E-Bikes

[olbriar]

I'm home taking a break. I rode 45 miles in the cool this morning. I say cool but in reality it was cooler than it's been and not cool. The first couple of loops I saw quite a few on the sidewalk enjoying the morning. My last loop I had to myself as the temperature ramped up. I had to move my stick back again. I had a lady run me off of the sidewalk. She was wearing sunglasses so I couldn't see her eyes. She must have been staring at the sidewalk for she weaved right into me and I had to jerk my bike off of the sidewalk. It happened in the town South where the sidewalk is right against the highway. Fortunately, there was nobody in the right lane and I wasn't jumping out in front of a car. She was riding on the wrong side of the sidewalk as well. I met a guy in a truck as I was doing my cool down loops in town. He stopped me and asked if I remembered him... and I did. The last time he stopped me he asked how many miles I had on the bike. He stopped me to ask again. He shook his head when I told him 28,724 miles that was currently on the odometer. The guy riding with him asked if I was Derek's father. I used to be asked that often being as my son was one of the top athletes to play sports in this town. 30 years later, the question isn't brought up often. He was their QB for three years, multiple state and national wrestling champ, 18 yr old world series winning center fielder, and won the tough man state boxing three times.

It was only in the mid nineties when I completed my afternoon ride. It seemed hotter because of the high humidity. I rode 85 miles between the two rides. There was not a soul on the sidewalk this afternoon. Sunday, no doubt was a factor and the heat another. My next to my last loop, I saw a car just leaving town heading South on the state highway. At first I thought it was stalled but when I passed by the car, it was moving very slowly. It was a mile down the road when I saw the car again while doing my last loop. It was a lady driving and lady passenger and they were scrutinizing the road as they slowly moved South. My best guess is they lost something and were looking for it. I'm guessing a cell phone placed on the hood or trunk or something of the sedan as they were loading their shopping and got home and found it missing. I don't ride that side of the highway or I'd have likely found it for them. Speaking of finding, I came home with a very nice huge carabinier with a braided strap attached. I have no idea what the setup was for but the carabinier is a $25+ caliber. Another piece of lost and found highway treasure that is worth nothing lol.

It cooled of this evening and I just couldn't pass up riding again. I saw a couple of cyclists on the sidewalk and a half a dozen walkers. It was a nice evening. The wind had died down and the temperature was in the mid eighties. I was running out of daylight but decided I could make one more loop before putting the bike up. I was nearing my home town when something happened. I'm not sure just what but it felt like I ran over something big. I immediately stopped and checked the tires. The still had air. I walked back down the siding to try find whatever I ran over and found nothing. It was getting a bit dark so I figured I'd find whatever tomorrow and toss it off into the ditch. I got back on the bike but I couldn't pedal. The chain was off of the rear cassette and lodged between the teeth of the nineth gear and the torque/cadence sensor. I could not free it without loosening the nut that holds the wheel in the frame. I figured it likely ruined my hard to get $200 sensor but to my relief, I was able to pedal home without any problem. Now I'm left with the thought that the derailleur had a problem and caused the chain to jump the cassette or did I hit something that caused the chain jump. It was dark when I got home so I'll have to investigate tomorrow. I logged 127 miles today and had a great time.

 

[olbriar]

I came home after mowing and relaxed a bit before I went for a ride. I rode my best battery down to being throttled and called it a day. I logged 43 miles. It was cooler today and the sidewalk would have been busy if not for it being a week day. I saw a couple of riders and a couple of walkers and that was it. It was a great day on the bike.

Before I went riding, I checked out the drive train on the bike. The chain jumping off of the cassette just doesn't happen. I made sure the derailleur was functional and keeping adequate tension on the chain. I could find nothing wrong with the drive train. While riding, I investigated the incident area for a culprit. I think I found it. A stick about 14" long and about two pencils in diameter was laying on the siding where my chain locked up. The stick was skinned up. I theorize that my front tire lifted it into the chain and then the derailleur. The chain jumped off the cassette and locked up. I was pedaling at least 20mph so when the pedal suddenly stopped, I nearly flipped the bike onto its side. A freak occurrence. I know I have almost 34K miles on the three e-bikes I have owned. I would have to guess I put at least 15K on my Giant Iguana years ago. As a child, I won a 3 speed English racer. I rode that poor bike to death. In all of the multi geared bikes with derailleurs, this was the first time I've encountered a chain jumping off of the rear cassette.

 

[olbriar]

I hadn't intended to ride today being as it was our anniversary. We went out to eat at my favorite restaurant and I ate so much that I had to ride some just to work a bit of it off. I rode 33 miles and put the bike up. It was hot today and very humid. It was basically no fun doing anything outside. I mowed my five Tuesdays and I pretty much had enough. I still enjoyed riding.

On my way to my favorite restaurant, I drove a bit out of my way to run by one of my mower shops. I was out of two part oil for my trimmers and blower. I haven't been in their shop this summer and was surprised to see that they are now selling e-bikes. They have pretty much the full lineup of the Puckipuppy brand. They said they have had luck selling them though it's a new product for them. I bought my Green Mountain pellet smoker from them a few years back. They said the bikes were a bigger seller than the smokers ever were. If my wife wasn't waiting for me in the car, I would have messed with the bikes some. It's a great luxury to get hands on before buying a bike. It doesn't out weigh the savings from buying online. Buying local usually means absorbing a substantial gouge. At a glance, their line of bikes looked to be priced right.