Here are a couple of pics of my new green Raven Tour. Just a dozen miles on it at the time of the photos, after I'd ridden it home from the office via a couple of Wiltshire pubs -- just to get the bike into the right frame of mind, you understand!
I transferred the saddle (B66) from my old bike, along with a Dutch Axa cuff-style lock on the saddle stays, by the rear brake.
There had been a couple of rain showers as I pottered transferring bits from the old bike but, undaunted, I set out for a little round-trip this afternoon and combined that with a trip to fill the panniers with the weeks shopping from Sainsbury's. So now the bike's received a splatering of muddy water from the roads, and proved itself with a moderate load.
The Raven Tour coped admirably: There's a comforting, low, rumbling growl from the gears in the low-half of the hub that is more felt than heard. I've chosen a very upright riding position, emphasised by the smaller wheels than I'm used to. But v. comfortable. The braking is phenomenal - I'm used to braking early and gently on the old bike. On the new bike I often found I'd come to an abrupt halt yards before the obstacle/target :-)
The bike seems very taut and frisky ... quivering with eagerness to go if you hold it stationary on the brakes.
Simon.
