Bicycle

My old Olpran Discovery has been with me since I was ten. The frame is small, the wheels too. The saddle sits too high. No front suspension fork. It was simply impossible to ride comfortably, not to mention its weight. Time to find a replacement.

I didn't specifically want a mountain bike. Bigger wheels would be a plus (29"), and a fork is nice to have. After the lockdown, bike shops are pretty picked over. Going through several configurators I worked out I'd need a frame size L or XL. The selection narrowed considerably. I went through most of the bike shops in Brno and settled on Milujeme kola. One of the main deciding factors was the bike fitting — which later proved to be a really great call.

At the shop I tried both the L and XL frame. The smaller one simply wouldn't do — it's genuinely uncomfortable to sit or ride on. All the controls (shifting, braking, fork lock) were adjusted to fit me. Including derailleur adjustment, brakes, and everything else. Since I'd already ridden a bike that week I had some muscle memory of my position. As soon as I sat on this one it was completely different — more comfortable. I rode like a rocket.

The bike is reasonably light, a sort of cross between a road bike and a mountain bike. The tyres do point it towards paved surfaces though. On those it'll fly. I'll see after a few hundred kilometres.