As everyone was getting ready to stage for the 6 hour Angie mentioned my chain. Last summer at Co0o0p Camp she had derided me for having a ghastly drive train on the Ferrous. (See this year's version from 1 ride this season posted below) Feeling the power of her near-nagging I succumbed and cleaned it.
At the start I managed to be in the first 10 out of the bog. I wasn't in a hurry, I just was running. I hopped on the Flyte and was smoothly rolling at the pace of a pair in front of me. As we entered the first decent section of single track (all the sections of single track at the Stump Farm are decent) I remembered I had a plurality of gears.
The Flyte had more than just Angie going against it. As I made a turn and the grade slightly rose I gave the shifter a twist and it made a noise, I had it slightly cross-geared and stood on it. *POP* It wasn't particularly loud or painful, it was certainly annoying and embarrassing as I stood there watching lots of folks I know pass by with their pedals providing propulsion. I may have been a mile or two into the course, but I had to think about where on the course I was. Russell passed and I thought/asked aloud "the shortest way back is this way" and he confirmed it.
So off I ran with my bike. Hey, it just occurred to me that's two WEMS events in a row where the Flyte has been reduced to Fred Flintstone propulsion or running. At least it was daylight this time.
At the start I managed to be in the first 10 out of the bog. I wasn't in a hurry, I just was running. I hopped on the Flyte and was smoothly rolling at the pace of a pair in front of me. As we entered the first decent section of single track (all the sections of single track at the Stump Farm are decent) I remembered I had a plurality of gears.
The Flyte had more than just Angie going against it. As I made a turn and the grade slightly rose I gave the shifter a twist and it made a noise, I had it slightly cross-geared and stood on it. *POP* It wasn't particularly loud or painful, it was certainly annoying and embarrassing as I stood there watching lots of folks I know pass by with their pedals providing propulsion. I may have been a mile or two into the course, but I had to think about where on the course I was. Russell passed and I thought/asked aloud "the shortest way back is this way" and he confirmed it.
So off I ran with my bike. Hey, it just occurred to me that's two WEMS events in a row where the Flyte has been reduced to Fred Flintstone propulsion or running. At least it was daylight this time.
I made it back to the car where I had a spare chain with my tools. It took a moment and I was back on the trail. I pinned it and with the extra scrambling I managed a 1:05 first lap.
Russell was not having issues of any kind. He lapped me in the middle of my 4th lap.
Bubba was there on a new bike. He was issue free as well.
Here's was Angie's back side as she put the smack-down on me. After jinxing my chain she railed the trails.
Here's my sorry ass. I think this was at the end of my 2nd lap. I put together two good laps (45 minutes each, give or take a minute) and the bike behaved.
On the 4th lap a few of things began to happen. I was starting to have Trail Alzhiemer's, a burning pressure above my left cleat and I was generally getting tired. I wasn't bonking, I had been pausing for fresh bottles every lap with lytes and I had eaten a bit before the race. I was simply tired. My arms were getting tired too. The Flyte was having issues as well, but I could clip out my right foot and nudge the chain down to the granny gear when I needed to noodle up a hill. After the race I had a look and it seems I need a new deraileur.
The old Suntour top pull simple wasn't up to the task.
I pulled myself out at the end of my 4th lap. That should be good for 40 miles if you include the first section I rode twice on the first lap and the running. I think I did my 4th lap in 53 minutes. Afterwards Patti was nice enough to run to Subway for me and come back with a sub. She rocked the 6 hour and won (I think), but she gets good karma points for running into town. I hung out and had a beer with these chuckleheads before packing up and heading home.
The rains started just before I rolled. Despite minor problems I had a good day at a great trail with friends.
Bubba was there on a new bike. He was issue free as well.
Here's was Angie's back side as she put the smack-down on me. After jinxing my chain she railed the trails.
Here's my sorry ass. I think this was at the end of my 2nd lap. I put together two good laps (45 minutes each, give or take a minute) and the bike behaved.
On the 4th lap a few of things began to happen. I was starting to have Trail Alzhiemer's, a burning pressure above my left cleat and I was generally getting tired. I wasn't bonking, I had been pausing for fresh bottles every lap with lytes and I had eaten a bit before the race. I was simply tired. My arms were getting tired too. The Flyte was having issues as well, but I could clip out my right foot and nudge the chain down to the granny gear when I needed to noodle up a hill. After the race I had a look and it seems I need a new deraileur.
The old Suntour top pull simple wasn't up to the task.
I pulled myself out at the end of my 4th lap. That should be good for 40 miles if you include the first section I rode twice on the first lap and the running. I think I did my 4th lap in 53 minutes. Afterwards Patti was nice enough to run to Subway for me and come back with a sub. She rocked the 6 hour and won (I think), but she gets good karma points for running into town. I hung out and had a beer with these chuckleheads before packing up and heading home.
The rains started just before I rolled. Despite minor problems I had a good day at a great trail with friends.
Plus there was a World Champion spotted.
Oh yeah, Angie, I'm not cleaning the Ferrous' drive train until the end of August.
1 comment:
You're welcome to my Deore LX top pull FD from the Catamount if you want it. It's of late-90s vintage, but it's in great shape, rarely used, never crashed.
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