Thursday, October 8, 2009

Up then Down

I took off from work in good time today, completed my massive 10 minute commute home, got saddled up on my bike and went for a 2.5 hour ride up the coast and back. As I was riding I was thinking to myself how these sorts of rides are what it's all about. Get away from work, get outside and do something I love to do, and enjoy the suddenly cooler weather we're finally experiencing here in San Diego.

Then, when I was less than a mile from home, I somehow dumped my chain off the top of my biggest gear, into the space between my cassette and my hub. I have no idea how that happened, I don't even think I was changing gears. The net result was a near instant stop. My chain was jammed into that gap so tightly that as my rear wheel continued to turn it ripped my chain right off my front chain rings with enough force to slam it right through the bottom of my front derailleur. After spending 5 minutes on the side of the road ripping my chain out of there I was able to ride the rest of the way home, very slowly however.

BTW, I love how you can be broken down on the side of the road for 5 minutes, be passed by 20 cyclists and not one of them even asks if you need any help. It's bad enough that people can't even seem to say hi to you when you say hi to them as you pass them on the bike path, but not offering to help someone who could well need it really bothers me. I've gotten to the point with people on the bike path that when I say hi to them and they don't even react, that I now yell a second hi at them, just to make my point. Note however, that my more aggressive action with the hi's doesn't appear to be making a difference; at least not yet.

So now it looks like my powertap hub is messed up, my front derailleur needs to be replaced for sure, and who knows what else is done for. Stay tuned for another $400 trip to the bike shop. Dammit!

3 comments:

Matt Marshall said...

Sorry to hear that Eric. I suppose it could of been worse! I hear you on the lack of waving or saying hi. I've determined after conducting an experiment one weekend where I rode one day on the coast, followed by a day inland in the hills, that coastal riders. for the most part, are either people with attitudes, or complete rookies that think it makes them look "pro" to not acknowledge others on the road. The inland riders however were a different story. The waved or said hi almost 10 for 10. I'm convinced that you find stronger, more seriou riders inland working the hills, whereas your coastal riders, (well you get my point:) Good luck on the repair, and hope to see you soon!

Eric said...

Could be, but where does the 56 bike path fit into this theorem? The 56 bike path is my lab and it's the middle ground between the coast and the inland hills.

Tim said...

Too bad you don't bike around Austin. When I have a flat I must get 10 or 15 offers of help from other riders. Almost everyone I see waves hi to other riders or says good morning as they smoke by going up a hill (LOL).