Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

Tuesday Canal Ride Report and the Break Down

7/2/2012

5 Comments

 
Picture
Very light turnout for the Canal ride, due to falling on the 3rd, electricity issues for some so about 27 cyclists.  Euro Patrick on the right.  Note the arm sleeves.  I've been doing some research on these and it appears they are the real deal, providing protection from the sun. Patrick recommends them so I ordered a pair to try.
Picture
Beth on the right.  Seems she is a C group Reaper.  We passed her a couple of weeks ago going out Waterloo and she was putting the hammer on the C's.  Time to move up girl!
Picture
The line-up tonight was not what you'd call formidable.  Glancing around the parking lot, there were only 3 obvious A's, Patrick, Steve O and Young Phenom Nick, with a beard that is growing fractionally each week.  So, the A group was called out and they plus the marginal players jumped in so maybe 12-15 rolled out as a hybrid group.  Patrick soft pedaled away at the outskirts of town, Steve joined in followed by Nick and so it was down to Kevin H, Mitch O, Ryan R, Brian, Andrew C, Jeff S, new guy, Eric the Columbus Dispatch photographer, David S and a few others.   

Going south on Slittery, Eric had a flat.  I asked of no one in particular if we should stop and Mitch said no, the policy was changed and we no longer should wait for flat fixers, so we kept going.  Going east on Westfall, Mitch had a flat and so while Jeff and Ryan stopped, those still in the group.....
Picture
Brian, Andrew, new guy and I kept going and pulled into the gas station to refuel.  These three decided to go the long route, shoved off and I decided to sit around and wait for the others.  Yep, my summer swoon, happens every year, has kicked in again with a vengeance of unmotivation to ride.  Soon, the others arrived, they too decided to go the long route and I took the B route via Delmont.  Half way out Westfall, my chain came off, I tried to throw it onto the large chainring in front to put the chain back on, met some resistance, which was the chain tearing the chain guard off the frame, met more resistance which was the chain guard going through the derailleur and then met no resistance at all.  Uh oh.  

I've thought that I've been very fortunate with mechanicals, probably benefiting from having quality components on my bikes but my luck ran out.  Patrick and Steve stopped and a big thanks to Patrick for guiding me through shortening the chain to turn the bike into a single speed, while also removing the appropriate components.  What a great guy!  It just so happened, Aaron, who lives on Amanda Northern and was out on a solo ride, stopped too and offered to go get his vehicle and come pick me up.  What a great guy!  Patrick and I got my bike in ridable condition and took off.  He was riding with me but I urged him to go on, telling him Mitch and those guys would come by soon and they would not abandon me, so Patrick took off.  

Once I got on Amanda Northern, Mitch and those guys approached, passed, there was some laughter and they kept going.  In fairness, how were they to know I was having a problem.  I mean, that motley crew pass me like I'm standing still, all the time, well no, not really.  With a ridable bike I was ok but the chain was jumping around on 3-4 different cogs and once lodged between two cogs, forcing me to remove my back wheel to dislodge.  About the time I began wondering if I was going to get back before dark, Aaron came by, picked me up and deposited me in Canal.   

So, my bike has been fixed but it is only temporary.  Part of the frame did break when the derailleur snapped off.  I've heard Trek continues to have bottom bracket issues on their new frames so reluctantly, I'm going to have to quit that bike brand and try something new.  Let's see, I see a lot of Massi frames but most of the people who ride those are notorious short cutters and I don't want to take the chance the frame is contributing.  Rick Miller sells BH frames, so maybe that's a good option.  Of course, at my level, it's not like the frame makes a bunch of a diff anyway so maybe a Huffy is in order.
Picture
It's a cruel world out there save for two outstanding individuals.  More to come and ahhhh, Rick Miller, check your voice messages. 
Picture
Tuesday's route is quite a lot hillier than last Tuesday with the McDonald climb and Hopewell Church in there. Long route is 49 miles, I forget the middle and short route distances but they'll be on the map that you receive at the parking lot.  Ohhh, the B route has the climb on Delmont, ouch.  See you out there.
5 Comments
Corvair
7/3/2012 01:45:55 pm

Great Route! Hope you get your bike fixed soon. I'm sure Nate could lend you one in the meantime. Also, FYI Bob Allen's ride is leaving at 7:30am from the bike shop (Cyclist Connection). 55 miles to Rushville.

Reply
Cindy
7/5/2012 02:34:17 am

When are you going to buy a real bike?

Reply
Dennis
7/5/2012 04:35:29 am

What!!! You need a mechanic because your chain fell off!! Maybe you should take up bowling. Less chance of equipment failure!! Just a thought.

Reply
Phred
7/6/2012 12:56:14 am

Mark-you can't continue to be the iconic Fred/Phred that you are unless you continue to ride a Madone. As you may have noticed, I too sometimes ride a Madone, but I happen to race on the Echelon team and was ordered to ride one. I can tell you that my 2011 Madone 6.7 has no BB issues whatsoever, so I do think you are getting bad info. I am curious too sir-at what point did you think that continuing to grind away was perhaps less than a good idea-when your derailleur snapped off? Oh gawd-perhaps a Huffy is too good for you.

Reply
Corvair
7/9/2012 02:03:16 am

Time for a Giant Defy :)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.