[slowtriguy]

I figured a follow-up is in order. I skipped the ride home last night just in case things went further south, and then rode home tonight. Oddly enough, the derailleur cable seems to have fixed itself. The cable is no longer slack, and I was able to shift completely normally all the way home. I changed nothing between yesterday morning and today; indeed, my bike was hanging untouched in the bike cage at work.

The only thing I’ve changed on my bike in the past few weeks was the addition of electroluminescent wire wrapped around the top, seat, and down tubes. Perhaps the wire had somehow impinged on the shifter cable, but it didn’t seem that way tonight. I’ll check again in the morning to see if the situation has changed again.

[slowtriguy]

@creadinger 74012 wrote:

That’s why I prefer the helmet mount for my big light. In the dark, I can beam drivers in the eye at cross-streets with my light to make sure they see me and don’t pull out. You can’t get the mutual “hello fellow human” interaction of eye-contact but at least they know you’re there.

I generally agree, and that’s one of my main reasons for doing the same. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop me from being hit last month by a guy who pulled out of the cross-street at a T junction, even though I was in the middle of the left lane (getting ready to go straight at an intersection where the right lane must turn right) AND shaking my head at him.

To his credit, the guy did stop and stay to make sure I was OK (which I was; it was a very slow-speed crash), but he kept saying “I didn’t even see you!” I kept thinking, “Dude, I’ve got 900 lumens on my head pointed right at you, and another 150 blinking on my handlebar, and red spoke lights on each wheel — what more do you want, neon?” So naturally, I added that over the holiday and am now sporting a blue EL wire wrapped around my top tube, seat tube, and down tube.

[slowtriguy]

@DismalScientist 73896 wrote:

If it really is just a stretched cable, all you need to do is put the shifter in the smallest cog position, loosen the attachment bolt holding the cable at the derailleur, put the cable taut and retighten it.
Also, you may be able to just adjust the adjustment barrels on the downtube to “lengthen” the cable housing relative to the cable.

OK, so if it really is just a stretched cable, it seems relatively straightforward to try to fix this evening nicely inside the warm house.

@DismalScientist 73896 wrote:

Is the cable really stretch or did it come loose from the derailleur? I’ve never heard of a cable stretching that quickly and that much.

I’ll have to check, as I couldn’t really tell this morning. When I tugged on the table, the derailleur didn’t budge much, so now that you mention it, I wonder if the cable just came loose. There is still cable forward of the tightening screw on the derailleur itself (i.e., there’s still a pigtail), but I’ll have to look more closely to see what’s happening there. I don’t think the cable snapped, as it didn’t come completely out of the rear adjustment barrel even when I tugged on it, and the derailleur did move a bit. I was hesitant to be too forceful out in the cold. I’ll have to check that tonight.

Thanks!

[slowtriguy]

I rode in from Falls Church City as normal, with an extra layer top and bottom. My feet are always my coldest spot, so I actually rode in my insulated hiking boots (complete with ceramic safety toes – wahoo!) and that worked. I swapped in ski goggles which didn’t work at all due to fogging; I kept having to wipe them clear, and the sun glare at 0800 wasn’t much help.

Now my bike, on the other hand, has problems: the rear derailleur cable stretched between yesterday morning and this morning to the point that I now have a two-speed. (I can still change chainrings, but nothing on the rear.) I shoved it into the middle on the rear and kept going. How hard a fix is this one, if it’s just a stretched cable?

The irony is my office is colder than it was on the ride today. I am currently sporting merino wool under my suit. (Does that count as two wool layers?)

[slowtriguy]

I’m in – just registered.

[slowtriguy]

I can be there on Wednesday evening until about 1830 if that works for you all.

[slowtriguy]

You: Lexus driver who desperately needed to save 5 seconds
Me: Bicyclist riding legally down Stafford between Washington and Fairfax

Ma’am, I was riding legally at the time you tried to pass me at Stafford and Washington, and again when you passed me illegally on Stafford between 11th and Fairfax, saving all of 5 seconds before I arrived at the same light. You might want to recheck the traffic codes, particularly the bits about bicycles having the right to use a full lane when necessary and the bit about leaving more than a few air molecules of separation when you pass a bicycle.

For bonus points, you might want to consider reading the bits about not passing other cars illegally on the right on a one-lane-in-each-direction road.

For ELITE bonus points, you might want to consider the wisdom of aggressive driving around folks who work in the same building as you do.

[slowtriguy]

I rode the W&OD->Custis, from Great Falls in Falls Church City to Stafford in Arlington around 0730 today. No significant problems — just a few puddles and muddy bits. Nothing the fenders couldn’t handle.

[slowtriguy]

Rode the Custis->W&OD from Stafford in Ballston to Great Falls in Falls Church City between ~1720 and 1745. Unremarkable all the way – just some puddles – but there are some strong cells on the radar headed up from the SW as of ~1810.

[slowtriguy]

I feel like a chump for not replying more quickly to all the great support and advice! I’ll riff on my own title and say the injury’s keeping me off the bike, and work stress was keeping me off the forum…finally able to get back on tonight. Sorry for not replying more quickly.

Mark B., brendan, Tim K., terpfan, and especially JorgeGortex, thanks very much for the advice and pointers to specialists. I’ve been seeing my GP and a podiatrist, but if the follow-up appointment next Tuesday doesn’t leave me with the appropriate warm fuzzies, I am definitely going to a sports medicine orthopod. This “resting to heal” stuff is darned frustrating — I want to ride, run, and race (slowly as always) again, dang it. But I’ll be a good boy.

And KLizotte, let me just say this bit:

You can’t get out of BTWD that easily buster. Bike and Roll rents tandems so you just need to convince the Mrs. that she’s gonna have to step up to the plate and pedal like mad so you can do your thing (not pedaling of course).

actually made me laugh out loud…thanks!

Thanks again for all the advice and support, everyone.

[slowtriguy]

Thanks everyone — you cheered me right up!

I’ll be a good boy and stay off the bike. MRI coming up midweek should give more insight…

Good point on the overhaul, Dickie — it’s about time for a cable job, so I guess I can get that done. Greenbelt, sorry for your injury – I hope you’re back in full form shortly. acc and KLizotte, thanks very much for your kind thoughts.

I just hope this clears up in time for Bike to Work Day. Last year, I wore pirate garb; this year, I was already planning something more over the top…ah, well.

Thanks again, everyone – I really do appreciate it.

[slowtriguy]

I’m not really sure where this one fits…it’s not really a missed connection, but a random funny bike-related moment.

This morning, I was unlocking my bike from a rack to ride home from an errand, and was wearing my usual gear: bright yellow top, black tights, and a black balaclava. Yes, the colors matter for understanding my bemusement at the rest of this.

A little girl walking by with her mom asked me, “Are you Santa?” I said, “No…but if I were, would I tell you?” She stared at me suspiciously for a moment and said, quietly but firmly, “Santa.” (I could hear the “A-HA! Caught you!” tone in her voice – she was certain.) Her mom and I laughed quietly as they walked on.

So I have learned that at least one little girl is convinced Santa spends April riding around the DC area dressed in yellow and black… Maybe next winter, I need to put Christmas lights on the frame for extra visibility…and get a Santa helmet cover.

[slowtriguy]

I swapped “Good Morning”s with The Fractional Man Himself this morning, just east of the Ballston turnoff from the Custis.

[slowtriguy]

Rode in W&OD -> Custis from Great Falls to Stafford at about 0745. The trails were snowy but rideable on Armadillos, 26″. Traction was mostly fine except on a couple of the short bridges.

[slowtriguy]

You: Couple riding together on W&OD near East Falls Church

Me: The jerk who yelled at you when trying to pass you.

Putting it mildly, I was a jerk. You guys were just trying to ride together, and though you weren’t single-file, there wasn’t any reason for me to shout so angrily. I should have just called my pass again in a normal way, rather than going ballistic.

I have no idea if you’re on the forum or not, but just in case, I wanted to apologize here in addition to the on-the-trail apology. Sorry for being an a$$!*le.

I hope I didn’t ruin your ride.

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