Uh-oh

Before the lunch ride at Hains Point I always put in 3 to 4 hours. Today after turning from Seneca onto River road my rear derailler cable broke inside the lever and I was suddenly stuck in my 53x13. I have heared horror stories of what happens when your cable breaks there with the head being stuck in the break making the whole lever unservicable. That's the last thing I need, I do not have any money for new equipment! Except for the fact that I had an insane tail wind the whole way down River road and MacArthur, the ride sucked. I was worried how I was going to afford to get a new lever, and the little hills on river were kicking my butt in that huge gear. Except on the hills, I was FLYING - I love a good tail wind.

I have onlt been in the Bicycle Pro Shop once, when I put some air in my tire and was on my way. These guys were pretty cool, almost as cool as that Spokes ect shop off of GW parkway. I went strait back to the shop, and asked for a cable. After I got it, I asked for some advice regarding my situation. He said "don't shift, or you will never get it out." Too late, I shifted - many times out of habbit. He offered to look at it and was surprised not to see the head in there. He went and got a flash light, and still couldn't see it. "I think it fell out, and if it did, that is the first time I ever heard of that! 9 out of 10 times, you have to get a new lever." The other mechanic came over and looked surprised too. "Do you mind fixing it then?"

So, instead of costing over $200, it cost me a little over $4. Thank God, the Bicycle Pro Shop and whatever elf or genee that plucked that thing out of my lever.

They fixed it so fast I even made it to the most windy lunch ride ever. Wow, 30+ down the front side, and I dont know on the back cause I was too busy holding my bars and fighting the wind. What a great workout.