figbat
Slippery scientist
- Location
- South Oxfordshire, UK
I am part of a small group who are planning a multi-day ride along the North Downs Way, starting this Thursday. As a consequence we have all been riding and training to ensure we can not only finish it, but also enjoy it. On Sunday I went out for a ride to get a few more miles in my legs and some climbing in my lungs. I plotted a route that criss-crossed the Ridgeway, meaning a few climbs to negotiate, and set off. I have been riding this area for several years and know most of the tracks and trails well, but I included a bridlepath that I don't remember riding before as it terminates at a road, but I thought I'd give it a go, suck up a little road time and see how it looks.
All was well for the first section - a classic local chalky and flinty trail. This soon turned to a grassy track with a rut either side but aside from the odd nettle it was still all good. Then the trail closed in and became an overgrown path with a barely distinguishable trail to follow. By now I'm getting stung left and right but I know I am closer to the end of this track that the start so I grind slowly on.
Until the grinding turns from metaphorical to literal and I come to a graunching stop. On inspection I notice that my rear derailleur is now above the cassette, caught in the spokes. I free it and discover it is completely jammed with long grass. I also discover that the derailleur has been ripped from the hanger and is flopping around, being held in place only by the chain tension. I know that I am a couple of hundred yards from the end of this trail, where it meets another that I am very familiar with and goes downhill to a road crossing. I call my wife to come and get me at the road, then push the bike through the nettle jungle to the downhill track. I make sure the mech is staying put and then freewheel down the hill to the road. Here I remove the chain and undo the shift cable from the mech and remove that.
The mech hanger is twisted and the thread has ripped out but it has saved the frame (mostly - there is a small nibble out of the frame). The mech cage looks a bit twisted too and the B-screw has been bent. One spoke is a bit damaged but the wheel is still true. At home I assess further - the mech is possible salvagable but as luck (or foresight) would have it I ordered a new one a few months ago as it was in a half price sale (and they aren't cheap!). What I don't have is a new hanger - I have an old one that I replaced as it was a bit bent so I have ordered two new ones (from different suppliers to improve the chance that at least one gets here in time). I also have a go at straightening the old one - I have got it pretty well perfect but will keep this as a spare (unless neither of the others turns up, in which case I'll have to use it).
I'm hoping to reassemble the bike as soon as I can and take it for a test ride. As far as on-trail mechanicals go, this is the worst I have had but it seems to have come out OK (fingers crossed). The worst of it is that I was conscious of the long grass and was about to visually check the rear mech when it failed.
All was well for the first section - a classic local chalky and flinty trail. This soon turned to a grassy track with a rut either side but aside from the odd nettle it was still all good. Then the trail closed in and became an overgrown path with a barely distinguishable trail to follow. By now I'm getting stung left and right but I know I am closer to the end of this track that the start so I grind slowly on.
Until the grinding turns from metaphorical to literal and I come to a graunching stop. On inspection I notice that my rear derailleur is now above the cassette, caught in the spokes. I free it and discover it is completely jammed with long grass. I also discover that the derailleur has been ripped from the hanger and is flopping around, being held in place only by the chain tension. I know that I am a couple of hundred yards from the end of this trail, where it meets another that I am very familiar with and goes downhill to a road crossing. I call my wife to come and get me at the road, then push the bike through the nettle jungle to the downhill track. I make sure the mech is staying put and then freewheel down the hill to the road. Here I remove the chain and undo the shift cable from the mech and remove that.
The mech hanger is twisted and the thread has ripped out but it has saved the frame (mostly - there is a small nibble out of the frame). The mech cage looks a bit twisted too and the B-screw has been bent. One spoke is a bit damaged but the wheel is still true. At home I assess further - the mech is possible salvagable but as luck (or foresight) would have it I ordered a new one a few months ago as it was in a half price sale (and they aren't cheap!). What I don't have is a new hanger - I have an old one that I replaced as it was a bit bent so I have ordered two new ones (from different suppliers to improve the chance that at least one gets here in time). I also have a go at straightening the old one - I have got it pretty well perfect but will keep this as a spare (unless neither of the others turns up, in which case I'll have to use it).
I'm hoping to reassemble the bike as soon as I can and take it for a test ride. As far as on-trail mechanicals go, this is the worst I have had but it seems to have come out OK (fingers crossed). The worst of it is that I was conscious of the long grass and was about to visually check the rear mech when it failed.
