. The short rails underneath don’t give me enough leeway to move the saddle laterally. I was in so much pain last week that I went to a shop and asked them what I needed to do to make it more comfortable for me, and I think the upshot of it was that the short women’s touring style of the B17 S doesn’t suit how I sit. If I were to buy my own Brooks saddle, I would try the men’s styles– but I’m going to look at other brands as well.

The one thing that has worked out well have been the narrower tires. My ride has gotten smoother and lighter because of them, and I’m happy about that.

I’m starting to get the nagging feeling that this bike really isn’t quite right for me. I’m still working on more adjustments, and hoping I’m wrong.

*Not new, but snazzy looking is the Timbuk2 handlebar bag that is mounted to the rack. And it’s a little hard to tell from this photo, but that’s a limited edition TFTS button attached to it. yeah!

I find I agree with this article about looking for fit, style, and functionality in biking clothing. While I own the requisite spandex shorts and tights for recreational rides, I’d like to wear more casual clothing while commuting to work, without sacrificing comfort. Ladies, have you found any to recommend?

Let’s face it: no one will mistake me for a model, either on or off the bike. I’m lucky if I can get my clothes to match and be unwrinkled. But there is one concession to style I will make:

(not a panda)

Cycling Cap Tuesday.

Certainly, the mild winter we’ve been having helps. According to my (shoddy) record-keeping, the median temperature for rides have been in the 30s, which have been comfortable for me, so I guess I’m adequately layered. The coldest temperature I’ve biked in so far was 18 F. This was a quick trip to the Metro station in the early morning. The cold air stung my face, but the rest of my body felt relatively fine. I think that if I did a prolonged ride at that temperature, I would not be happy, but I found I could stand it for a short commute.

I suppose the conclusion is that the lowest temperature I would venture out for a ride would depend on the duration of the ride. Sounds obvious, but at least I’m on my way to determining my own threshold.

We got up early (for us on a Sunday morning) and met up with Eric and his friends. It was a little chilly, but the sun was out, and we warmed up quickly once we got going. We stopped at a neighborhood market for a break, and it was only then that I noticed how cold it was. Back on the road, if I kept spinning, I was comfortably warm, and not very sweaty at all. That’s a nice benefit to cold-weather cycling.

Funnily enough, as we were pulling out of the market, a group of riders from a shop ride I used to do came in. We got mixed into their crowd for a little bit, and I momentarily caught that weary feeling of not being able to catch up, as I had felt in previous rides with them. I had to remind myself that I was riding with a different group now.

I enjoyed the ride very much. The guys were pleasant to chat with, and it was fun to explore a new route that I had never done before. I look forward to doing more rides with them.