Father Haskell wrote:

Chain length and weight isn't as much of a problem as you might
think. I ride a Haluzak Leprechaun, which -- by itself -- weighs
about as much as a typical mountain bike. And, by ``typical,'' I
mean ``consumer-grade.'' With the fairing, lights, batteries,
aerotrunk, tools, spare tubes, couple liters of water, work
clothes, etc., etc., etc., the thing weighs a ton. But she's still
awfully fast; I cruise in the upper teens to lower twenties (mph),
and I (mostly) keep up with the fast pack in the Saturday morning
breakfast rides. And I'm usually the only 'bent in the herd; most
of the lead pack are on ultralightweight fiber or high-tech alloy
bikes. Poor sods on wedgies....

There's a guy in town who occasionally (rarely) goes on the
Saturday rides who rides a SWB FWD. He rides at the front of the
pack.

I haven't tried to really push myself on the new bike since the
wreck, but I've (twice) topped out at 38 downhill before I
chickened out -- still had plenty of power and gear to go much
faster -- and I've hit low 30s in a less-than-all-out sprint on
the flat.

Of course, right now, with my arm in a sling post-surgery, I
either take the bus or bum rides from people. Should be back on
the bike in a few weeks, though...can't wait....

Cheers,

b&

--
EAC Memographer
BAAWA Knight of Blasphemy
``All but God can prove this sentence true.''