I have been looking for an upgrade for Jeanne and thought I’d found it with the Catrike Speed. But I’m not sure it will ever become her main bike. I think she feels a little vulnerable on it, on the streets. She did not say so but I felt a little that way myself and when she rode it on the trace she wanted to truck it there instead of riding from home. A trike is a bit wide to ride on streets, especially with no bike lane, and a little low to be mixing in with traffic; at least for our experience and confidence level. I have ridden it through a crowd and it was a little more difficult navigating, being down around their knees (although it has its own appeal, I received lots of attention - one woman wanted to get on it with me but I’m sure that was a tease). Nothing negative about the Catrike, it is a great bike and I look forward to riding it again soon. I really enjoyed it on the trike gathering in Xenia, Ohio. Our hesitation to ride the streets is more about us than about it. So, even though she may occasionally ride it I don’t think it will become a regular ride.

In any event I was still looking for a new bike for Jeanne, even if she was not. As far as she was concerned she was perfectly happy with her EZ-1. She loves it and says she will always ride it, even if not exclusively. The problem is that it weighs almost 40 pounds. This is heavy for a bare bike. Jeanne’s body weight is close to xxx (censored) so 10 or 15 fewer pounds is a significant percentage and means a considerable improvement in climbing hills or accelerating. As it is she tend to lag, i.e. get behind, at traffic lights or stop sign restarts; no wonder, a 40 pound bike.

I had admired the Lightning P-38 and read all good comments about it on the bike forums, especially about how good a hill climber it is. I have been riding in the neighborhood the last week and took Jeanne with me once. We like it. This will not replace my trace riding but will be in the evening after supper. As southerners our big meal is at night, after the day’s work. Go figure. I like the idea of dropping some sugar and maybe preventing some fat-homesteading. The neighborhood rides are short, maybe 8 miles, but hilly. Rolling hills. 

I saw a friend riding this bike on the trace not long ago. He bought the 10 year old bike from someone local last year. I really liked the way it looked, It especially appealed to my technical eye. Remember, I’m an engineering geek and all the good and bad of that. I use to like having an AC water cooler outside my office window and loved watching the water run over the wooden slats; geek enough for you? That was a long time ago and now I like a little more engineering in my engineering, but still a geek. (Listen to this, that is, listen if you read out loud; the bike only weighs 26 pounds.) I told my friend to keep me in mind if he ever decided to sell the P-38. Well, he did. He called me on August 15 and delivered it the next day. He had added a number of improvements, had about $1025 in it, and was asking $950. I counter-offered $1,000, which he accepted, after making sure I understood he was asking less. I’m a very good negotiator. Besides, $1000 is still below the going rate for these older P-38’s. New, they are over $3000. This is a nice bike. This particular one has shocks on the front fork, and a fairing.

Jeanne rode it for the first time last Sunday and again Wednesday. She can definitely tell a difference and loves the improved acceleration. Actually, she was quicker than me. Well, I am pushing a 30 pound bike with a personal weight of 245 pounds, on a good day. This is probably the view of her I will have at every restart, at least until I lose 30 pounds and get a 26 pound bike of my own. She had a slightly difficult time getting her first foot on the pedal, it being higher than what she is use to. She is also leaning back a little more but there is a seat-back adjustment, even if it does have a somewhat limited range. She also says she does not feel as steady or stable as on the EZ-1. I think that is just a matter of getting use to the bike. She can’t put her feet down flat when stopped. just the toes. This is a medium size, a small may be slightly better for her but I think she will adapt. We’ll see. If it does not work out maybe I could advertise it for $1,000 and someone will counter with $1,050.