To Be Or Not To Be

Today's ride was not to be.

On and off again, I've been modifying a front fender for my mountain bike.  Riding in the puddles of Mercer County Park has soaked me, and I thought fenders would not be a bad idea.  The rear clamps to the seat post, and the front secures under the fork crown.

Last night I also received a couple emails from Chris and John who were riding mountain bikes in the forecast snowfall the next morning.  I made plans to meet them at Six Mile Run Reservoir Trails.  The following video is courtesy of Video Trails Review.


This morning, I finished installing the front fender on my mountain bike in a huge rush, grabbed my gear, and ran out the door.  I told Dale that I like to test ride repairs before driving a ways to meet others for a ride.  She suggested a quick trial in our parking lot.  A good idea that ended in a crash within ten feet.  When my front fork shock compresses, the tire smashes into the fender mount and locks the wheel.  I broke my camera mount off the bike frame in this same parking lot fall, so no video of today's fiasco.

I ran back upstairs to drop off the mountain bike and grab the cyclocross bike.  On the way out the door, I asked Dale to email Chris and John that I was late and to not wait in the cold for me.  The CX bike would not be ideal for where I was headed, but I could still meet Chris and John for the ride in the forecast snowfall.  Since I had never been to Six Mile, I bollixed getting there and arrived half an hour after the planned meeting time.  Fortunately, Chris and John did not wait.  I started out the trail in the hopes of running into them, and I still wanted to ride anyway.

I struggled for nearly a mile and could not keep my chain on.  It would just fall off, like a dozen times.

OK, I've given it a good go, but now I need to try and get back to the car.  Once back at the car, I put on my glasses and found a damaged chain link from a previous ride when a stick jammed in the rear changer.  OK, I'll remove the damaged link with my chain tool from my tool bag, and still ride and maybe meet Chris and John on their way in.  When I broke my chain tool after half an hour of fussing with the chain, I threw in the towel.

Today's ride was not to be.

I've now removed the offending fender from my mountain bike; the camera mount was not actually "broken" but rather unceremoniously "removed" when I fell, so now that bike is repaired and the camera remounted.

I bought a new chain tool and a "missing link" and repaired the cross bike, so I'll give this another go.
Someday