Observations on the Platypus ride

[Jay LePree]

Hi all:

I am not one, nor have been one to really notice significant differences between bicycles, and I have owned to date a wide variety.  Carera steel lugged Italian racer, Lightspeed Capella racer, Ibis Haka monster cross, Rivendell Rambouillet, and now am down to my two last bikes, a Spot Brand Champa and my Platypus after selling all the others over the years.   

Well, after riding my Platypus for a year, I took it into the shop for a once over, and started to ride my Spot brand Champa.  I instantly felt that I had to "fight" the Champa to move forward.  I had not experienced this before in swapping from one bike to another.  This even included moving from the Ibis to the Spot Brand Champa and from the Carrera to the Rambouillet.  I feel like I am riding through mud on the Champa.  

Interesting enough, My brother in law rides my Platypus once in a while and has made the comment that he finds it easier to pedal it forward on flats and even up hills than his bicycle or his son's bicycle. 

I don't think it is a placebo effect as I have not felt this in swapping between bikes before.  The Platypus, at least to me, seems to be easier to move forward.  

Kind regards,

Jay LePree

Demarest, NJ