The Saturday weather forecast was for rain till midday and then clearing through the afternoon. So I decided that I would do some things around the house and go riding after midday. I made one trip to the tip in light drizzle and then made my way to my LBS to see about booking my bike in for a major transplant (see below) and then back home to get ready for my ride. So why was I sat at home looking out the window watching the rain pour down at 1:00 pm?
Once it had eased off I saddled up and was off to the local heath, decided if the weather was this inclement then I would do the short route (although of the two routes I regularly ride around here it is the tougher of the two). Everything was ok until I started riding on the first bit of dirt, or should I say mud, my bike almost came to a stand still. The first bit of the ride is always quite difficult as they have just dug up the path to lay a water pipe, but with the thaw of the last few days and 24 hours of rain it was like a swamp and to make matter worse the heavens opened again. Was it really muddy I hear you ask, well I had to cycle down a hill as it was that muddy!!
It would be fair to say I struggled but I only walked one bit (if you don’t include the bits where I paddled through the mud when I ground to a halt). By the time I got home I was soaked, not sure if it was due to rain or my not so breathing waterproof jacket, at least I clocked 10 miles toward my 25 to 28 mile target for the weekend.
I mentioned earlier my visit to the LBS to book the bike in for a major repair, well that repair is a frame swap. Where I have had the problem with the front gears and the chain jumping off and jamming between the chain ring and frame it has gouged the chainstay arm very badly. Took it to the LBS where I bought it and with Cannondale they have agreed to swap the frame and will be looking at the front gearset as well with the possibility of replacing that as well.
Not only that while they have my bike in bits they are going to fit my new forks I bought just after Xmas, so by next weekend I will have virtually a new bike
I must admit I did lose faith with the LBS at one stage as the bike went back to the shop a couple of time for repair but the problem persisted. I send them a couple of e-mails about the problems and got no replies. After that I tried an independent cycle repair shop, who sorted out the rears gears by changing the cable (something was dragging on the cable in the casing) which I paid for. Unfortunately changing the front chain rings was going to cost me as well. I tried to speak to Cannondale who said I had to go back to the dealer (which I had expected). This was at the same time as I broke the spoke over Christmas period so I bit the bullet and went to the LBS and spoke to the manager. He agreed certain aspect of collecting the bike (when new) and work done to the bike since had not been up to (their) standard, as for the e-mails it turns out that he never received them (we don’t know why). So all in all it looking all rosy again. I can’t wait till next weekend when I can get out on my new (rebuilt) bike.
