Jessy Clonts, our neighbor in the Bay Area, test rode a Radish for 30-days this spring. This is a journal about her expectations, experiences and feedback. Enjoy!
Day 21
With a friend in town, it was another perfect time to give someone a ride on the Snap Deck. Having flown out from the Midwest and not knowing what an Xtracycle is, much less ever seeing one, it was an excellent virgin introduction to the Radish. She swung onto the SnapDeck with apprehension, but was willing to give it a try for the five blocks to the barbecue.
It was a bumpy start; I was on the phone as we pulled out of our driveway, but hung up and focused on the road. All the while, my passenger screamed while doing this. Not knowing what to expect, she wriggled on the deck, trying to adjust her balance, and the Radish pedaled along beautifully. I silently thanked its perfect sturdiness as we pulled into the drive of the ‘cue in two whole pieces.
And it’s a good thing we took the Radish, because I ended up with quite a heavy box full of kitchen gear and DVDs to take home with me from the host’s house. My house guest elected to walk home, and I started to walk with her and a friend, but with the weight of the box on one side of the bike, it was a little challenging to keep the bike upright as I walked. She encouraged me to hop on and ride, and relieved, that’s exactly what I did. Another day ends with my gratitude for the Radish.
Jessy Clonts, our neighbor in the Bay Area, test rode a Radish for 30-days this spring. This is a journal about her expectations, experiences and feedback. Enjoy!
Day 17
I’m really getting the hang of riding with full FreeLoaders, and cherishing the ability to finally shop at Berkeley Bowl. Who has the patience to circle the parking lot for half an hour while looking for a spot to put the car? With the Radish I can park in front of the door and be out with a full load in that same amount of time. And that’s exactly what I did today, like a pro.
Jessy Clonts, our neighbor in the Bay Area, test rode a Radish for 30-days this spring. This is a journal about her expectations, experiences and feedback. Enjoy!
Day 15
Riding downhill to my trainer’s studio this morning, I felt a sudden shifting under my pedals. The Radish was hopping gears on its own and I felt a slight panic. Aside from putting air into tires with my brand new pump, I really don’t know a thing about bicycle maintenance, and definitely don’t roll with a tool belt to fix things like fallen chains. I pedaled—gently—after my session to Mike’s Bikes to get a diagnosis.
Mike’s Bikes is my go-to shop for gear, mainly because it’s near my house and they play great music in the store. An added bonus, the employees are friendly and knowledgeable, and I always get helped right away. Standing in line at the maintenance shop in the back of the store, a guy in front of me asked about the Radish.
“How does it handle?”
“I just carted a load full of groceries and it handled awesome. Didn’t even feel the weight.”
“Really? Looks like a cool bike.”
“I love it. I’ve gotten a couple of people on the Snap Deck too.”
“Oh yeah? (really checking out the Radish now) Like bike surfing? That’s rad!”
“It’s Rad-ish. That’s what it’s called. The Radish.”
“Hilarious. That’s perfect.”
“I totally recommend it. It’s a lot of fun.”
The guy who helped me explained that since the bike is brand new, the chain was likely “stretching” a little from the usage. He showed me a small adjustment I could make on my own on the brake cable, but offered to take it for a quick spin in the parking lot to adjust it for me. A couple of minutes later, he returned on the Radish, cruising slowly through the store while pedaling quickly in first gear amid cat calls and whistles from his fellow coworkers.
Dismantling from the Radish like a cowboy (or girl) from his (or her) horse, he told me the adjustment should fix the problem. I was welcome to ride around for a few minutes to test it out, and if all was well, I could just ride on. Sweet! Problem fixed at no charge. Next time I have a bike issue, Mike’s Bikes will have my business all the way.
Jessy Clonts, our neighbor in the Bay Area, test rode a Radish for 30-days this spring. This is a journal about her expectations, experiences and feedback. Enjoy!
Day 19
Today seemed like the perfect day to boulder with a couple of friends on a 30-foot hunk of rhyolite in the Berkeley Hills, also known as Indian Rock. I-Rock is about 2.5 miles uphill from where I live, and thus, “totally bikeable.” However the temperature on this day turned out to be 80 degrees by 11:00 a.m.
I’m going to admit something; please don’t judge. I staked out my proposed route in a car first. Then I decided not to bike it.
But here is my reasoning. Bouldering is a passion of mine, and it’s not often that I get to boulder outdoors with friends in the middle of a perfect day. In 80-degree weather, I couldn’t afford to be zapped of all my energy from biking before ever reaching the rock. It wouldn’t be safe for either activity.
And so, Indian Rock will have to wait for cooler weather before it gets to meet the Radish. It’s okay for the Radish to have high standards.
Jessy Clonts, our neighbor in the Bay Area, test rode a Radish for 30-days this spring. This is a journal about her expectations, experiences and feedback. Enjoy!
Day 11
I felt guilty for having driven a car, so today I was determined to ride in the rain. This being my first time, I was both scared and unprepared. Though I did have the foresight to pop off the wooden SnapDeck before heading out, I didn’t protect the seat with a plastic bag between trips, which resulted in soggy pants and a sour mood. Like an old lady, I rode the brakes and planned my trip in such a way that I only took right turns. Don’t judge; I am accident prone. What a day to get a new haircut!
When I came home I dragged the Radish up my stairs and into my house, and then lovingly wiped it all down to prevent rust. In these modern times, I can’t say I’ve ever been more grateful for a hot shower and flannel pajamas.
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