horns of wilmington's cow

By anth

Monstrous

First commute on the bike sporting the Noomad front wheel system. Those two wheels tilt and pivot so that they remain in contact with the ground at all times, which as much as anything else looks pretty cool when in operation (and if one wheel hits a speed cushion they level really nicely). Turning sharply can be 'interesting', as it understeers noticeably, and more so when you hit a bump mid-turn. All of which combines to make riding on Edinburgh's cobbles something of an experience.

But it's an absolute blast, feels nice and 'planted' in a straight line, and that front plate allows a really heavily loaded bag to be hung, and with it sitting lower than panniers on the rear the handling of the bike isn't changed (important once you get used to the handling of the three wheels). There may be a purpose to the whole thing. I'll be commuting at least for the rest of the week, with some cycling folk keen for a look and a try at a Thursday coffee morning; and a courier I know taking it off me after that to test it on his delivery runs. For, see, it was sent to me by the company that makes it to test for my cycling website. Which is nice.

It mounts onto a bike in the space of half an hour. Just remove your existing wheel and not brake; pop the fork dropouts into a quick release bar behind the front plate; bolt it onto the v-brake mounts; Robert is your mother's brother.

And riding home a van slowed alongside, the passenger winding the window down to ask all about it. Certainly 'different'.

All of which is more interesting than tales of work. Almost half way through the week.

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