My bike was in the shop getting new cranks and chainrings put on, so I didn't get to commute till yesterday, when I did a lot of extra riding to test the new stuff.

It was cool and cloudy (which was good, 'cause I was wearing shorts for the first time in about 20 years, and the so-called brain cell that tells me I don't really need sunblock was highly active.) The short cranks felt very good. It was also nice to have a bit more speed at the top, and I still had no trouble with hills in the lower gears. The bigger chainrings make more noise, though.

Anyway, got to town and did an extra two miles up to the post office (and two back), where I found that my Hamoc saddle had arrived. So I attached that for the ride home.

Partly to give the saddle a good test, and partly to stop at a friend's house and see her garden, I went a few miles out of my way on the way home as well. Walking through my friends' day-lilies made a nice rest stop halfway home. I got sprinkled a little--the rain was just starting. It came down seriously after my ride.

Anyway, this morning my knees aren't making snap, crackle and pop noises (yay!) so the cranks are good. The chainrings are okay, but I think the saddle is going back--it sits farther forward than I like, none of the solutions suggested by the website sound good to me, plus I have a serious ache in the tailbone this morning. Going to try a Terry Liberator gel-padded leather saddle next.