The Slant Saved My Life - why we wear helmets

There are very few things that bug me, but I live on a busy street in Corvallis and I hear bike riders going by all the time. Yes, I said "hear" because I hear squeaky non-lubed chains. Not just young kids, but teenagers, college kids, and adults. It is almost painful, like finger nails on the chalk board. I want to yell at them "oil your chain!" The other thing that bugs me is when I see people riding there bikes (and motorcycles) not wearing a helmet. I have a young man who is now married with two kids who almost died coming home from school because he crashed on his bike and he wasn't wearing a helmet. And in the last month a riding partner took a hard crash that would have probably died without his helmet. And finally, just last week, coming down the McKenzie I had a slow pitch over the handlebars coming down the stair step above the Blue Pool and who have also died if it wasn't for my Bell Slant. It took the direct impact of a lava rock point which dented and cracked it, but saved me. My point, take care of your equipment and it will take care of you (if you use it), so wear your helmet and lube your chain (no I sound like my Dad).

Other events in the last 7 days, Thursday night ride, Friday road Bonsai at Black Rock , Saturday road the McKenzie Trail, Tuesday Chip Ross and Dan's, yesterday's night ride was Lollipop Loop and Bald Hill, this morning it was up McCulloch, down The Secret and down Stick n Eye. Tomorrow is the C2C Cert Ride (21 miles and 3,800 feet).

Photo's are 1) The Blue Pool 2) Black Rock 3) n 4) are my helmet 5) n 6) my riding buddy and the EMT's and 7) The McKenzie Trail

I'm Glad I Have A Back-Up Bike

My wife got me a bike stand last Christmas, and I remember saying, this is going to pay for itself as I do my own maintenance.  Well not this week! After last Friday's ride, I came home and put the bike on the stand to lube the chain.  It is then that I noticed that rear wheel had a wobble.  Turns out I had a broken spoke.  Since I've never learned to do that fix yet, I took it down to Corvallis Cyclery to have them fix it.  Eric gave me a call later that day and said you have one broke and 5 that are just about to break.  Looks like your chain came off between the hub and the spokes (I knew I should have left that tacky spoke guard on).  He got them fixed, but my schedule didn't allow me to get down there to pick it up.  Thus the need (and beauty) of having a back-up bike.

It is a testament to a great bike, when you get on it after a year and still love riding it.  My 06 Stumpy still has things I miss on my 08. 

So I get the tire put it on then back on the stand to put some air in my shock.  As I go to spin off the protective cap, the entire stem starts to un-screw.  I put it back on with my fingers then start to put air in the shock as I'm doing so, I see something sticking out of the side of the stem where it joins the shock housing.  It looks like a pine needle or something.  So I grap it, wrong thing to do.  It is really a part of the rubber seal and the minute I remove it, the shock deflates and won't hold air.  So now it is back to the my other favorite bike shop, Peak Sports because they are the authorized Specialized dealer.  Bad news, is it is going to take a shock rebuild which is in Salt Lake.

So once again, I'm glad that I have a great back-up bike because I'll need it for the McKenzie Trail this coming Saturday.  They promised me it would be back in time for the C2C!  I just love that bike stand. It is saving me so much money.