The 2008 Sea-To-Sea Bike tour: 219 cyclists. 6246 km. 3881 miles. 62 days. The largest cross-continental bike tour ever.
Starting in Seattle on June 28, and ending in Jersey City on Aug 30.

Why? This is all about raising awareness and raising money to help fight the root causes of global poverty.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Broken Bike, again.

I was 17km into the ride this morning when I lost another spoke on the rear wheel.

I was NOT going over bumps. I was NOT going over train tracks. I was NOT going down a hill, or even going that fast, or swerving, or etc. It was a level, smooth, country road (Vanneck Rd just north of 9 Mile Rd, for the local folks) when I heard a "ping!". I stopped and found that a spoke had snapped off just below the head (where it attaches to the rim.)

I was not impressed. This is the 3rd spoke that I've lost on that wheel in the past month (since the wheel was rebuilt after the rim blowout.) I just had one fixed last week.

I'm probably going to be inquiring about replacing the entire wheel.

Anyone from Kona, Trek, or Rocky Mountain Bikes out there want to offer me a deal on a new bike?

Please?

Sigh.




On the upside I want to take a moment to recommend The Bicycle Tutor website to anyone out there who wants to work on their bike. This guy has produced dozens of brief, well done, clear, simple videos on his website that cover everything from how to lube your chain, to adjusting gears, adjusting seat height, removing wheels, and so on. Excellent resource.

9 comments:

Pieter said...

Art,

New bike's great - just wonderful. 200k @ 29.8 k/hr, 8 hours total time just over 6 on the bike. Left at 7 am was here at 3pm.

Pieter

Heather F. said...

Sure Pieter, kick a man when he's down!

Art said...

Thank-you Heather, glad that _someone_ is on my side...

It was nice riding with you while it lasted, Pieter. I can see that I'll be eating your dust from now on...

I looked covetously, I confess, on the Kona Zing (Pieter's new Bike, Heather) when I was in the store today. But the memory of that back pain / sciatica keeps me from even considering one of those bent-over racing bikes.

And Brian is going to look after me. I couldn't believe the low price he quoted me for getting me a whole new set of spokes + rebuilding the wheel.

ttfn
...art

Pieter said...

Sorry Art,
Didn't at all intend my post as a shot as Heather casts it. I know you can't ride this bike for your back and I know Brian is going to set you right - I hope (he's taking his time). About riding, I certainly will not need to race on the tour - I've been riding hard in training so that I'm prepared to finish - not to finish first.
Smiles all around, Pieter

Art said...

No worries, Pieter, I know you intended no slam.

I also hope to do some good sightseeing on the tour. In many ways I admire how Gayle is quick to stop to "get stories" along the way.

As for new bikes... I'd like to take something like this for a test spin:
Grasshopper FX

Not that I can afford it or anything... :-)

...art

Heather F. said...

My comment also was intended with jest (sarcasm doesn't transfer well on the computer screen sometimes, sorry). Glad to see you're excited by your new ride - it's like being a kid in a candy store isn't it. BTW - where is "here" that you biked to in 8 hours???

Pieter said...

Hi Heather,

All OK. "Here" is my parents place in Jordan and I cycled here from home - 200 K. Now my mind is at ease knowing I can do any distance involved on the tour.

Pieter

Jo said...

Hey Art -
Hang in there re: bikes/spokes/breakdowns etc.
It seems it doesn't take much for a bike to go awry for any reason.

There are a lot - a LOT - of great people on the tour who will help you when needed - even if it is a drag to have something go wrong as you are riding on.

Be well as you continue to prepare and keep on keeping on - Jo

Heather F. said...

Thanks for linking Barb's blog to yours - now it's one stop shopping for blogstalking.

I assume once Pieter gets on the road you'll link his too?