Our bikes were filthy when we arrived in Switzerland!
Rebecca had been mentioned for a couple of days that her gear changes weren’t as smooth as they used to be and as it all still was working; we’ve decided to have a closer look at it during our break in Switzerland.
No wonder those gears did not want to work properly any longer! They were full of gunk, a mixture of chain oil, fine sand & dirt. There was so much gunk that instead of using a cloth to clean it, I had to use a screwdriver to scrap it all off the sprockets!
..Rubbish Mechanic..
So far, there was no mechanical to be repaired, it was simply a matter of giving the bikes a good clean, changing the back brake pads on my bike and shortening the chain by a couple of links as it was sitting to lose on the sprocket.
Richards words at Oxford Bike Works still resonate in my ears when he said: “Be absolutely sure where you break the chain to remove the links!”
..Embarrassment 1..
What did I do? I cut the chain too short…
..Embarrassment 2..
After I realized what I did and wasn't able to reconnect the links back on to the chain, I had no other choice than putting one of our spare chains on the bike which I did – and I have no idea why, but when I pedal, the chain now makes an awful grinding noise and I can’t work out exactly why…
..Embarrassment 3..
Well, at least, my dodgy repair job got the bike up and running. However, I still had to explain to Rebecca that her 45 minute thorough cleaning job on my old chain, which left her with rather dirty hands, was of no benefit as the chain couldn’t be used any longer… Embarrassment 3…
..Embarrassment 4..
So, on Tuesday morning, I will have to do the ‘walk of shame’ and go to the Veloschmitte Hasle-Ruegsau (local bike shop across the road) to have it looked over and amended by professionals!
On the upside of things, I keep learning and I’d rather have those issues now when help is more easily available than somewhere in the endless desert of Uzbekistan or the wilderness of the Pamir mountains!
Veloschmitte Team – see you on Tuesday!
Oh dear you poor things. Made for good reading but I’m sure you weren’t thinking of our amusement 😂. Hopefully onwards and upwards after the bike shop sojourn
Best to sort out issues in Europe before getting into more isolated areas! Love the read!!