This is a shameless attempt to save the the most advanced civilization in
history from imminent self destruction by eliminating carbon emission,
dependence on foreign sources of fuel,obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Cycling accomplishes all those things at once and helps us develop a better
understanding of ourselves, each other and our relationship to the cosmos.

Oh, horse puckey!
I like to ride bikes, have been doing it all my life.
The rest of that crap is just a fringe benefit,
and the blogosphere gives me a chance to share my interior
monologue with virtual rather than imaginary friends.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

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.

4 comments:

  1. The past few days were taken up building the mew mixte I will be using to replace it for the summer. Now that that is on the road, I'll have some time in the next few days to take it apart and see what really happened. I'm glad this didn't happen in January,it would have been more urgent.

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  2. Ever hear of lubrication for the chain system? It's bone dry!

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  3. It wasn't the chain system. The retaining clip which holds the cog cassette in the the hub failed. That photo is also the middle of Michigan winter, what you see is the combination of salt/sand accumulating on the drivetrain.

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