On Saturday I'll be boxing the bike up and flying back to Hainan.
This bike really has had a honeymoon stage. I've only had it three
weeks but it has already gone to four cities in three provinces,
travelled to new and exotic locations, been on one boat, an airplane,
two cars, a truck, two busses, come inside a number of restaurants, and
even spent the night with me in a hotel.
It's been to Pudong Development Area, Hongqiao Development, the Bund,
The Temple of the Jade Buddha, Shanghai French Quarter, Suzhou, The
Garden of the Master of Nets, The Garden of the Humble Administrator,
the Jiangsu Provincial Jail, The Suzhou Twin Pagodas, Luzhi Ancient
Township Scenic Area, Xixiu Beach, Holiday Beach, Meilan Airport,
Xingang Wharfs, and Wenchang.
(I didn't actually go inside the Garden of the Humble Administrator.
It cost way too much. And finding the Jiangsu Provincial Jail was one
of those weird accidental things that happens when you deliberately
allow yourself to get lost in strange cities. Really cool looking
building though. Traditional rooflines on the guard towers at the
corners.)
We've been photographed together more than once. Like proper
honeymooners.
I've had two lowspeed accidents.
One in Shanghai with a motorcycle. I was on a three lane road (two
bike lanes, one-way for cars) and a car forced me into the wrong way
bike lane. No damage to either vehicle.
One in Suzhou with another bicycle coming around a corner near the
Garden of the Master of Nets. If I hadn't had the toe clips I would
have managed to get my feet down before falling over. Biggest problem
was convincing the bystanders that I did not need help getting up and
was still on the ground because I had to check condition of bike and
camera.
I've finally succeeding in pulling off all of the unnecessary stickers
and bits of tape from the original packaging. Have yet to collect any
new unnecessary stickers but I'm on the lookout for appropriate ones.
I've collected my first bits of cosmetic damage.
One paint scrape came from putting the luggage rack on. Bare metal
is visible.
The other scrape from lying the bike on it's side to lock it. I take
the front wheel off, move it to the back, and use one cable to lock
both wheels and the frame to a railing. Another color of paint is
visible.
The seat is scuffed from when I hit the ground in Suzhou.
The white lettering on the headset is just starting to wear off
because I put my hand there when walking the bike.
I also, somehow, managed to lose the strap from the right pedal and
also the nut, bolt, and washer in the left pedal requiring replacement
in a slightly different color metal.
The a-yi at the apartment where I'm staying in Shanghai even used it as
a clothes drying rack to hang my damp underwear on from the washing
machine.
-M