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johnridleyHappened once before. And sure enough, same cause. When I put the bike up to clean the chain and check it out this weekend, THREE broken spokes, all on the left side of the rear wheel. Dragging on the brake pad like hell.
None of the bike stores around here stock squat for spokes and none of the other bikes in the garage have this length. The place I bought the bike from stole some from a junker rim to get me going again, but they were about 3mm too long, I had to grind them down and the nipples are tightened down past the thread, but the rims are true again. Next Nashbar order, I'm getting spares. I thought the last time was a fluke due to some trouble I had, but now I think it's just my commute and it's going to keep happening.
The westernmost part of my commute is gravel road, and it hasn't been graded since about June. The washboard and potholes are getting REALLY bad, and I've taken some pretty rough hits in the last week. The road is getting bad and I'm riding harder as the year goes on; I guess it's bound to wear on things.
In fact the road has gotten so bad that even with the bolt tightened as much as I dare, my seat is getting driven down into the post about an inch per day. I've wiped the grease off the seatpost, and that helps. Locktite next I guess :-/
The chain was making a lot of noise the last few days, but it only measured at about 80% of the way to "recommended replacement." It just needed cleaning and lubrication; it's quiet again now. I'm at 1470 miles for the year, so it looks like I'll get about 1800 miles per chain. Of course, the winter may be harder on the chain; or it may be easier since there won't be as much sand getting into it. I think it's mostly sand that does all the wearing out.
odometer: 1470
None of the bike stores around here stock squat for spokes and none of the other bikes in the garage have this length. The place I bought the bike from stole some from a junker rim to get me going again, but they were about 3mm too long, I had to grind them down and the nipples are tightened down past the thread, but the rims are true again. Next Nashbar order, I'm getting spares. I thought the last time was a fluke due to some trouble I had, but now I think it's just my commute and it's going to keep happening.
The westernmost part of my commute is gravel road, and it hasn't been graded since about June. The washboard and potholes are getting REALLY bad, and I've taken some pretty rough hits in the last week. The road is getting bad and I'm riding harder as the year goes on; I guess it's bound to wear on things.
In fact the road has gotten so bad that even with the bolt tightened as much as I dare, my seat is getting driven down into the post about an inch per day. I've wiped the grease off the seatpost, and that helps. Locktite next I guess :-/
The chain was making a lot of noise the last few days, but it only measured at about 80% of the way to "recommended replacement." It just needed cleaning and lubrication; it's quiet again now. I'm at 1470 miles for the year, so it looks like I'll get about 1800 miles per chain. Of course, the winter may be harder on the chain; or it may be easier since there won't be as much sand getting into it. I think it's mostly sand that does all the wearing out.
odometer: 1470
