Funny how the subject of rider's weight and shocks came up at just the right time! I rode last week & thought it might have been a false impression, but my ride this week confirmed it. With the bike off the cemter stand, and with me on the bike, I'm having more trouble footing the ground with both feet. Until recently, I had no trouble (at least on level ground) flatfooting both feet. Then it occurred to me: the bike might be riding higher on its shocks (me aboard) because I've dropped almost 25 lb. in the past 6 months.
No, anxious ones, I'm not sick. I've taken to the gym at 0600, three days/week, plus I've given up beer in favor of wine for preventive reasons. I had a very painful toe a few weeks ago. The only logical cause was my first gout attack. Standard advice is to avoid alcohol, and
especially beer! Not about to do the first—gout is preferable—but the second part of that recommendation gives me some wiggle room.
So I guess I'll be in the market for shorter Hagons (11.8" vs. the 12.75" Konis on it at the moment.
Two things give me pause: (1) most important, the cash flow for the next few months. Darling daughter, because of good grades, has succeeded in switching law schools, causing big startup costs in her new citY (Philly), and (2) I still like the Koni ride.
Similar topic: since I got the new (1983) center stand, the bike is harder to get onto the center stand, but much easier to get off it. Lowering the bike by shorter shocks should make the bike even more difficult to muscle onto the center stand. However it should still be easy to nudge off the stand. Sure wish I had paid attention in geometry and physics classes in high school!
(Yeah, I know, installing shorter shocks won't help this.)
