photos: alin huma

the wind diaries, tuesday picked up a new bike today. in front of the watchman i switched bars, put on clipless pedals, put the old bars in my backpack. i got out on the road and a weird clunk spooked me, but i rode on for a few hundred meters before i realised i hadn’t actually tightened my pedals. bad start, though it got better. it’s been such a long time since i’ve had a new bike, it fit was like i was riding for the first time. i took it easy. i was shy with it. i flirted, asking little questions like: do i get toe overlap? no. it spoke back with some odd creaks, maybe just announcing its newness. fine. finer, though, were the nitto flat bars. they made the ride as good as i’ve had for a long while. oh that and a super light gearing. 47/19. practically nothing. it feels like a new start. i put the carardice barley on the back, attached a pump to the seat tube. i said it felt like a new start. it does.