Thursday, February 19, 2009

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.

5 comments:

  1. Same thing happened to a friend on a trip to Jay's Barn last fall. The thing wouldn't come out for love or money no matter what I did to it, and it wouldn't shift to a spot where I could access the head to get it out. Then all of a sudden it just happened and the head fell out and we put a new cable in and hunky dory. Others elsewhere must be paying for this good fortune.

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  2. werent you at the point last Friday when the wind was blowing 60mph?

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  3. Chuck,
    Was that the reason you were hammering away at the Point dropping everyone even in 30-50 MPH wind gusts.

    I don't think you need gears anyway. Just stick to your two speed.

    By the way... what are you eating these days? You're crushing everyone, except for a couple other Harley riders.

    Don't answer..I found out!! LOL http://thechroniclesoffatguyracer.blogspot.com/2009/02/gamjams-reviews-chamois-cream-vagisil.html

    Harry

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  4. it crazy that a racer of your caliber has to sweat buying a shifter lever.
    wont your team just pony up and give you something so simple. its not like your asking for a set of 808's or something..shhhheeesh dont work for free!!!

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  5. I'd really like to say that's the reason you punished me so bad in that break on saturday-that you have a new cable and are shifiting smoother.....but I'd be a liar. Please slow down and give us other noobs a chance. :)

    Oh, and I agree with "anonymous". With all of your Horsepower and support through Battley, you can't get a shifter??
    WTF?

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