So add Chris King to the growing number of parts I’ve been able to break with my sheer Optimus Prime leg power. Yesterday I took off part of the day and decided to do the long loop at Leominster State Park, a 10-15 mile loop depending on how you put it together. I took the time to put the track files into the GPS so I’d be able to see what options were available when I’m out there. The plan was to get in a nice 2-3 hours of riding and explore the far side of the park that I haven’t been to yet.
Now this park takes about an hour to get to from my place, which isn’t so bad, because my boy Mike lives so close to it. So I make the drive, get the bike off the rack, get all dolled up, and head out on some familiar trails out the parking lot to get warmed up. Not far from the lot I notice a lot of rear tire rub. A quick glance back and yea, my tire is all wobbly and hitting one of the chainstays. Damn, I must have really thrown it out of true the last time I rode and not noticed it. No worries, I’ve got a spoke tool in the car, I’ll just ride back and fix it up. Get back to the car and go to tighten a spoke and it visibly moves in my hand…WTF? Look down at the hub and wouldn’t you know, there’s two spots where spokes are pulling out of the hub, cracked like a mofo.
Normally this wouldn’t be a big issue. Drop the wheel off at City Bikes and let them deal with Chris King to get it all squared away. Load up another wheel from the shed…oh wait…I can no longer just stop by City Bikes and any and all extra bike parts I have are in storage in some warehouse in Jersey. Damn! Looks like I’m going to have to get friendly with a new bike shop and quick. So at the very least I’m out of the dirt game until I get a new hub and can rebuild the wheel, which crap, all my wheelbuilding tools (stand) is also in storage. Guess a shop is going to have to build it. Ugg, this is going to be a pain in the ass…
Jeez DT it sounds like you need to do some mechanicals on your bikes, I spent most of last night cleaning and tightening up my wife’s bike, and this afternoon it’s my bikes turn
I found a blown out spoke last week and it was a pain in the ass.
DT.
Shame on you. You should know by now that your bike tools and spares are must haves with you at all times! You should have left your clothes in storage. Or better yet some of your lady’s stuff! When I moved to Canada, all my stuff came with me in the car. Put the vases and silverware in the moving truck/storage…you don’t need that! And furniture - don’t need that either! You can sleep on the floor on a blanket….at least the bike’s still running…Damn! Priorities man!
Good luck.
-b
Hey DT, I just heard 2 weeks ago that you moved. Hope all is going well up North.
Best Wishes buddy.
~ Jay