READY? BREAK!

So tonight was day 5 of riding "a bike." Tonight would bring Ritchey and me back to Carvins Cove. Tonight brought me to the end of my patience and tolerance for all things annoying. Let me "set the table" for you. I've had a wobbily rear wheel for a while now. Likely a result of a log hop gone awry that caused me a flat tire and a bent spoke. I figure the wheel probably isn't exactly round anymore. Or it could be that the tire sucks just as much as I originally believed, I'll get to that in a sec. You can search back for the post about Bontrager Jones XR if you read with caution. This particular tire is a fairly new tire and replaced the same branded tire that got a hole in the sidewall (likely around the same time as bent spoke). It just happened that I found the bent spoke a week or so after buying BJXR rear tire #2. I don't really mind the wobbily tire unless I'm on the road then it's like a bad grocery cart.

So let's see. You also have to know that I found my front tire low on air last Saturday morning, so instead of chancing it for my race on Sunday, I swapped it out. Well my guess is that the tire isn't seated in the rim right, and instead of taking time to redo it, I've just left it there. Guess what? It's not right either. I'm really pathetic aren't I? Just wait, there's more. I swear I'm going to claim I am a girl with no mechanical abilities eventually.

This brings me to my front shock, which I paid to add a remote "Pop-Loc" to not too long ago. It works great when it works, but it hasn't worked in several weeks. Flip the lock out on, shock bounces, Flip the lock out off, shock bounces. SIGH. According to bicyclesoup, this occurs with my particular Reba and can be fixed by those with knowledge of the shock guts. I've been over this issue for a while now knowing that as soon as I had time, I could get it fixed fairly quickly.

So we're wobbiling right along right? Yea well ok, after riding bikes + 40 miles this week, I just wanted to cruise along happily tonight and ignore those annoying things that are bugging me. We start up my favorite trail Songbird. The dust is flying because the group ride tonight is up to 15 people and I'm like 11th in line at this point. We peaked the climb and start down the trail. Normally I fly along this trail, but after the first few turns I knew I had a problem. Sure the trails are slick but not this much. I felt like my back tire was going to roll right off the rim. A FLAT. Sheesh - that took all the fun out of my night right there. I rode slowly to the end of the trail where the faster people were waiting and started changing the tube. I need to buy stock in Bontrager... Couldn't get the new one to inflate so one of the guys came to my aid. Anyway, while the tire was off, Paula was checking the inside of it and found a hole on the inside of the tire. You've got to be kidding me???

So I've finally surrendered. Ritchey is being sent away tomorrow. I'm taking him to the bike shop, and I don't want him back until he's had an attitude adjustment. Here's his problem list:

1. Fix the front shock lock out and check it's +/- air pressures. (I suck at maintaining the shocks.)
2. Check the air in the rear shock. (Knowing my crappy track record with shocks, it's probably sagging again and Josh will fuss at me).
3. Fix that damn wobbily rear wheel which includes replacing any bent spokes (there's at least one).
4. Check the front wheel and tire.
5. Check the headset as something feels "clangy." Hard to explain this one, but sometimes it just doesn't feel like something is right there.
6. Adjust the front derailler so it stops making so much damn noise when in small ring on front, middle on the back (chain is dragging on the derailler).
7. Can the shifter for the front derailler be made a little less difficult when going from small to middle? Sometimes it is hard to push it over and it hurts my thumb to get it back to the middle.
8. Give the owner more endurance and more bandaids...

I guess I should stop being so picky, but I seriously make things worse when I try to fix anything anymore - see front wheel/tire above. I gotta go. I'll have to get up and give Ritchey a mini-bath before hanging him back on the bike rack for his trip tomorrow. They won't like him as is... dusty, dirty bike...