Cool day and I broke the black box

    Boy, what a time.  On Friday I was talking to Chad, a friend of mine at Getaway Sports in Battle Creek, when he asked me about the IGH systems out on the market.  He had not had the courage to put his toe in that market but I reassured him.  I told him that after 4 years of continuous use I was sold that the Shimano Nexus 8 was a pretty bulletproof unit.  I qualified that with the comment that the shift mechanism could use improvments because they are a little quirky and I had completely worn out one shifter and a cassette joint assembly.  I closed with the observation that the IGH systems were great for a city bike, but I wouldn't take them out of town.  I don't think they would be appropriate for mountain biking, long distant road riding or touring because I wouln't want to be in SW Buttheadistan when the black box broke.
   Today, Sunday, was a great day, I woke up early got a lot of work done and rode across town to my favorite coffee shop for (gasp!) some decent quiche and coffee while I surfed the web on my tablet.  The weather was overcast but warm for February and the mild temps had actually drawn out a couple spandex hamsters

 to test their legs.
    When I arrived I was approached by somebody asking me about my bike and whether it was a 3 or 8 speed.  That led to much the same conversation I had had with Chad concerning the reliability of the unit etc.
We went from there to our coffee talking about the new Nuvinci unit I had just bought and how I was looking forward to getting it on the road.
    Then, surprise!  On the way home, my bike quit freewheeling,then stopped shifting altogether.  I worked with it until I basically (remember I am in traffic) forced it into 1st gear, and toodled my way home.  By the time I reached home (about 5 miles) I felt like I had a flat and a bent rim as well.  I was wobbling like crazy.
And when I got there

this is what I found of my previously "bulletproof" unit.  I haven't taken it apart to check it out or even decided what I'll do, but I am glad I wasn't in SW Buttheadistan today.