Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Derailleurs, Downhills, and Daughters

I am putting my new bike to good use.  I rode 15 miles with my new friends this morning.  I discovered the front derailleur (the thingamajig that changes the gears) isn't working properly.  I was afraid the chain would come off, so I stopped using it and had difficulty with some of the uphills.  I had to get off and push.  The downhills were a lot of fun, though.  I cranked up the gears and went as fast as I could.

I took it to the bike shop on my way home and he made some adjustments while I waited.  He said since it is a new bike cables will stretch and they will make any adjustments necessary for the first six months at no charge.  Hopefully, the gears are working right now.  I'll take it out again soon and see.  I need it for the missions tour in San Antonio this weekend.

I had signed up for a 5 mile hike with another group, but found out at the last minute that my daughter had late cosmotology lab at school today and needed a ride home so I had to cancel.  Why do I hear about these things at the last minute?  I'm tempted to buy her a bike and tell her that's her ride home, but I'd be too worried about her riding in the dark alone.

That's my old bike on a trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park taken this summer.  It's the one that I used as a shield when I passed the alligator in Florida.  I still have it because I can't take my new bike off road.  The front derailleur doesn't work on it, either.  I'm a little worried because the common denominator is me...     





        

6 comments:

John said...

I didn't know gator shields came with dreailleurs.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

It is great that the shop will cinyinue to timker until all is well with the Bike--for Six Months At No Charge! Yaaaaaaaay!
I think you are right about your daughter not riding in the dark. Do you wear helmets when riding?

kenju said...

I'd take advantage of the free tinkering as much as possible!!

Jen said...

@John: They don't advertise that fact. It's got a little bell, too.

@OldOldLady Of The Hills: I wear a helmet 99% of the time. Everyone wears them on group rides and I never fly downhill without one.

@kenju: I plan to. I remember spending 30 minutes trying to adjust the seat on my first bike. The guy at the bike shop did it in 10 seconds.

Kate said...

wow - 15 miles? I just wrote a post about riding my new bike and how unfit I am... Am needing to get fit!

Jen said...

@Kate: That 15 miles should have been a lot easier for me. It's use it or lose it and I haven't been using it enough.

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