Mechanical breakdown and walk home

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 16:45:02 GMT, "Fabrizio Mazzoleni"
wrote:

That's because you have one of those contraptions, the
only person who could possibly help you would have to
be driving a flat deck truck with a hiab crane.

Hey, everyone! Flabs rides a *Brompton*!

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony.
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Several years ago I was road testing a fixed gear bike that I had just
built up and I got a flat about 8 miles from the house.

The rear wheel had a nutted axle so, even if I had brought a wrench
with me, I wouldn't have been able to repair it, since I had no spare
tube or patch kit.

There was nobody around to help although, since I was in a park, on a
road around the lake, I did think I had a pretty good chance of seeing
another cyclist.

As I began walking I realized that the bike was pretty light and easy
to push. Also it was a BEAUTIFUL day. A brilliant blue sky, the
temp. pleasantly warm and a light breeze, so I began to focus on how
lucky I was.

The flat had come at the bottom of a steep hill, just before a corner
and I had not wrecked and here I was, embarking on an 8 mile walk
(something I NEVER do because I am a runner) on a perfect day with no
time schedule to meet.

About 2 miles down the road I found 2 dollar bills, just folded up and
lying in the road and that just made the smile on my face even bigger.

Lewis.

****************************


(j browe) wrote in message om...
Today I broke a chain and realized the chain tool was in the pack of
my other bike at home. I was only 4 miles from home but it was all
uphill so I couldnt coast at all. This is the second time I have had
to trek it home in the middle of the Phoenix heat due to a mechanical
failure that I could not fix on the spot. (you'd think i'd learn)
The sad part was no one offered to help me until I got to about 200
yards from my house.
Which brings up this question to all- how far and under what
conditions have you had to walk back? jb

Several years ago I was road testing a fixed gear bike that I had just
built up and I got a flat about 8 miles from the house.

The rear wheel had a nutted axle so, even if I had brought a wrench
with me, I wouldn't have been able to repair it, since I had no spare
tube or patch kit.

There was nobody around to help although, since I was in a park, on a
road around the lake, I did think I had a pretty good chance of seeing
another cyclist.

As I began walking I realized that the bike was pretty light and easy
to push. Also it was a BEAUTIFUL day. A brilliant blue sky, the
temp. pleasantly warm and a light breeze, so I began to focus on how
lucky I was.

The flat had come at the bottom of a steep hill, just before a corner
and I had not wrecked and here I was, embarking on an 8 mile walk
(something I NEVER do because I am a runner) on a perfect day with no
time schedule to meet.

About 2 miles down the road I found 2 dollar bills, just folded up and
lying in the road and that just made the smile on my face even bigger.

Lewis.

****************************


(j browe) wrote in message om...
Today I broke a chain and realized the chain tool was in the pack of
my other bike at home. I was only 4 miles from home but it was all
uphill so I couldnt coast at all. This is the second time I have had
to trek it home in the middle of the Phoenix heat due to a mechanical
failure that I could not fix on the spot. (you'd think i'd learn)
The sad part was no one offered to help me until I got to about 200
yards from my house.
Which brings up this question to all- how far and under what
conditions have you had to walk back? jb

Lewis Campbell wrote in message
om...
Several years ago I was road testing a fixed gear bike that I had just
built up and I got a flat about 8 miles from the house.

The rear wheel had a nutted axle so, even if I had brought a wrench
with me, I wouldn't have been able to repair it, since I had no spare
tube or patch kit.

There was nobody around to help although, since I was in a park, on a
road around the lake, I did think I had a pretty good chance of seeing
another cyclist.

As I began walking I realized that the bike was pretty light and easy
to push. Also it was a BEAUTIFUL day. A brilliant blue sky, the
temp. pleasantly warm and a light breeze, so I began to focus on how
lucky I was.

The flat had come at the bottom of a steep hill, just before a corner
and I had not wrecked and here I was, embarking on an 8 mile walk
(something I NEVER do because I am a runner) on a perfect day with no
time schedule to meet.

About 2 miles down the road I found 2 dollar bills, just folded up and
lying in the road and that just made the smile on my face even bigger.

Lewis.
You ever seen "the life of Brian" the monty python movie? Where all the
crucified ones are tapping their toes to the little ditty "always look on
the bright side of life" Sounds like you have it down pat.
I walked back about 3 miles in the dark (bout 430am) after the rear
derraileur decided it wanted to take a break- literally and made love to the
rear wheel taking the chain along for a menage a trois. Can't understand why
anyone didn't stop- specially the df I'd just passed! Pat

Lewis Campbell wrote in message
om...
Several years ago I was road testing a fixed gear bike that I had just
built up and I got a flat about 8 miles from the house.

The rear wheel had a nutted axle so, even if I had brought a wrench
with me, I wouldn't have been able to repair it, since I had no spare
tube or patch kit.

There was nobody around to help although, since I was in a park, on a
road around the lake, I did think I had a pretty good chance of seeing
another cyclist.

As I began walking I realized that the bike was pretty light and easy
to push. Also it was a BEAUTIFUL day. A brilliant blue sky, the
temp. pleasantly warm and a light breeze, so I began to focus on how
lucky I was.

The flat had come at the bottom of a steep hill, just before a corner
and I had not wrecked and here I was, embarking on an 8 mile walk
(something I NEVER do because I am a runner) on a perfect day with no
time schedule to meet.

About 2 miles down the road I found 2 dollar bills, just folded up and
lying in the road and that just made the smile on my face even bigger.

Lewis.
You ever seen "the life of Brian" the monty python movie? Where all the
crucified ones are tapping their toes to the little ditty "always look on
the bright side of life" Sounds like you have it down pat.
I walked back about 3 miles in the dark (bout 430am) after the rear
derraileur decided it wanted to take a break- literally and made love to the
rear wheel taking the chain along for a menage a trois. Can't understand why
anyone didn't stop- specially the df I'd just passed! Pat

Which brings up this question to all- how far and under what
conditions have you had to walk back? jb

The VERY first time I rode my brand new Tour Easy (January '99), I got a
rear flat going for donuts for the family. Luckily, we were only 1 mile from
home on the way back. I felt weird enough on a faired bike, and here I was
pushing it. We've had over 11,000 great miles since though. Mostly with Avocet
Cross K's on the rear (bulletproof).

Which brings up this question to all- how far and under what
conditions have you had to walk back? jb

The VERY first time I rode my brand new Tour Easy (January '99), I got a
rear flat going for donuts for the family. Luckily, we were only 1 mile from
home on the way back. I felt weird enough on a faired bike, and here I was
pushing it. We've had over 11,000 great miles since though. Mostly with Avocet
Cross K's on the rear (bulletproof).

On 3 Jul 2003 09:26:12 -0700, (j browe) wrote:
Which brings up this question to all- how far and under what
conditions have you had to walk back? jb

One time I needed to ride to a conference 20 miles away to make a
presentation. Naturally I stayed up late preparing the presentation
and overslept, and realized that I was cutting it pretty close. So I
decided to ride my new Aero rather than the slower trike. Only one
problem - the only luggage capacity of my Aero was a tiny Radical Solo
seatbag, and I needed my laptop for the presentation. I jammed the
laptop halfway into the bag, tied it with bungee cord and set off.

Exactly halfway into the 10 mile trip the seat bag ripped apart.
spilling my tools and my laptop. And I mean completely ripped open -
it didn't look remotely bag-like, and no amount of duct tape and zip
ties would fix it. I tried to see if I could clutch all my stuff in
one hand and ride with the other - nope. I called a cab but the bike
wouldn't fit into the compact Toyotas they use here for cabs.
I ended up locking the bike at a nearby shop and asking the owners to
keep an eye out if possible. Got to the conference (late and barely in
time for my own presentation because, as I predicted, the traffic jam
made the taxi much slower than a bike), took the train home and drove
to pick up the bike.

To be fair, the Radical bag is very well made. Also my bag was a used
and rather old one that came with my used Thys and was already
starting to rip. And it obviously wasn't designed to carry a 5-lb
laptop along with a full set of emergency tools.

Ken Kobayashi

http://solarwww.mtk.nao.ac.jp/kobayashi/personal/

On 3 Jul 2003 09:26:12 -0700, (j browe) wrote:
Which brings up this question to all- how far and under what
conditions have you had to walk back? jb

One time I needed to ride to a conference 20 miles away to make a
presentation. Naturally I stayed up late preparing the presentation
and overslept, and realized that I was cutting it pretty close. So I
decided to ride my new Aero rather than the slower trike. Only one
problem - the only luggage capacity of my Aero was a tiny Radical Solo
seatbag, and I needed my laptop for the presentation. I jammed the
laptop halfway into the bag, tied it with bungee cord and set off.

Exactly halfway into the 10 mile trip the seat bag ripped apart.
spilling my tools and my laptop. And I mean completely ripped open -
it didn't look remotely bag-like, and no amount of duct tape and zip
ties would fix it. I tried to see if I could clutch all my stuff in
one hand and ride with the other - nope. I called a cab but the bike
wouldn't fit into the compact Toyotas they use here for cabs.
I ended up locking the bike at a nearby shop and asking the owners to
keep an eye out if possible. Got to the conference (late and barely in
time for my own presentation because, as I predicted, the traffic jam
made the taxi much slower than a bike), took the train home and drove
to pick up the bike.

To be fair, the Radical bag is very well made. Also my bag was a used
and rather old one that came with my used Thys and was already
starting to rip. And it obviously wasn't designed to carry a 5-lb
laptop along with a full set of emergency tools.

Ken Kobayashi

http://solarwww.mtk.nao.ac.jp/kobayashi/personal/

speedracer wrote:
I've had 2 times where I couldn't fix the bike and had to trek it
home. The first time I blew a tire and had to walk the bike home
about 8 miles.

The second time, the tiller linkage (or whatever the rod that ties the
handlebars to the front wheel is called) bolt broke and caused me to
wreck. I was about 4 miles from home that time. This one was very
frustrating because I couldn't roll the bike gripping the handlebars
since the front wheel would spin like crazy. I had to carry the bike
(around 35 pounds) until I found an old metal coathanger on the road. I
tied the linkage to the wheel and was able to roll the bike the rest of
the way home.

So, I feel your pain

Dennis



--

--------------------------

Posted via cyclingforums.com
http://www.cyclingforums.com
Had a similar problem with my R44, which lost steering and rollability.
My solution was to lock the bike up, continue on foot and return with
my car later.