Ladd Jasper
Full speed, half blind
Figured I'd start a thread so the boys can report as they come in.
As for me, my ride was a bust. Major rear hub problems forced me to turn around at the trailhead.
Started out smooth enough, but about 4 miles up Trabuco Creek Rd. strange squeaks/grinds began to emanate from the back end :-s. Narrowed the problem to the hub, and found the thing was barely able to turn--and only then with serious grinding. Obviously a bearing issue, but w/o a chainwhip and cassette tool I couldn't pull the axle for inspection/repair.
Pressed on the last 1/2 mile to the trailhead and found the first (card draw/helmet toss) station. Asked the Warrior's Society staffers if they had the tools I needed, but they did not. Jesse of the WS, who I'd never met, totally blew me away when he offered his bike to me to use. Unbelievably cool offer. I was all for it, but then found it was all the way back at O'Neill Park. Jesse radioed to see if anyone was available to bring it out to me, but all were busy with other tasks.
So, I headed out the way I came, fighting the hub all the way. It kept sticking, which would slacken the chain, which would throw it onto a lower gear, and so on. Miserable in itself, not to mention the drag it put on my pedaling. Felt like I was riding my brakes the whole time.
About 1/2 mile from the pavement the Switchback Cyclery van pulled up and told me they had Jesse's bike if I was still interested. Thought about it for a minute, but was pretty much over the situation at that point. I'd passed the final rider going the other direction 25 minutes before, so would've been in last place by well over an hour.
Was told they'd extend the cutoff for me (another cool and unexpected offer), but riding a strange bike, alone, and holding the stations open for an extra hour just didn't hold much appeal by then. So, back to the start it was.
After getting most of my stuff from CalEpic's truck (find the keys O.K., Craigger?), my big idea of carpooling from Cook's came back to bite me, as the slog up Live Oak Cyn. was a total bear w/ my hub dragging the whole way. Finally made it though, and hightailed it home in a decidedly unpleasant mood. Still don't know the extent of the problem, as I tossed the bike in its room, locked the door, and haven't been back to check on it since. Still a little bitter, it seems. It's only 5 mos. old, but I have a feeling a rebuild is imminent--especially after grinding out another 8 or so miles on bearings that are apparently shot. We'll see.
Now, how 'bout someone chimes in w/ some good news?!
As for me, my ride was a bust. Major rear hub problems forced me to turn around at the trailhead.
Started out smooth enough, but about 4 miles up Trabuco Creek Rd. strange squeaks/grinds began to emanate from the back end :-s. Narrowed the problem to the hub, and found the thing was barely able to turn--and only then with serious grinding. Obviously a bearing issue, but w/o a chainwhip and cassette tool I couldn't pull the axle for inspection/repair.
Pressed on the last 1/2 mile to the trailhead and found the first (card draw/helmet toss) station. Asked the Warrior's Society staffers if they had the tools I needed, but they did not. Jesse of the WS, who I'd never met, totally blew me away when he offered his bike to me to use. Unbelievably cool offer. I was all for it, but then found it was all the way back at O'Neill Park. Jesse radioed to see if anyone was available to bring it out to me, but all were busy with other tasks.
So, I headed out the way I came, fighting the hub all the way. It kept sticking, which would slacken the chain, which would throw it onto a lower gear, and so on. Miserable in itself, not to mention the drag it put on my pedaling. Felt like I was riding my brakes the whole time.
About 1/2 mile from the pavement the Switchback Cyclery van pulled up and told me they had Jesse's bike if I was still interested. Thought about it for a minute, but was pretty much over the situation at that point. I'd passed the final rider going the other direction 25 minutes before, so would've been in last place by well over an hour.
Was told they'd extend the cutoff for me (another cool and unexpected offer), but riding a strange bike, alone, and holding the stations open for an extra hour just didn't hold much appeal by then. So, back to the start it was.
After getting most of my stuff from CalEpic's truck (find the keys O.K., Craigger?), my big idea of carpooling from Cook's came back to bite me, as the slog up Live Oak Cyn. was a total bear w/ my hub dragging the whole way. Finally made it though, and hightailed it home in a decidedly unpleasant mood. Still don't know the extent of the problem, as I tossed the bike in its room, locked the door, and haven't been back to check on it since. Still a little bitter, it seems. It's only 5 mos. old, but I have a feeling a rebuild is imminent--especially after grinding out another 8 or so miles on bearings that are apparently shot. We'll see.
Now, how 'bout someone chimes in w/ some good news?!
