Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/45 sec, ISO3200 “UPANBIKE Handlebars” Cedar Park, 2021
I fitted my bike (Mango) with some new handlebars today. The UPANBIKE “Urban Road Bike Retro Handlebar Moustache Shape Extra Wide Dutch M Shape” (Wow, what a nice SEO name) handlebars were very easy to install with my shifters and brake levers sliding right on with no problem. I was worried that I might have to replace my cables with longer ones, but it turns out that the original length works fine.
I also put some SAPLIZE ergonomic grips on, and they are very comfy. These use collars to tighten them to the bars so it will be easy to remove them when I want to switch back to the butterfly bars.
I was only able to go for a short ride this afternoon with the new setup, but it felt great! I also love the look of these handlebars. They have a classic, simple, and attractive shape. And having a bike that you think looks nice makes you want to ride it even more.
In the photos, you can see the extension bar for adding accessories. I actually use it to keep my phone in position. But I think I’ll remove it to keep the handlebars looking a little cleaner. It would be a shame to ruin the sweet lines of the new bars, right? 😄 I can always keep my phone in the trunk bag to record the rides with Strava. Having the phone up front is nice when I need to look at the map like when I went on my gravel ride a few months ago, but it’s not necessary for riding around the neighborhood.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/45 sec, ISO3200 “New Cockpit” Cedar Park, 2021
In other cycling news, I’ve made a few more videos lately. Please check out my YouTube channel when you have a chance, or you can watch my latest video below:
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2, 1/40 sec, ISO640 “Cabling” Cedar Park, 2021
A while back, I found a pair of dirt-cheap handlebars and decided to give them a try on my bike. My current shifters and brake levers fit, but the cables are too short and just barely work. However, I was able to go for a ride and the new bars felt really good! The swept-back style is kind of retro-looking and fun, and puts the wrists in a comfortable position. I can see using these handlebars with friction shifters on a more classic bicycle that has more chrome. It would match nicely!
Because this type of handlebar is so easy to swap out, I’ve ordered another similar model, which is also swept back, but the curve is a little different, and I’m hoping the levers be positioned closer-in so that the cables will have more slack. If not, I can just replace the cables with longer ones, which seems like an easy DIY project. It’s also black, which will match my bicycle.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2, 1/40 sec, ISO640 “Swept Back” Cedar Park, 2021
I still love my butterfly bars, but I want to switch it up a bit. Plus, the more conventional bars will allow me to use a handlebar bag more easily. At least I hope! At any rate, swapping out the bars only takes about 15 minutes, so it’s not like it’s a huge endeavor. And it’s fun!
By the way, here’s my latest cycling video that I took during my lunchbreak:
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4, 1/1900 sec, ISO200 “Afternoon Bicycle Ride” Cedar Park, 2021
The weather was awesome today, so I decided to go on a bicycle ride on my lunch break. It was so nice to get some sun! I felt full of energy when I got back to work, just like Wall•E after recharging. 😄
I recorded my bicycle ride if you’d like to come along virtually:
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/8, 1/320 sec, ISO200 “Short Trail” Cedar Park, 2020
I had fun today at lunch exploring a little trail that runs behind our house. We have what’s known as a “green belt” in our neighborhood, which is a bit of wooded area, and when the kids were little, we explored it a bit looking for a geocache. At that time, the trail didn’t extend very far back, but now it actually connects to the street on the other side of the neighborhood, although you have to kind of know where the entry/exit point is because it’s not marked or anything. It’s kind of a neat, hidden little part of the neighborhood.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/7.1, 1/125 sec, ISO250 “Campsite” Johnson City, 2020
I’ve been wanting to go for a solo camping trip ever since I watched the shows Yurukyan and Hitori Kyanpu de Kutte Neru, which both feature a lot of solo camping. Since I had Friday off, I checked the campsite availability at Pedernales Falls State Park and saw that they had one site open for Friday evening, so I quickly grabbed it and decided to go for my first solo overnight trip!
I actually have a few new items of camping gear I wanted to try out before I head out to Big Bend National Park next month so this would be the perfect opportunity. My original plan was to hike to the campsite, set up camp, then hike some more trails before calling it a day. The following morning, I would break camp, return to the car and then bike around the park.
While I was checking out the cycling opportunities at Pedernales Falls State Park, I found a few videos on YouTube that showed people cycling on the trail that leads up to the primitive campsites where I’d be staying. So then I thought, hey, why don’t I try bikepacking, and load all of the gear onto the bike and ride to the campsite? Most of my camping gear is compact and light which make it easy to pack onto the bike. Even my relatively bulky Nemo Switchback sleeping pad was easily strapped to the handlebars.
Photo info: motorola moto g(6), 3.95mm, f/1.8, 1/1400 sec, ISO100 “On the Trail” Johnson City, 2020
The campsite is actually only 2 miles or so from the parking lot which isn’t far at all, but I thought this was perfect, because if for some reason my bicycle broke or I got a flat, I could easily just push the bicycle to the campsite or back to the car. I haven’t ever fully loaded the panniers before, after all.
However, my worries were unfounded, because the bike performed great, even with road-oriented touring tires. I did have to push the bike once when I got off my line while going up a steep hill and lost forward momentum, but other than that, it was 30 minutes of non-stop fun, and so much easier than lugging a heavy backpack on my back.
Now that I know how my gear fits on the bike and how the bike performs, it opens up new possibilities for longer trips on the bicycle. Time to check the map!
Some of the new items of gear this trip are:
REI Quarter Dome SL1 Tent – Perfect size for me (I’m 5′ 6″). I can keep a good amount of gear inside the tent with me. At about 2.5 lbs including poles, stakes, and footprint, it’s half the weight of my 2-person Marmot Catalyst tent.
Soto Amicus Stove and Cookset – Boils water fast and it’s very compact. Even has a built-in igniter! The Soto pot and cup have a good width to match the flame size of the stove.
Aegismax Down Sleeping Bag – The temperature dropped to the low 50s (F), which I would say is the lower limit of this sleeping bag. Very small and light, so it would be great for warmer evenings.
REI Flexlite Air Camp Chair – At one pound, this is a really easy “luxury” item to bring along. After a long hike, a chair is so much better than sitting on the ground or a log.
All-in-all, everything worked out nicely, and I had a great time solo camping. It was a relaxing getaway, completely unplugged (no cell signal). Highly recommended!
Here are a few more photos from my solo camp excursion, including some from the hiking trail, an armadillo that I came across, and a few from the Bird Blind on the other side of the park. Enjoy!
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/7.1, 1/400 sec, ISO200 “Wolf Mountain Trail” Johnson City, 2020Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 19mm, f/7.1, 1/60 sec, ISO800 “Armadillo” Johnson City, 2020
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