The next level in cycle chic

In honour of Hallowe'en, I cycled to work in full goth today, and yes that's including boots with stiletto heels. It was absolutely no probably riding the Silver Machine in such get-up - it was actually more trouble walking (note to self - long skirt and stilettos, bad combination).

A couple more technical niggles. The other screw from the front mudguard fell off, but luckily I had bought replacements. What was more annoying is that the handlebars had gradually slipped until they were pointing straight down. While the Harley-Davidson look has its appeal, it's not comfy. So, my advice to would-be Wisper purchasers: invest in a set of Allen keys. You will need them, sooner rather than later.

In other news, this blog well may be featured in this fine green-consumer magazine sometime soon.

A shoutout...

... to everyone who came on the 350 bike ride on Saturday - in particular to our reader who greeted me while we were waiting at the Herne Bay shops, and to the two other Wisper e-bike riders who I touched base with. Kia kaha, e hoa mā.

If all else fails, repent sins

Tip for all bike riders in Auckland: before going on any journey which involves significant slopes, test your brakes properly first. Especially in wet weather.

Last night I had the most hair-raising journey down Onehunga mall imaginable. I was lucky not to be caused a serious injury when the road finally came up to greet me.

I'm quite perturbed that the brakes on the Silver Machine have slipped so badly in just two months. But then I go down some steep hills, on which I need to have the brakes on all the time, so maybe it's just my bad riding habits.

Also of note: yesterday was so wet that it took me until midday to dry out.

More bike-train synergy

Mt Albert - Greenlane via bike; then to Otahuhu by train; riding to Otahuhu shops and back; then train to Newmarket, thus home.

I think I pushed the capability of the battery to just about its limits, but I was happy with that. I don't think I'll try the Greenlane route rather than the Newmarket route in future - I was thinking to avoid the New North Road hill, but I forgot there's a megabitch of a rise on Balmoral Road before you get to Mt Eden Road. (As to train, hopefully after Western Line double-tracking is complete, the train will be useful for me to get to Newmarket as well.)

But man alive, that Otahuhu railway station is seven kinds of dump. Considering that it's the main interchange between Southern and Eastern lines, it needs a facelift and fast.

First problems

The chain on the Wisper 705eco has a nasty habit of slipping off. The chain guard, while making it feasible to cycle in a long skirt, also makes it a bit tricky to put it back on.

One of the screws holding in the front mudguard was also shaken loose, but that was trivially easy to replace.

Otherwise, all holding up fine. Today marks a month of solid commuting, which I believe was the challenge, in all weathers.