Roadside assistance

[ebikemom]

Whatever difficulties some folks have had with serious cyclists running, one thing that has impressed me is the ethic to help one another.

My son and I were out on a recreational ride, and we stopped for a snack. We were sitting on the ground, hanging out, and drinking our water. There was a fair amount of bike traffic on the beautiful route... "Need help...?" "Everything okay...?"

That was weeks ago. But just last week, my son really did have a little breakdown. In the hottest part of the day, we were cycling on a noisy freeway blacktop trail with little bike traffic, when he changed gears without pedaling and the chain fell off.

I was trying (and failing) to get the chain back on when a guy in spandex stopped. Together (he had me lift the back end of the bike so the wheel would turn), we worked, and he got the chain back on. He waited while my son tried the bike (zoomed off, actually).

Thank you, guy in spandex!

 

[Figs]

Good point and story. That’s the way it should be as we are all in this together.

 

[christob]

Always nice to hear and remember stories like this; simple common decency and human kindness exhibited freely towards others.
The news today is so completely saturated by an unrelenting parade of ugly examples of people living the opposite way of life.

 

[Figs]

Agree 100% christob. The media constantly spotlights the worst of us. Are there jerks among us? Sure there are. There are jerks of all sexes, races, religions and politics beliefs. But we must never believe the few hateful ones define or represent who we are as a whole.

 

[ebikemom]

Actually, just again this AM, I was out with my daughter, and HER chain fell off! Another cyclist helped.

 

[Ann M.]

@ebikemom, you might want to check the derailleur alignment on those bikes; the chain isn't supposed to be hopping off the bike as a regular feature. If you want to look at it yourself, we have a nice Guide for Rear Derailleur Adjustment; otherwise, have a LBS do a simple tune-up. The derailleur and brake cables can stretch over time, so a little tweaking can help to prevent that chain jump. Now, the shifting at a standstill when it's not a NuVinci system or the likes; that's just a learned thing and we've all been there .

 

[Ann M.]

@ebikemom, you might want to check the derailleur alignment on those bikes; the chain isn't supposed to be hopping off the bike as a regular feature. If you want to look at it yourself, we have a nice Guide for Rear Derailleur Adjustment; otherwise, have a LBS do a simple tune-up. The derailleur and brake cables can stretch over time, so a little tweaking can help to prevent that chain jump. Now, the shifting at a standstill when it's not a NuVinci system or the likes; that's just a learned thing and we've all been there .

 

[Nova Haibike]

I was riding the W&OD rail trail here in Virginia yesterday; I saw a guy and his bike "in the weeds." He was awkwardly positioned so I had to pull him out of the ditch he was in. His bike was mostly okay but his derailleur hanger was a bit bent. I stuck a hex key in the mounting bolt and straightened it. Didn't have anything for his scrapes though (I really ought to carry a small first aid kit...never know when one might be needed.)

 

[ebikemom]

@ebikemom, you might want to check the derailleur alignment on those bikes...

Thanks! My son shifted without pedaling. Not sure about my daughter, though that may have been what she did. With shifting without pedaling, chains do come off, methinks?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Pedegos (at least the Interceptors and the City Commuters) seem to have a tendency to have their chains pop off. If it keeps happening to you I'd recommend having your shop install a chain guide.

The other thing to really watch out for is that if you need to change the rear tire, the little adjustable wrench in the tool kit they give you with the bike is sorely inadequate (which is sad because it is otherwise a quite decent tool kit) to retighten the bolt holding the rear wheel in place. While it is doubtful the rear wheel would come off, it is very likely the chain would come off the sprocket, especially if you had shifted into the smallest sprocket. So I heartily recommend having your bike shop order a regular non-adjustable wrench in the appropriate size (or just go to the hardware store and buy one).

 

[ebikemom]

Thank you Mr. coffee! I didn’t know about chain guides. Does it work on the interceptor even with the interceptor chain guard?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Thank you Mr. coffee! I didn’t know about chain guides. Does it work on the interceptor even with the interceptor chain guard?

If you just ask your bike shop to install a chain guide they can easily find one that will work on the Interceptor. For my bike shop it ended up costing me about $25 for the part and installation.

 

[ebikemom]

Awesome! I was reading about chain guides and it sounds like they also reduce wear, by reducing chain play, so that would be a good thing, too. I'd be very glad to reduce break-down risks.