This is what Plan A looked like, but more importantly, what did it ride like?This is what Plan A looked like, but more importantly, what did it ride like?

The next morning I packed up all my stuff into four bags, two side panniers, top box and bag across the seat behind me. I put them on the bike, added my camera tank bag as well, checked the bicycle mounts were tight and set off for my shake down ride.

It was awful. I didn’t feel very safe. The front was very light and the bike felt unstable. The steering seemed vague and I thought I might do tank slappers were it not for my steering damper.

I rode the road to Toluca for four of five kilometres which included lots of slow bends and one fast straight. I didn’t go very quickly at all.

I returned home and took the bicycle and it’s frame off the bike. I went for another ride.

It was pure joy in comparison. I had confidence in flicking the bike from side to side in the lovely curves and enjoyed myself immensely. I was not going anywhere with the bicycle in that position.

No wonder I hadn’t seen any pictures of bikes in that position on the net.

Back to the drawing board.

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