Rode the DropHopper yesterday for the first time in over two weeks. Can't remember the last time I topped off the tires. They were each down in the 20s from 65psi. THe 26x2.125 smoothies take so long to pump compared to the other skinnier tires.

It was cool, clear and fast in to work on quiet downtown streets. I was reminded how similar this bike feels to the one it replaced except for the bars now being further forward and in the perfect place. I also occasionally miss having a sprung seat, just on big bumps. Since I'm in a racing position, the new bike's narrow and lightly padded seats is also better overall than the old bike's long nose with wide tail sprung seat. I still occasionally miss the slightly taller gearing of the old bike.

But what is the same is the deliciousness of building speed in a racing position on a heavy-ish low-rolling resistance bike on 2-inch, smooth tires and then hauling it all down to a quick stop with insanely good V-brakes clutching the rims.

Every once in a while it also reminds me of my mom's 1950s Schwinn 26-inch fat tired, pink, step-through Schwinn with the two-speed kick-back hub which musta weighed 60 pounds. I rode it down a man-made Chicago tobagan hill with friends when I was 11 back in 1973, flying through an old H-style football goal post at the bottom at what I can now estimate at roughly 33 miles an hour.

On yesterday's ride home it felt like I had a tailwind, but it was just everything clicking, except the rear wheel which had an occasionally half-wobble. At home I discovered another broken spoke and some other loose ones.