I went camping this weekend past at Bellows AFS campgrounds with a group of friends. Naturally I rode my Hunq. I’d really hoped my new bike would arrive in time and sure enough, thanks to the good folks at RBW, it did.
I took the day off on Friday and tried to make an early start. It didn’t completely end up that way as I couldn’t find my solar panel anywhere. Since I was headed somewhere electricity would be available it wasn’t completely a bust, but it did annoy me to no end. I could find all the bits and pieces that go with the darn thing, but no panel. Ah well.
I’d packed up my Ortlieb panniers the night before and made sure they fit well on my new Nitto Big Rack. I put those last few odds and ends together, forgetting a coffee mug….sigh…and took off while it was still morning.
It was a windy day and given that we were getting trades I would be riding into the wind most of the way there. I’m not a big fan of wind but it was a beautiful morning and I had a beautiful bike so what could go wrong. The answer, blessedly was…nothing.
The Hunq handles superbly both loaded and unloaded. I had my sleeping bag and some clothes on one side, my tent and a few toiletries on the other. Up front I’d folded up my Thermarest pad and put it into my Ortlieb rack pack and stuffed it all in my basket. All in all, including the weight of the packs themselves, I probably 8-10 pounds a side and 4-7 pounds up front. Not a whole lot. I wasn’t taking but one change of clothes as I would only be there for two evenings and had dispensed with food and cooking gear. I wasn’t traveling light, I’d be comfortable, but I wasn’t carrying a kitchen sink either.
Did I say the bike was superb? Yep? I’ll say it again. Superb.
I was comfortable the whole way, eschewing stops I’d made in the past on other bikes to stretch a bit. I did stop for some photos at Makapuu Lookout, but that was pretty much it for actually getting off the bike.
The whole ride is really only about 25 miles and change but the wind made it a bit more challenging. Going up the hill into the wind at Makapuu is always the worst bit and sure enough it was, but boy was it worth it. The views were superb, blue sky, just a few clouds, wow.
I finished off my first water bottle, had a good slug of the second and figured I’d be at Bellows before I needed a refill. The wind kept up but I was getting closer. Arriving at Bellows on a bike is always fun. The guards, and yes, they are real military guys and gals doing a great job, always seem interested in my bikes, where I came from, how long it took, was it dangerous…compared to their usual gigs it’s not dangerous at all. Indeed compared with walking in Honolulu it’s downright safe.
I set up camp, ate lunch, chatted with friends, took a hot shower and nap and generally did as little as possible for the rest of the day.
On Saturday, besides the big helping of nothing I doled out for myself, I took a ride around Waimanalo’s back roads favored by the Freds. Sure enough I was passed my several. All of them looked at my lovely Hunq, basket and all, tooling down the road. Yep, they passed me, that’s okay. I wasn’t racing, training, measuring wattage, counting calories, or working on cadence. I was just out for a morning ride. Sweet. I’ll be a few of them were envious. At least I can can pretend.
Sunday came too soon after another afternoon filled with very little but relaxing, eating, eating, relaxing, eating, talking, napping…did I mention eating, and more nothing.
I packed up fairly early. I could have stayed till one in the afternoon, but it’s hot this time of year and I wanted to be home before noon. I was, just barely though – stopping for Shave Ice added a few minutes. The ride back was great as well…this time I had the wind at my back (sort of and sometimes) and the hills seem much easier. The only hill I don’t care for is the same Makapuu hill, though this time in the opposite direction. This way hugs the side of a rock wall and there’s no where to go when a bus or big truck comes by. Sure there’s a shoulder and it is wide enough for saftey, it just doesn’t feel like it.
I’ll give this to my Hunq…it tracked a straight path up that hill keeping me safely on the shoulder the whole way up. It feels tougher than it really is, mostly because of the location. In any case was up in no time at all and hardly even felt it. Yes, having gears you can change without getting off the bike is great.
I’ve done this on my Quickbeam as well and it’s really not a problem. It’s just a whole lot easier on the Hunq when under load.
As I said, I made it home before lunch, no worse for wear, better in fact. I’d had a great time, spent time with some good friends, and ridden a damn fine bike. I’ll keep her.
Slower, cheaper, less useful…