Mechanically Impaired Musings about our trip
If it anything can go wrong, it will. Sometimes
with interesting results.
On that dark and stormy morning in June, Wes and I
left for our trip. Besides all of our gear, I was carrying my usual load of
worry. I figured we knew enough to handle bad weather, poor health, and a
myriad of other things that could go wrong except, mechanical problems. I am
mechanically impaired. My worries centered around one of our bikes breaking and
our trip would come to an abrupt end.
I suspected that the wheel was coming off the proverbial wagon early on. For some reason, I broke a non-drive side spoke on my rear wheel. Wes, fortunately more mechanically savvy than I, was able to replace it with relative ease. Two days later, another spoke on my rear wheel broke, same side. Again, Wes fixed it. Our supply of spare spokes was dwindling.
Fortunately for us, we were coming up to Dunnville, Ontario. The Adventure Cycling maps indicated that there was a bike shop in town. We stopped at a local bakery for coffee and scones and to see if we could locate where the bike shop was. Lady luck was kind to us that day, the shop was across the street.
The shop supplied us with more spokes and a quick truing of my wheel. The owner charged us a small fee .... part of which included amusing the whole store with our tale of each of us eating alone in our tents during a horrendous storm the night before.
Relying on the cycling truism, that if you carry extra tubes, no flats will happen. Carry rain gear and it won't rain. Extra spokes would surely prevent more spokes breaking.
We certainly were Innocents Abroad: on our way to a breakfast stop in Osceola, New York, another spoke broke! We chose to eat first and repair later. After a great breakfast, we entertained the locals with our spoke changing expertise. Then, on to the Adirondack.
Now, being from South Eastern Michigan, we have very little experience in hill climbing. Our idea of hill training is repeatedly going up and down freeway overpasses. We were looking forward to this part of the trip. First the Adirondack, then the Green Mountains, finally the White Mountains with Cancamagus Pass, elevation 2,855 feet above sea level. We were excited flatlanders anxious to meet the challenge of riding over mountains.
The Adirondack were beautiful! It was one of the best part of the trip. This section of the trip ended at Ticonderoga, New York. Being history buffs, we planned to spend extra time exploring the fort.
On the long descent into Ticonderoga, Wes had a flat. Further down the road I noticed the familiar broken spoke wobble in my back wheel. We agreed, we deserved a motel that evening. There we would fix the spoke, again. Safely encamped at the Green Acres Motor Lodge, I checked my rear wheel. to my horror, no spokes were broken. The rim, how ever had numerous cracks in it. Certainly my fears were being realized. My trip was over. The Adventure Cycling maps saved us yet again. In the near by town of Middlebury, Vermont, was a bike shop. I called the Middlebury Bike and Touring Center and explained my circumstances. Once more I was in luck! Not only did they have a rim for me, they were willing to deliver it to the hotel the next morning.
Wes and I celebrated our good fortune with a fine dinner at the Hot Biscuit Diner in Ticonderoga. That night I brought out my worry bag and stewed. Would they have the right rim? Would the BOB skewer fit? Why did I not tell them about the BOB. Could we get the rear cassette off? Did we need to? Were they so agreeable just to get the out-of-towners off the phone? I may not be a great cyclist, I am a world class worrier.
Early the next morning, we heard the sound of a motor bike in the parking lot. Looked out to find Dave from the bike shop pulling in with a rim strapped to his back. What a welcome sight! What an unusual sight! The rim fit, the cassette cam off with relative ease, the skewer fit, everything was grand! We were able to finish the trip with our breaking any more spokes.
I suspected that the wheel was coming off the proverbial wagon early on. For some reason, I broke a non-drive side spoke on my rear wheel. Wes, fortunately more mechanically savvy than I, was able to replace it with relative ease. Two days later, another spoke on my rear wheel broke, same side. Again, Wes fixed it. Our supply of spare spokes was dwindling.
Fortunately for us, we were coming up to Dunnville, Ontario. The Adventure Cycling maps indicated that there was a bike shop in town. We stopped at a local bakery for coffee and scones and to see if we could locate where the bike shop was. Lady luck was kind to us that day, the shop was across the street.
The shop supplied us with more spokes and a quick truing of my wheel. The owner charged us a small fee .... part of which included amusing the whole store with our tale of each of us eating alone in our tents during a horrendous storm the night before.
Relying on the cycling truism, that if you carry extra tubes, no flats will happen. Carry rain gear and it won't rain. Extra spokes would surely prevent more spokes breaking.
We certainly were Innocents Abroad: on our way to a breakfast stop in Osceola, New York, another spoke broke! We chose to eat first and repair later. After a great breakfast, we entertained the locals with our spoke changing expertise. Then, on to the Adirondack.
Now, being from South Eastern Michigan, we have very little experience in hill climbing. Our idea of hill training is repeatedly going up and down freeway overpasses. We were looking forward to this part of the trip. First the Adirondack, then the Green Mountains, finally the White Mountains with Cancamagus Pass, elevation 2,855 feet above sea level. We were excited flatlanders anxious to meet the challenge of riding over mountains.
The Adirondack were beautiful! It was one of the best part of the trip. This section of the trip ended at Ticonderoga, New York. Being history buffs, we planned to spend extra time exploring the fort.
On the long descent into Ticonderoga, Wes had a flat. Further down the road I noticed the familiar broken spoke wobble in my back wheel. We agreed, we deserved a motel that evening. There we would fix the spoke, again. Safely encamped at the Green Acres Motor Lodge, I checked my rear wheel. to my horror, no spokes were broken. The rim, how ever had numerous cracks in it. Certainly my fears were being realized. My trip was over. The Adventure Cycling maps saved us yet again. In the near by town of Middlebury, Vermont, was a bike shop. I called the Middlebury Bike and Touring Center and explained my circumstances. Once more I was in luck! Not only did they have a rim for me, they were willing to deliver it to the hotel the next morning.
Wes and I celebrated our good fortune with a fine dinner at the Hot Biscuit Diner in Ticonderoga. That night I brought out my worry bag and stewed. Would they have the right rim? Would the BOB skewer fit? Why did I not tell them about the BOB. Could we get the rear cassette off? Did we need to? Were they so agreeable just to get the out-of-towners off the phone? I may not be a great cyclist, I am a world class worrier.
Early the next morning, we heard the sound of a motor bike in the parking lot. Looked out to find Dave from the bike shop pulling in with a rim strapped to his back. What a welcome sight! What an unusual sight! The rim fit, the cassette cam off with relative ease, the skewer fit, everything was grand! We were able to finish the trip with our breaking any more spokes.
Posted: Tue - December 28, 2004 at 05:25 PM
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Published On: Dec 29, 2004 01:24 PM
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Published On: Dec 29, 2004 01:24 PM