Version anglaise (poster sur Ridemonkey.com)
I bought a used Chameleon off ebay last week.
This is my 5th bike and it will be used as a SS play bike and also a winter bike. I will swap between a rigid and 5" fork.
I have a pair of rhyno lite waiting to join the fun and many more upgrades coming from unreal cycle.
First ride
It was nice outside, it was snowing. I took the new baby blue baby for a ride. It was nice to dress less bike geeky for once (no spds shoes, winter tights, booties etc....). Riding in comfy pants, regular running shoes and snowboard helmet was welcomed.
As soon as I hopped on the Cham , I felt like playing, jumping, skidding, wheelieying and hopping snow banks.
The shorter tube and chainstay made the bike feel very lively and primed. The kind of bike that you ride like we rode our small bmx 15 years ago. Just plain fun. All of a sudden praticing wheelies did not feel pointless anymore
I spent some time in the parking lot praticing slippery tight turns in snow. Eventhought the 5" fork makes the Head angle a little slack the bike turned tight. In snow it's even more important to keep your weight above the centre of the bike eventhought you are tempting to keep the gravity center low by putting your weight inside the turn and taking you foot off the pedal.
I was suprised to see how hight I could bunnyhop with the flat pedals, flats are kind of new for me.
When darkness came I went for a ride in the city park called parc de l'ile de la visitation. The bike path along the river was paked snow and it made for some fast riding. With the seat up the bike transformed itself into a very nice xc machine and it pedaled very well.
I cursed myself for not bringing my niterider and the path came more and more difficult to see. The snow was getting deeper blowned by the wind above the river. I had to turn back. I froze my teeth because of the huge grin I had on the way back.
Here's the bike after the ride.
I don't like the feeling of the Z1 fork. It feels a little sticky and very very boingy. I will try to open it and see if I am lacking oil or something.