Since I seem to be riding the F-40 as a P-38 more than I thought I would I purchased an Arkel seat back bag. Easy/fast slip over mounting. Lots of room. Extra inside pockets to hold cell phone, glasses, tools, camelbak, etc. I like it.

I also put the carbon deep V wheel on the front that I had originally purchased for the Baron from Bent-Up cycles. Order another deep V rim for the rear tire. These wheels are expensive but very fast with the Kojaks on them. The Kojaks help with the Texas chip-seal.

Replaced the slow Marathon Plus tires with the Kojaks. Now that I have some experience riding at speed with the F-40 I’m not so worried about tire blowouts. I know the Kojaks are tough because I’ve used them on the Musashi for thousands of miles.

The Kojaks are 406-35 on the front and 700C-35 on the back. Very tight fight on the bike. Once I lose about 30 pounds on the engine I’ll probably go to a narrower (28mm?) tire from Schwalbe.

Today was a no-wind morning and I really able to open up the speed on the F-40.

Did an hour ride averaging 20.1 mph including stopping to put back on a jumped chain.

On my favorate strava segment I only pulsed the brakes when the bike got over 35 mph a couple of times on the downhills.

This got me to number 2 on the strava segment KOM. I missed being first by 3 seconds - bummer.

I’m sure that when I acclimate to the bike I’ll be faster.

The best I ever did on this segment with the Musashi with fresh legs and wind at my back was 21.1 mph giving me 49th place on the KOM.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/356417429

http://app.strava.com/activities/73578895#1453965224

Prior to installing the 60oz beer growler I was using a cambak un-bottle.

Last summer in Texas I had over 30 hours of riding in temperatures above 100 degrees and several hours riding in temps above 110.

This summer in late August I’m planning on taking the F-40 to HHH (Hotter’n Hell Hundred miler) in Wichita Falls Texas. The temps are expected to be around 110 in the afternoon.

Well they now sell 64 oz Wide Mouth Insulated Stainless Steel Growlers for beer.

I bought one of these and did a Texas sun test yesterday. Yesterday noon I filled the growler up with ice and water and set is outside on the driveway in the afternoon sun and heat. Most of yesterday afternoon the temps were above 100 degrees and the outside of the growler became very hot to touch.

I left the growler in the garage overnight and this morning I took it as is on my 20 mile ride. It still had ice in it when I started riding. Here is a picture of it installed on the F-40:

The tail of the F-40 basically has a storage area that I have installed a top of the rack saddle bag. Then I cut a hole in the front of the saddle bag that I can slip the growler in and out.

Here it is a day later and the growler still has ice in it!

Looks like I have a solution for HHH.

The only negative is that it probably weighs 5 pounds loaded with ice and water.