Time to give the old Jackal Goldenbitch the kudos she deserves. She sure stays planted. Even on a day like this.
When I headed to the office this morning, it was all sideways drizzle and puff, mid thirties temp, thirty mph sustained wind & gusting up from there. Ordinarily I'd have taken my dirty weather bike, Biffy Bullfrog, the KLR. But I reflected on the solid planted-to-the-pavement feeling GB the Jackal gives me, and the wide stance she has when parked on that way oversized kickstand, and her weight most of all. Biffy, I'd have skittered sideways and jerked her back in her place. She's tall and light. GB, she's like riding that big wet rock in the center of the rapids right below the falls, where everything roils by deafening, but you're on the solid. Heavy and low.
On the way back, driving horizontal downpour. She rode not quite on rails, but close enough. They say the wind was gusting to fifty today; but then, you know, they like to say a lot of things, don't they. News ain't news if they don't make it sound scary. Regardless what it was, it was huffing. Chase the trash can weather. Still roaring out there.
Good rain bike. Good wind bike. Kudos.