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Friday, December 10, 2010

the other eagle has landed



Meet the BEAST. Last night was our maiden voyage on our new tandem. We rode to the City (about 12 km) to meet some friends for dinner. Later that night we rode home through the uni and then around the lake - it was beautiful. Some of you may be aware that the ONC is full of water at the moment. Scrivener Dam was amazing. It may have been the wine and vodka (respectively), but we felt sure that the barricades across the bike path where the Yarrolumla creek flows into the river were not for us.

Pretty soon the flooding water was up over the bike path......I got off and took my shoes off (because I was wearing a skirt and nice shoes that would be ruined if they got wet). Mr Duck kept pushing our bike, which was designed by a Mr Onderwater by the way, and pretty soon I noticed that the water was up over my knees, and up over the expensive 7 speed internal hub of the beast. Did you know that the internal hub generator on the front kept working even though it was underwater as well? So our giggling adventure remained illuminated throughout. My understanding is that these bikes are tough, built to last forever in all weather but riding in over a foot of water may perhaps be pushing their robust design to the limit......so we turned around.

I am not sure if we have done any damage to the hubs......I hope not. But she is fun to ride - big, fat, slow and lumbering but fun. She seems to cope with gutter jumping just fine. It is very companionable cruising along together in the dark, chatting, joking, or just being silent, along the lake, through the forest after a nice night and a few drinkies.

And, now this is the REALLY cool bit, she is an AZOR, which I think is the same factory that made my Workcycles Secret Service frame. So they are like sisters really.

6 comments:

jonesy said...

Neat Duckie, now I wonder if I can get the arorider past my fearless leader. Maybe if I told her you said I really needed one we could swing it.

The Duck Herder said...

well, you HAVE clocked up a few years, and are prone to taking the bark off, and well, you would last FOREVER or at least extend your useful working life by at least 30 years if you have an arorider.......and lesser men would have bought a Harley by now, and this would be MUCH cheaper and much more responsible.......and FUN........

Marla said...

"big, fat, slow and lumbering but fun"

Oh, I SO want to steal this as a personal description. LOL

The Duck Herder said...

heehee, be my guest!

Jacqueline said...

I'm confused...didn't you and Mr Ducks already have a tandem? Or is this a new one?? I have such a funny picture of you two in my head fording that river in the dead of night. Almost as funny as you moving Queenie 1 meter at a time in the dead of night. Or raiding the neighbour's recycling bins for bottles for your plum wine in the dead of night. Can you see a theme here??

The Duck Herder said...

Um, we ORDERED a tandem a few months ago, and this is it! The BEAST. It ended up a different style, and color, but BETTER, and anyway, still just as heavy.

explanindo?


and what is your point? perhaps its not just cats that should be locked up at dusk? or perhaps I should get some sleep! Or perhaps most of my hobbies are such that they can only be exercised after dark.....hmmm.

love duckiexxxxxxx