I was thoroughly enjoying my icebreaker ride for the year. Nothing was stirring on the club message board and there was still a lot of ice and snow about so I set off for a solo ride using my mountain bike again.
It was a lovely day. Where the sunshine had reached the soil we had warming conditions with melting snow turning to mud while elsewhere the bitter cold was keeping a firm grip.
All was going nicely until my rear derailleur disintegrated 10km from home. That shouldn’t be a problem, I just shortened the chain to ride home on a single gear. Except that the chain splitter decided to snap too, leaving me without a working bike.
Some cursing may have taken place.
Then I ate humble pie and phoned home.
Maybe I have got my bad luck out of the way for the year already. Hope so.
I Do Not Despair 
You’re right, the rest of 2015 is looking up 🙂
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….as I’ve said in the past, where would we guys be without our spouses?
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Not taking their tolerance for granted – I promise!
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Your experience reminds me of the need to take more tools with me on my rides when I plan to be any great distance from help. It also brings home again how much my sense of freedom and self-confidence has been curtailed by my wife’s death a few months ago. There’s no one to call home to.
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Sorry to hear that, I hope you recover your confidence in due course Keith.
I believe the League of American Bicyclists do a recovery service in partnership with one of the motoring organisations. I had a similar set up in the UK for my cyclists association. Worth every cent if it gives you back more riding.
Best wishes for 2015
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Kevin! That’s seriously bad luck. I agree though – 2015 will be the most blissful downhill ride with the wind at your back and sunny conditions from here on. You’ve already done the hard yards – literally.
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