Giant Terrago Disc

The Thermindus was growing too heavy and old, and I invested some savings on a Giant Terrago Disc.
The first time I rode it I was astonished. I had never thought a bicycle could be so light and easy. I'm aware it's not even that light, with its weight of more than 14 kilograms, yet it's incredibly lighter than the other one. The front suspension adds comfort (and weight). The hydraulic disc braking system is impressing.
I am quite scared of thieves though, so I only ride this bicycle when I'm sure I can carry it with me all the time. It means that movies and daily rides to the courtrooms are still the Thermindus' duty.
It took some time before I could get some mudguards on it, but I made it by the winter when they are really needed. I was lucky to find a rear mudguards with a holding point on the frame instead of those hanging from the seatpost, which I don't fancy.
I wanted to get rid of the battery light, they don't last enough and you always have to carry spare batteries, and remove the lights whenever you leave the bicycle even for a minute; but I couldn't possibly think of having a tyre dynamo on this frame, so I got a dynamo hub, and now I have two wheel sets, the original one and another one with the dynamo hub and Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tyres, which roll incredibly smooth. And the dynamo hub is fantastic!

	My flashy new bicycle	Full size
	The Giant: front view	Full size
	Detail: fork and brake disc I have read Sheldon Brown's and James Annan's articles on disc brakes and quick-release and adjusted the skewer in a safer position.	Full size
	Rear wheel with derailleur and disc	Full size
	Second set: Rear wheel cassette hub	Full size
	Second set: Rear wheel cassette hub	Full size
	Second set: Front wheel with dynamo hub	Full size
	Silhouette by the river, with mudguards and locker	Full size
	Side wiew	Full size

Kronan

Just for the sake of style, and to pretend I was living in a northern capital I got this Swedish military bicycle.
It is nice, with its essential lines and smart brakes (drum on the front and coaster on the rear) and huge rack, and extremely heavy.
Pedaling uphill is incredibly hard, and the three-speed hub shift doesn't really make much difference. Obviously northern capitals are rather flat, or local riders have quite strong calves.
But I love the bike; the steel frame and big tyres make it very soft, and it just makes you happy as you ride it - that's why I named her "Amelia", reminding of Amélie Poulain and of Amelia, as Disney's raven-hair witch Magica De Spell is called in the Italian version.
Amelia has taken the Thermindus' place in most of everyday duties, including food shopping which is made easier by the large veggie box I use to set on the rack. As long as there are no steep uphill roads, she can take me as far as I need.
And many, many people stop by to admire her!

	Kronan	Full size
	Kronan d'autunno	Full size
	Kronan d'autunno	Full size
	Kronan d'autunno	Full size
	Kronan d'autunno	Full size
	Kronan d'autunno	Full size

Thermindus

I bought this cheap bicycle back in 2000 while I was living at the Poggiolo, between Siena, Florence and Arezzo. It was a good fun to ride the Tuscan hills, although the bike showed very soon all its limits: the shift has a tendency to mess up, the brakes aren't that effective, the whole bike weighs an awful lot. It's actually a heap, but I've had it for a long time and I'm keen on it. Plus it's sort of safe to use in town, as it's not so interesting for thieves. Hopefully. (Actually the very same day I wrote that someone stole the saddle, so I have to say nothing's safe in this town.)
I have added mudguards, battery lights, then a dynamo light system. In the front picture you can get a glimpse of my precious keyring, in shape of an Ampelmännchen (the typical sign for East Berlin traffic lights).
Later on I chahged the tyres, I put first a pair of hybrid Kenda that didn't satisfy me, then two Vittoria Randonneur which are smooth to ride and feel quite ok.
Eventually the seatpost quick-release broke up and I went for a nut & bold.

	The good old Thermindus, from the left side	Full size
	The good old Thermindus, from left front	Full size
	The good old Thermindus, from rear right: notice the new saddle (secured by a lace-thick chain), carrier and a thick strong chain.	Full size
	New handle bar, new handles.	Full size
	Upgrade: a speedometer to measure how incredibly fast I ride	Full size
	The new seatpost, replacement for the one that was stolen with the saddle, used to sink down, so I tried this trick, inspired by Pirsig in The Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, only with a can of Chinotto instead of beer.	Full size
	The Chinotto tin can layer I used to fix the seatpost.	Full size
	New tyres.	Full size

Motorbikes

Present time: Kawasaki Er-5

I bought this bike in 1998 and have riden more than 50,000 km on it.
It has been a trustworth and nice companion for small and middle-range trips, mostly between Rome and Tuscany, and a swift vehicle through the crazy traffic in Rome.

	Left view	Full size
	Front-left view	Full size
	Front-right view	Full size
	Riding in Tuscany	Full size
	By a sunflower field	Full size
	In the beautiful Val d'Orcia	Full size
	On the Cimini mountains	Full size
	Crossing 43°N	Full size

Yamaha YZF R6 (2009)

This bike belonged to a friend who died. His family asked me to sell it and thus I had it in use for a couple of weeks.
Very very good motorbike, but just not my style. I felt uncomfortable riding it in traffic, the passenger has it tough on the back seat, and if you need to carry some bags it's a pain.

	Right side view	Full size
	Left side view	Full size
	Front view	Full size
	Back view	Full size

KTM LC4 640 SuperMoto (2009)

After the Yamaha R6 I felt the old Kawasaki's frame, forks and brakes were not that efficient.
A friend was selling this Supermotard, and I thought I could give it a try.
It is a very light bike, with powerful brakes and excellent suspensions. Yet again, not my bike. You can't ride it slow, you can't carry a handkerchief, and it feels like you're sitting on a hammer drill.
I sold it right away.

	SuperMoto, left side view	Full size
	SuperMoto, front view	Full size
	SuperMoto, back wheel	Full size

Honda CS 125 (1996-1997)

I got this small and cute bike for free, as the engine was seized up. It took some time to find the spare parts, then I enjoyed riding it for less than 2,000 km till it seized up again. After nine months I managed to get a whole engine from a Honda CB 125, set it up and ride the bike for one month before I brought it to the wrecker when I bought the Kawa.

The glorious Honda CS 125

Full size

Honda SC01L 50 (1994-1996)

This little thing was a rocket. I bought it second hand in 1994, fiddled endlessly with the engine, transmission, pipe, suspensions, brakes and virtually everything on it.
The engine was a Malossi 70 cc, I had oil fork springs in the front, alloy rear wheel, oversize tyres, oversize carburettor and lots of other little gadgets. Around 10,000 km the drive shaft broke down, yet the scooter was still able to reach over 100 km/h. I sold it when I fixed the Honda CS; the bike was considerably slower and the brakes couldn't match with the scooter's at all.

The fierce Honda SC 50

Full size

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