Fr8: 59-mile review

So, I think I've been about 59 miles on my Fr8 since starting to commute with it Tuesday of last week. Therefore, an updated review is in order.

(Rather than put more photos of the Fr8 up here, you can find some real beauties online.)

The Fr8 is made by WorkCycles in Holland. It is made to be a workhorse, primarily, but with comfort in mind -- much like our minivan, I suppose. I wrote about my first impressions in an earlier post; now I will address some of the issues I brought up then and give my further insights.

Weight: I mentioned the (probably) 70 pounds of weight before. I suppose I only notice the weight translating to a generally slow, un-nimble ride. And yet it doesn't *feel* slow; I can certainly accelerate, and the ride seems fast enough, especially on the downhills when acceleration comes easy. But with the weight and the riding position, I feel more of a sense of slowing down to enjoy life a bit more, something I desperately need many mornings on my way to work. I can scarcely bring myself to care that some other cyclist is hitting the green lights and I'm not.

The rattle from the chaincase was due to a loose chain. In increasing the chain tension, I dealt with the chaincase, and it does, indeed, seem to be quite industrial. I don't think it'll break any time soon, that's for sure. So I've stopped worrying about it. Now it is fairly silent.

The massive rack is actually a breeze to use! Since the bicycle stand is essentially the rack stand, a push forward is all that is needed to get going. A slight tilt to the left or right nudges the rack stand into the full "go" position, so it is very easy to use. When the rack stand is up, it lies horizontal towards the feet, with plenty of clearance to let the toes go 'round.

So far I'm loving the tires. 25 psi seems to be the way to go! Smooth rolling and comfy. We'll see what goathead season brings in the next two months...

The handlebars are great! I love the position for the hands and my body. It just took a bit of getting used to. And with that -- I've addressed the "cons" I listed in my first post about the bicycle. Now to other matters...

I had thought I might want to go with a 3-speed before getting this bike, but I'm so glad I ended up with 8 speeds! I only really use 1 through 6, but I really do use all of them. I use 7 on one descent and have not yet used 8, so I have no idea what it's meant for. (My terrain is only moderately hilly, by the way...)

The front rack has proved its usefulness. While my backpack looks silly on the thing, I strapped a large storage box to it for a trip to the store and came back with three gallons of milk, two dozen eggs, six juice cartons, and a box of diapers, and, other than the launch, I didn't notice the extra weight. Once I get a box that takes up the whole front rack, and maybe something to go on the back rack, I'll be able to shop for the whole family in one go on this thing!

The Brooks saddle -- wow. I've read about break-in periods, but I guess I didn't need one. It's just comfortable! It's simply a piece of leather, that's it. Some metal to help it keep its shape and connect to the bike. Two thumbs up on that one.

The look. I guess, as a recovered unicyclist, I'm used to being the center of attention whenever I get somewhere. Well, that's still the case. Especially among young teenage boys. They must be worrying that they might someday lose so much of their masculinity.

Finally, I'll just say that this ride is smooth like I've never experienced. Stable, in control, smooth. It turns like a charm. Not nimble, of course, but a great city bike, and one I hope to live with for a long, long time. Thanks, Henry Cutler, for a fantastic bicycle!