Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Rookie Mistake

Today was the first time something like this has happened to me on my bike.  I've only been riding for a year now but I've never had mechanical failure or issues.  Today, while cycling across Queen Quay, My rear wheel fell off.  Thank goodness it happened at a light as I was riding slow.  I'm not sure what would have happened if it happened at 20 mph.

 Of course what happened is total user error on my part.  I was switching out the back skewer all weekend, sharing the trainer with Griffin as he is completely in love with my Cannondale.  So happy to see him take an interest in the sport.  So in any case, I had my P2 on the trainer for Monday and then was hitting the road this morning.  I looked at the skewer but apparently didn't look close enough.  It came undone just before Bathurst.   THANKFULLY, it was uneventful and I got to the side-walk quickly.

 I reassembled my bike, cursing at myself for not checking the stupid skewer, feeling like a complete Rookie.  All back together, hop on the bike .... the back tire is rubbing. Brakes looked good but it was rubbing on the frame.  I fiddled with things for awhile and realized I was WAY OVER MY HEAD and I deemed the bike un-ridable.  I was freezing my butt off in shorts and a  light wind-breaker from the cold winds off the lake. Finally got a taxi home, loaded my bike in the truck and drove to Endrosports.  Thanks Chris for fixing it up and not being judgemental!  I'm happy to have her in for a tune-up and maybe a new saddle before the weekend.  The bike is fine.  Me, I'm a bit shaken, but lesson learned and ready to get back on my bike ASAP.