JackTheCommuter
Maximum Pace
- Apr 3, 2012
- 402
- 100
Hello TCC!
Part introduction and part advice seeking.
I'd like to introduce myself. I am from the Southern California, USA, and have been in Japan for since approximately 2006. It was a bit of transition driving the car everywhere, even for short trips, to leaving the car at home because its too much of a hassle to get around.
About four years ago, 2008, I got a bicycle to avoid the crushing commuter trains. I'm a bit embarrassed to say but the bicycle was an electric assisted one way 12km trips. But it got me over the hump and started my interest in cycling.
In October 2011, I had a hard enough get off incident that the cranks do not spin linearly. It has a really noticeable wobble. The bicycle was on falling apart anyways due to poor maintenance and the battery was practically dead so I decided to get a new bicycle. I ended up with a Giant Pace 2012 fitted with a rear rack, panniers, and a kick stand. The guys at Y's Futakotamagawa gave me weird looks when I asked for this kind of setup, but who's the customer? At the time I wanted a cyclocross bicycle but this trend hadn't seemed to spread to this store.
In March 2012, with the newish bicycle, I had an incident with a taxi that was strong enough to vault me, according to witnesses, a half meter above and past the taxi. All I remember is trying to maneuver to avoid hitting the taxi that pulled out suddenly from a side street, a big impact, and the world spinning. I don't remember landing. When I came to, I knew I was hurting but nothing appeared seriously broken on the body. My shoes flew off. Helmet was crushed and cracked. Slide marks on the riding pants. A friendly pizza delivery guy helped me do the initial assessment and I was able to hobble to the curb. The bicycle was on top of the taxi hood but I didn't know how much damage. Big dent on the taxi where I impacted. Bystanders called the police and ambulance. Information collected. The medics after looking at the helmet said I should go get checked out and had an ambulance ride. The medical checks said no obvious concussion or broken bones. One of docs said my left thigh and ham string is bruised badly, it's going to hurt, and I should follow up with my own doctor. He was correct in that I was going to be hurting. Made my statement to the police, picked up the bicycle and went home.
The bicycle was declared a total loss when checked out at the Y's Road Futakotamagawa. Front wheel out of true. Unknown amount damage to the front forks. Frame is twisted to the point where the rear wheel rubs against the brakes. The taxi company agreed to pay for a replacement and covered my medical expenses. I'm satisfied with the outcome, but annoyed I have to take the train into work.
So looking for advice. I was happy with the 2012 Giant Pace. It had mount points for a rear rack and to me it felt efficient. The price being well south of 100k JPY was good too. My use case is commuting without a bag on my back and I'd like to try randoneuring. Any other bicycles I should consider?
What about shops in the Futakotamagawa area? I'm happy with the service but have the feeling that they view me as ghetto or too gaijin with what I want.
Part introduction and part advice seeking.
I'd like to introduce myself. I am from the Southern California, USA, and have been in Japan for since approximately 2006. It was a bit of transition driving the car everywhere, even for short trips, to leaving the car at home because its too much of a hassle to get around.
About four years ago, 2008, I got a bicycle to avoid the crushing commuter trains. I'm a bit embarrassed to say but the bicycle was an electric assisted one way 12km trips. But it got me over the hump and started my interest in cycling.
In October 2011, I had a hard enough get off incident that the cranks do not spin linearly. It has a really noticeable wobble. The bicycle was on falling apart anyways due to poor maintenance and the battery was practically dead so I decided to get a new bicycle. I ended up with a Giant Pace 2012 fitted with a rear rack, panniers, and a kick stand. The guys at Y's Futakotamagawa gave me weird looks when I asked for this kind of setup, but who's the customer? At the time I wanted a cyclocross bicycle but this trend hadn't seemed to spread to this store.
In March 2012, with the newish bicycle, I had an incident with a taxi that was strong enough to vault me, according to witnesses, a half meter above and past the taxi. All I remember is trying to maneuver to avoid hitting the taxi that pulled out suddenly from a side street, a big impact, and the world spinning. I don't remember landing. When I came to, I knew I was hurting but nothing appeared seriously broken on the body. My shoes flew off. Helmet was crushed and cracked. Slide marks on the riding pants. A friendly pizza delivery guy helped me do the initial assessment and I was able to hobble to the curb. The bicycle was on top of the taxi hood but I didn't know how much damage. Big dent on the taxi where I impacted. Bystanders called the police and ambulance. Information collected. The medics after looking at the helmet said I should go get checked out and had an ambulance ride. The medical checks said no obvious concussion or broken bones. One of docs said my left thigh and ham string is bruised badly, it's going to hurt, and I should follow up with my own doctor. He was correct in that I was going to be hurting. Made my statement to the police, picked up the bicycle and went home.
The bicycle was declared a total loss when checked out at the Y's Road Futakotamagawa. Front wheel out of true. Unknown amount damage to the front forks. Frame is twisted to the point where the rear wheel rubs against the brakes. The taxi company agreed to pay for a replacement and covered my medical expenses. I'm satisfied with the outcome, but annoyed I have to take the train into work.
So looking for advice. I was happy with the 2012 Giant Pace. It had mount points for a rear rack and to me it felt efficient. The price being well south of 100k JPY was good too. My use case is commuting without a bag on my back and I'd like to try randoneuring. Any other bicycles I should consider?
What about shops in the Futakotamagawa area? I'm happy with the service but have the feeling that they view me as ghetto or too gaijin with what I want.