Saturday, March 2, 2013

Plastic bag causes a walk home

 The gears didn't seem to be fitting "home" properly as I cycled back from kayaking this morning. I used to have this problem with my old bike in any gear other than 5 so not happy but not surprised either.

I always stop my bike with the left pedal down, but need to start off with the left pedal up. When I stopped to use a crossing I tried to kick the pedal up it wouldn't go. I carried on cycling, hoping that when I got home I would be able to solve the problem myself. I am not very handy, so the likelihood would be no. All my plans for my half day off  this week were fading as I imagined myself having to take the bike in to be done  Not long after that I had no traction when peddling at all. Got off and spotted the plastic bag in the chain cogs.

If I had spotted it earlier it might have been easy to remove but it now looked firmly wedged. So I had to walk the rest of the way pushing the bike, thankful I had at least got half way home.

Luckily, with the help of a pair of pliers, I think I have got all the bag out. The light is a bit dim in my hall so won't know for sure until tomorrow when I will test the bike before loading it up to go to the club ready to help pack boats for a trip to the Lea Valley White Water Centre. Luckily I have a folding bike so can use that in an emergency.

Celandines out on the old River Lea between Tottenham and Walthamstow. Also saw a kingfisher - a flash of electric blue, but for sometime as it flew down the river and round the corner,

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