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First outdoor ride of the season

Socket's picture
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started by Socket on April 7, 2008

and I don't know what else could have gone wrong except the whole bike falling to pieces under me. It was a beautiful day and I was ready to go, but I get out there and the first thing I notice is the chain rubbing on the front derailleur in the smaller chainring. It had done that before but I forgot/ignored it. Next thing is that when I put it in a comfortable gear in the back, it was fine for about 30 seconds then started jumping gears wildly; but this only happened in the smaller chainring again.

I don't have clipless pedals or biking shoes so of course my feet don't fit in the toe clips with my new running shoes, and I forgot to tuck in the laces so of course they got caught in the chain.

About the time I decided I've had enough of this, I noticed my seat had fallen about 2 inches from where it started out almost an hour before and the rear deflector was all that was keeping the seat that high. I ended up riding back to the house in the granny gear and of course I don't have my key since my girlfriend was supposed to be back from the gym before I got back from riding so I end up sitting on the front porch for 15 minutes feeling rather defeated.

After finally getting inside and cleaning myself up, I take the bike to the LBS. They ask what was wrong with it and I said that the rear derailleur was possessed. They laughed and took a look at it. Turns out the bike shop that built the bike (not this shop) ran the front derailleur cable wrong, the front derailleur was twisted, the rear derailleur was bent, the rear cogs were all out of alignment, most of the cables were stretched out, and the brakes where loose. (The fallen seat was my fault for not tightening the clamp enough).

I can't wait to get the bike back and feel what it is supposed to ride like!

TryScott's picture
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TryScott posted 12 weeks ago.

What? No flat tire?

gfd's picture
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gfd posted 12 weeks ago.

You got the bad one out of the way. Imagine how great your next ride is going to be.

Socket's picture
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Socket posted 12 weeks ago.

TryScott wrote:
What? No flat tire?

Thankfully no, but I'll be picking up flat-fixing gear when I pick up the bike so I'll be ready for that when it does happen.

jellings9's picture
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jellings9 posted 12 weeks ago.

That's pretty bad, but at least you didn't drop your front wheel down the slats in a storm drain. That's never fun and I hope my one trip over the handle bars is the only that I'll ever have.

rebekahliz's picture
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rebekahliz posted 12 weeks ago.

Crappy! Well I guess it's too late to suggest that before the first ride of each season it's a good idea to go for a quick test ride around the neighborhood and then, inevitably, head for a tune-up. I always find something wrong. Best wishes on that next ride!

Di mana ada kemauan, di situ ada jalan (Where there is desire, there is a road). – Indonesian proverb

ChunkyB's picture
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ChunkyB posted 12 weeks ago.

Yeah, my first outdoor ride of the year back in January, I broke a spoke. I think it's just meant to be when you've been riding indoors all winter. The bike just isn't used to the stresses of actual riding.

"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice

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Socket's picture
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Socket posted 11 weeks ago.

HAHA! Finally got my bike back Saturday, which would have been incredible to ride on being 70F and sunny but I was too busy that day. But on Sunday, which was 45 and windy and threatening rain, I got to ride on the fully repaired bike and it was like night and day on the moon! I could shift one gear at a time, the brakes actually braked, my seat didn't move an inch, and I could sit in my comfortable gears for more than 30 seconds! Hooray!

I need to tilt my seat back, though, since I was balanced too far forward and really leaning on my hands as well as put the new pedals on the bike (still waiting on the shoes). With my shoes not fitting in the toe clips, all the pressure was right behind my toes which went completely numb after half an hour. Kept going for another hour though since it was good just to get out :-)

I was going to wait till after my first race to put the pedals on, but with numb feet there is no way I could to the run. Oh, well. Better adapt quick