Ride Report: Little Silver Clem
Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
Ride Report: Little Silver Clem
In the spirit of this List, I’ve decided to extract a ride report from 12 year old Ethan, who has been riding his 45 cm Clem Smith Jr. for 8 days. We got the saddle and bars dialed in exactly on Day One. The other days have consisted of the school commute, rides to the park and around the neighborhood hunting fall colors and letting the wind blow in our hair. If you haven't read the original story of how this little bike came to be, it can be found under A Boy, A Bike, and A Benefactor in this Google Group.
Q: How would you describe the look of your Little Silver Clem? What are your favorite parts of the bike?
My Silver Clem looks absolutely perfect. I love the colored spoke ends, my lug, and the saddle. I love the spoke ends because of their multi-color personality. I like the design and creativity of the lug. And the saddle is awesome because it has copper hammered into it and is real leather!
Q: How does it feel to be one of the only 12 year olds in the world to have a Rivendell bicycle?
It feels special and delights me every time I think of it. I don't want to tell other kids because they might wreck it, or may try to steal it. I feel bad for kids who have bikes that are too big or too small and can't enjoy biking like I can. I do feel pressure to keep it perfect; I'm scared of putting it in the rack.
Q: How do you feel about the:
1. Ride of your bike?
It feels smooth, and whenever I stop moving my pedals, the bike makes a satisfying clicking sound. The wheels are fat and make a whirring sound. It doesn't slide; it feels stable.
2. Neutral position of your hands after years of flat bars?
It's a big change, and feels awkward. But now that I've ridden it a bit more, I've gotten used to it and I'm starting to like it. I also love my cork grips and I shellacked them myself; I'm kind of proud of them.
I like the shifters on my bike; they're different from the ones I had on my previous bike. They don't have any numbers to show what gear I'm in so I do it by feel, and it's all the more fun to try to figure it
out.
3. Weight of the bike? You are only 71 pounds, and this is a big bike.
I don't mind it. If I get a rack and start carrying my own stuff, I might notice.
Q: Was there anything you really had to get used to on your Clem?
The handles and the gears. Definitely. Lifting my leg over the bar and the having to wear down my saddle because it was super stiff.
Q: Who is prettier? The Little Silver Clem or TBBITW (The Best Bike in the World, my Betty Foy)? Be careful how you answer this.
I'll say the Betty Foy because my bike is not pretty. It is a stallion, not a pony. It in no way is close to beautiful, pretty, or gorgeous. It is handsome and manly.
Q. How do you feel the Little Silver Clem handles the hilly country in which we live?
It's a little scarier to ride downhill since I'm getting used to my bike, but I'll get the hang of it. Uphill feels the same!
Q: Would you say your mother looks 10 years younger when she test rides the Little Silver Clem? You would say it imparts to her a fun, girlish quality, wouldn’t you? WOULDN’T YOU?!?
This is a trap. I plead the 5th.
Q: Who do you think would win a race up Killer Hill? The Little Silver Clem or TBBITW?
My Silver Clem because I'm more competitive than you.
Q: Where would be your ideal place to ride your Little Silver Clem?
Smooth, flat land. Cities would be great because you can get from place to place. You have a destination and there's stuff to explore in the city. It could have bike lanes!
Q: You have had an awful lot of kindness come your way these past weeks. Mostly in the form of boxes containing a bike all the best things to adorn your bike with. What is it like to find yourself given such treasures?
It's immensely humbling and I'm grateful for all I've received. I feel fortunate to have such a kind benefactor and kind people send these presents - it's like Christmas!
Q: Do you think you would like to be someone’s benefactor someday? How can you be sure not to let these kindnesses end with you?
I would. I would like to continue the joy I've been given. I think my bike will be a standing reminder of the kindness I've received and that I can be the one to light up someone's world.
Q: What would you like to say to the RivPeople who have been so good to you?
I would like to thank them and acknowledge the great things they've done for me. I didn't believe at first that a stranger could be kind enough to give someone they don't know a present so valuable. Now I know just that is possible.
Doug H.
Doug
DarinM
C Sharp
Joe Bernard
Patrick Moore
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dougP
Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
Also, leading questions?! I would never!
ascpgh
in Dallas nick
Shoji Takahashi
On Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 6:58:42 PM UTC-4, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:
Patrick Moore
Well, most 12 year olds aren’t as small as Ethan, and the same can be said of my younger son for his age. Maybe if I bought meat fed/treated with hormones and antibiotics? More sugar? I don’t know, but these have been my theories. The genes on both sides code for tall people, so I think he’ll get there eventually!
Also, leading questions?! I would never!
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Doug H.
Doug
Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
It’s Monday, so the first day back for our commute. Oh, he was jazzed today; my husband was driving to work at the exact time we left the house, so the boys wanted to race him for as long as they could. I had to hang back with the littler guy (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) but Ethan was tearing up the path on that little Clem. My husband played along until traffic interfered, then he sped up and left us. Meanwhile, all the adrenaline was still pumping through Ethan, and now he was outright peacocking. He stood straight up on his pedals and bombed downhill far ahead of us, pleased as punch with himself the whole way. I told myself I’d throttle him later, provided he lived through this commute. He reached the crosswalk far ahead of us, looking all wind blown and sleek on his beautiful Rivendell bicycle, the secret jewel of the campus bike rack, hoping everyone was noticing his superior athleticism and bike-handling prowess. He had done his best showboating for the neighborhood - and then pushed the button for the wrong direction at the crosswalk. My younger son was only too happy to point this out, and we roared with laughter at Ethan’s expense. Humble pie for breakfast! The only kind I can endorse!
Leah Peterson
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