"I love destroying people's preconceived notions about what you can do with a bike."

I love my bike, too. Sport and recreational riders, who like to join groups and do Centuries or drive to trails hate it. I don't join groups. I don't wear lycra. My bike doesn't "do" commuting. But it does get me to the grocery store and once I get there, I don't have to wonder what I can buy to get home.

"I still surprise people just about every grocery shopping trip. (Bagger who sees the helmet in my hand) "You're on a bicycle? How are you going to carry four bags of groceries?" "

Happens to me as well. I just tell them not to worry because I have big (and I spread my arms wide) baskets. I said I got tired of trying to decide what I could buy based upon what I could take home, so I fixed that.

I have to be a little bit careful. If I put more than 40 pounds in the front, I need to put at least 25 pounds in the back to cantilever it. Else, the steering gets a bit dicey.