T
Tom Blum
Guest
And may I add," Damn Computers!!" I had this written once and while trying to touch type, hit some
combination of keys that erased everything. Sheesh.
To continue, or begin again:
5 miles into my ride this morning, I put full torque to the pedals to get across an intersection,
rather than waiting a long time for the next opportunity. On the second pedal stroke "POW" the chain
snapped!!!
As always, there are several explanations:
First: All the riding is paying off and my legs of steel are now capable of snapping steel chains.A
good thing!!
Second: Maybe I screwed up adding links and didn't get the pin centered. A bad thing!!
In any event, I'm five miles from home, with no socks on, with a low racer. Not an
enviable position.
Putting on my best McGyver face, I inventory the situation: I am prepared to fix a flat.And I have a
fishbone wrench and a pair of cheap pliers. Things look grim!!
I search the intersection, thinking a master link has come off. I feel like a vulture eating road
kill, running from oncoming cars at the last second. No Luck. There is no link to be found. Neither
is there a spare in the tool bag. (Note to self: Get spare master link.)
Then, I look at the chain for the first time.AHA!!!! A link has simply pulled apart. This is where
the legs of steel hypotheses come up. Then I notice a master link two links away. That's how I
adjust chain length; two links at a time. Dang!! Second theory wins. But the situation is repairable
with supplies on hand.
Using my cheap pliers and a sharp corner of the fishbone, I finally manage to pop the master (why do
they call them whatever the name is. they lie, It's a ***** getting a master link apart.}. The
missing two inches of chain is no biggie. Soon, like Willie Nelson, I'm singing "On the Road Again".
Nothing worse than filthy hands to show for the experience.
The wind is really blowing, at about 15 miles, I turn downwind. I'm able to spin out in 46/ 13.
Estimate 26 mph.(Spin out is probably 95 or 100 rpm for
me).That's a first for me on the flat.
Got home safely. The ham in the oven is okay. A happy end to another ride.
--
Miles of Smiles,
Tom Blum Winter Haven, Florida Homebuilts: SWB Tour Easy Clone Speed Machine Clone
www.gate.net/~teblum
combination of keys that erased everything. Sheesh.
To continue, or begin again:
5 miles into my ride this morning, I put full torque to the pedals to get across an intersection,
rather than waiting a long time for the next opportunity. On the second pedal stroke "POW" the chain
snapped!!!
As always, there are several explanations:
First: All the riding is paying off and my legs of steel are now capable of snapping steel chains.A
good thing!!
Second: Maybe I screwed up adding links and didn't get the pin centered. A bad thing!!
In any event, I'm five miles from home, with no socks on, with a low racer. Not an
enviable position.
Putting on my best McGyver face, I inventory the situation: I am prepared to fix a flat.And I have a
fishbone wrench and a pair of cheap pliers. Things look grim!!
I search the intersection, thinking a master link has come off. I feel like a vulture eating road
kill, running from oncoming cars at the last second. No Luck. There is no link to be found. Neither
is there a spare in the tool bag. (Note to self: Get spare master link.)
Then, I look at the chain for the first time.AHA!!!! A link has simply pulled apart. This is where
the legs of steel hypotheses come up. Then I notice a master link two links away. That's how I
adjust chain length; two links at a time. Dang!! Second theory wins. But the situation is repairable
with supplies on hand.
Using my cheap pliers and a sharp corner of the fishbone, I finally manage to pop the master (why do
they call them whatever the name is. they lie, It's a ***** getting a master link apart.}. The
missing two inches of chain is no biggie. Soon, like Willie Nelson, I'm singing "On the Road Again".
Nothing worse than filthy hands to show for the experience.
The wind is really blowing, at about 15 miles, I turn downwind. I'm able to spin out in 46/ 13.
Estimate 26 mph.(Spin out is probably 95 or 100 rpm for
me).That's a first for me on the flat.
Got home safely. The ham in the oven is okay. A happy end to another ride.
--
Miles of Smiles,
Tom Blum Winter Haven, Florida Homebuilts: SWB Tour Easy Clone Speed Machine Clone
www.gate.net/~teblum