The diary entries have slowed as we simply haven’t spent much time on the box bikes recently. A combination of illness, foul weather and a spring break road trip (in grandpa’s plush SUV with the DVD player) have kept the tomato twins perched quietly in the garage. While I have continued my daily commute on the Bianchi Milano, there simply hasn’t been any good opportunity for family rides. Sunny weather cannot come soon enough.

Poor riding conditions aside (there was drizzle aplenty), I took it upon myself to bust Goliath out its stable for a quick trip to Fred Meyer to stock-up on groceries, followed by a stop at Pets on Broadway for a 20-pound sack of dog chow. In total, a typical 60-70 pound cargo run.

After being off the carrier pigeon for so long (more than a week and a half), I found the experience to be just as pleasant and grin-generating as ever. It’s a great experience when riding a bicycle can completely erase thoughts of the miserable weather dumping down on you. This is the power of a truly good bike –the ability to create an experience that enables you to more clearly appreciate the opportunity to not only ride a bicycle in Portland, but to ride a bicycle so wonderfully forgiving, comfortable and capable. I can’t wait for summer to bust through!

New additions to Goliath: Schwalbe Marathon 1.75″ tires front and rear (smooth-rolling, tough, highly reflective sidewalls, and perfect wet-weather rollers)