I posted too soon
May. 8th, 2008 11:26 pmOr something like that.
I was out in Weston, and managed to fall while on the bike. I'm not exactly sure what happened, though I'm sure being somewhat tired didn't help. Anyway, it felt like just another fall, not at any great speed (I was going uphill), but when I got my other foot free and stood the bike up, I'd managed to do a lot. Dang. I didn't even realize the extent of the damage until I was riding again. Luckily, it was ridable; otherwise it would've been a pain to get the bike to a bike store (or me home, or whatever). The particulars: saddle knocked sideways (from noon to at least 1 o'clock, and it was still tightly enough on the stem that I couldn't shift it back with just my hands), lower curl of right handlebar bent inwards, front wheel out of true (and a scraped knee).
I made it to the bike store, and they reset the saddle, replaced (and wrapped) new handlebars, and trued the wheel. Which is to say, my most expensive bike fall yet (hopefully, ever!). At least the mechanics were able to deal with my bike right then, so I didn't have to figure out walking home from Belmont in biking shoes.
Everything dealt with, I headed out again, this time heading north (I'd already promised myself that I would not go on Trapelo Rd. inbound east of Belmont Wheelworks because the surface is so horrible). And while I was still somewhat tired, it was good to have the rest of my ride.
Of course, it couldn't be quite that simple, so when I was in Winchester, I somehow managed to shift the chain not onto the small gear, but beyond it. In other words, it shifted right off the gears. I spun the pedals for a moment as I realized what happened, and managed to wrench my foot out in time to avoid falling again. I upended the bike and got the chain back on, spinning the pedals until I was comfortable it really was on.
Thank goodness nothing else happened on the way home! I still don't know why the chain jumped like that, and part of me wonders whether I should get the bike checked out further. But the tiredness (read: inertia) has won so far.
I was out in Weston, and managed to fall while on the bike. I'm not exactly sure what happened, though I'm sure being somewhat tired didn't help. Anyway, it felt like just another fall, not at any great speed (I was going uphill), but when I got my other foot free and stood the bike up, I'd managed to do a lot. Dang. I didn't even realize the extent of the damage until I was riding again. Luckily, it was ridable; otherwise it would've been a pain to get the bike to a bike store (or me home, or whatever). The particulars: saddle knocked sideways (from noon to at least 1 o'clock, and it was still tightly enough on the stem that I couldn't shift it back with just my hands), lower curl of right handlebar bent inwards, front wheel out of true (and a scraped knee).
I made it to the bike store, and they reset the saddle, replaced (and wrapped) new handlebars, and trued the wheel. Which is to say, my most expensive bike fall yet (hopefully, ever!). At least the mechanics were able to deal with my bike right then, so I didn't have to figure out walking home from Belmont in biking shoes.
Everything dealt with, I headed out again, this time heading north (I'd already promised myself that I would not go on Trapelo Rd. inbound east of Belmont Wheelworks because the surface is so horrible). And while I was still somewhat tired, it was good to have the rest of my ride.
Of course, it couldn't be quite that simple, so when I was in Winchester, I somehow managed to shift the chain not onto the small gear, but beyond it. In other words, it shifted right off the gears. I spun the pedals for a moment as I realized what happened, and managed to wrench my foot out in time to avoid falling again. I upended the bike and got the chain back on, spinning the pedals until I was comfortable it really was on.
Thank goodness nothing else happened on the way home! I still don't know why the chain jumped like that, and part of me wonders whether I should get the bike checked out further. But the tiredness (read: inertia) has won so far.