The weather here in Northern Virginia has been stunning. Perfect for riding - although Monday I spent more time riding in the car and truck then on my bike. It wasn't by choice, either. This week I have set my task to pick up litter from the 70 miles of routes for the Gravel Grinder this Saturday. That pick up is accomplished using my Giant LaFree carbon belt drive step through that has a modified kiddie trailer attached for carrying the litter bags.
And here is how it happened...
I set out Monday morning after breakfast - tooting down the first 4 miles of gravel road, picking up trash, most of which was hidden in the roadside weeds. I'd collected a full bag and decided to head back home to dump off the trash and get another bag (which I'd forgotten to stash in the trailer before I set off). I was a half mile down the road, heading back, when suddenly...my bike pedals went into a free spin.
Huh?
I looked down, and there they were, my feet and pedals spinning as if they didn't have a care in the world while my bike slowly drifted to a halt. Confused, I stepped off the bike and looked at the drive belt which seemed a bit off kilter. I crouched down for a better look, and wished I hadn't. For some obscure reason, which both I and my bike mechanic have yet to figure out...the belt had jumped off the hub gearing, rendering the bike useless. Worse than useless because it had the addition of a trailer with a full bag of litter.
Two phone calls to hubby went to voicemail as I manually walked the bike towards home. I came to a bridle path winding its way through some deep hidden pathway in a woods before exiting onto the road, and it was there I ditched the bike a bit down the path, well hidden from view, and set off to walk the 3.5 miles home, my helmet casually swinging from my free hand as I dialed my neighbor who bikes with me. Walking the few miles home was no big deal because I routinely walk 4 miles a day with the collie, but it would be nice not to spend an hour tramping down the road when I had other more important stuff to do.
The biking gods decided they'd had their fun, and it was time to give me a break. My neighbor picked up on the second ring through her car's Bluetooth as she was exiting out of her driveway with a friend to go shopping. She happily made a quick detour, picked me up and we cruised the remaining 3 miles back to my place, saving me a bit of shoe leather (rubber?) by her kindness.
Hubby looked confused when we pulled up at the house and I exited the car, waving goodbye to my neighbor and her friend as they drove off for their shopping trip. He had apparently left his phone next to his chair on the porch as he went in the house for a glass of water, exactly the moment when I called twice. He never looked at his phone when he returned. I told him nevermind, and explained my plan to rescue my wounded equipment.
We put the bike rack on the electric car, drove back to the gravel road where the bike and trailer lay hidden, detached the bike and put it on the rack to take it home. Once home we jumped in the new electric truck and went back to the gravel road to the hidden spot, pulled out the trailer, loaded the trash bag in the truck bed, and hoisted the trailer up into the bed as well. Then headed back home as I called the bike shop for an emergency fix. (When the belt had jumped the track I had tried myself to push it back on the gearing but my efforts were barely minImal as the belt had twisted and I couldn't "undo" the twist.) The bike shop said to bring the bike in and they'd get to it right away. Great! Drove the truck into the garage, left everything in the bed while we hopped back in the car which was still carrying the bike on the rack, and headed the 32 miles west to the bike shop. It took exactly 2.3 seconds for the mechanic to untwist and guide that belt right back on the gearing. My mouth dropped open. If it was that simple, why the heck hadn't I been able to do it? He politely showed me how he had fixed the belt, then took the LaFree for a rough and tumble test drive to make sure the belt was going to stay put. The belt performed flawlessly. He grinned when he told me "no charge", knowing full well I'd be returning soon enough during the week with 3 dozen homemade fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies for the shop staff as a thank you. (I already have the first batch in the oven even as I type this).
Arrived back home with not a lot of day left for more cleanup. Time enough tomorrow to test the bike and do more miles. So it was 4 miles on Monday, and 10 miles on Tuesday after the morning was spent running 82 miles worth of errands in the truck. Happily the LaFree is back to performing brilliantly.
Thus far 14 miles out of 70 to clean, and 2 full bags of litter collected.56 miles and 3 days left to go before the ride.
Wish me luck. Or a heck of a lot of already clean miles. I'm going to need it.
Obligatory picture from a year or so ago:
I am NOT that brave!
My bike just loves speed, it was made for it and is super stable so I never feel out of control on it! It puts a smile on my face every ride!
Still pouring here also and it won't stop until Thursday, maybe a little sun between the rain if we are lucky!
