![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
This morning I thought I might ride out the trail again, and I pulled a bike out from under the tarp. I had been riding my three-speed, but I'd busted up the rim (quite a while ago, actually), and it's not a good idea to ride on dented rims.
That said, it is entirely impossible to ride with a frozen bike chain. Fortunately, I had most of a jar of bike lube and an extra-large dose of TLC* to apply, and after well over three hours, the bike was in rideable condition, and I took it out to the trail to run down to Bethesda to buy some ice cream** and a new wireless hub.
More than one person told me that the bike looked like it was in great shape, so I must have done something right. :)
(Sadly, one of the sprockets on the rear derailleur is missing one or more teeth, so I may not get away without spending some money.)
Anyway, it was quite an experience. First, this bike is very much a road bike - it bogged down in gravel quite badly. Second, it's a ten-speed with a very funky derailleur system, so I had the devil's own time getting away from fifth gear for uphills and slow starts. Third, the controls are arranged quite differently (drop handlebars, down tube shifters), which left me quite nervous and timid. Third, I'm not really fit enough to take the bike to where it should go - I was struggling to keep it moving and moving in the right direction, even.
But it was pretty good, nonetheless. Tomorrow, I'll take out the other rust monster and see how I can make it run.
* TLC = Tender Loving Care. With a pair of pliers and a lot of sweating, I must say.
** Sadly, the ice cream shop (Giffords) was closed when I went by, so I ended up buying a Dunkin' Donuts iced tea and bagel.
That said, it is entirely impossible to ride with a frozen bike chain. Fortunately, I had most of a jar of bike lube and an extra-large dose of TLC* to apply, and after well over three hours, the bike was in rideable condition, and I took it out to the trail to run down to Bethesda to buy some ice cream** and a new wireless hub.
More than one person told me that the bike looked like it was in great shape, so I must have done something right. :)
(Sadly, one of the sprockets on the rear derailleur is missing one or more teeth, so I may not get away without spending some money.)
Anyway, it was quite an experience. First, this bike is very much a road bike - it bogged down in gravel quite badly. Second, it's a ten-speed with a very funky derailleur system, so I had the devil's own time getting away from fifth gear for uphills and slow starts. Third, the controls are arranged quite differently (drop handlebars, down tube shifters), which left me quite nervous and timid. Third, I'm not really fit enough to take the bike to where it should go - I was struggling to keep it moving and moving in the right direction, even.
But it was pretty good, nonetheless. Tomorrow, I'll take out the other rust monster and see how I can make it run.
* TLC = Tender Loving Care. With a pair of pliers and a lot of sweating, I must say.
** Sadly, the ice cream shop (Giffords) was closed when I went by, so I ended up buying a Dunkin' Donuts iced tea and bagel.
