I changed up my ride for the weekly Slow Rider Sunday ride. I took my Schwinn Loop instead of one my 700c bikes because I also planned to take my Fiat 500 for a smog check after the ride, and the Loop was the only bike that fit in the car. I do not have a bike rack for the Fiat.

This was my first ride for the Loop outside of my neighborhood. I am happy to say that I was able to keep up for the whole 12 mile ride. It was a bit more challenging than usual because I am rolling on 20 inch wheels with only a 40T chain ring. Luckily the Loop does have gears so I was able to shift up and down as needed. There are a few other regulars that ride on 16s or 20s so I knew that it was possible to make the ride.

I made a few small customizations to the bike when I first bought it. I changed the saddle and replaced the grip shifter with a thumb shifter and some new grips. After putting 12 miles on this bike in one ride, I think that I would need to make some other updates to make the bike a bit more comfortable on longer rides. The big would need a large chain ring. I could comfortably swap on a 46T chain ring with the chain guard like the stock ring. I might even be able to squeeze on a 48T or 52T without the chain guard. Ideally I would like to be pedalling in the middle of the cassette for most of the ride instead of keeping in 7th gear.

Overall, the Loop was a comfortable bike for the distance and the pace. Now that I have done it once, the Loop might go into the Slow Rider Sunday bike rotation more often once I upgrade the chain ring.