Talk about adding insult to injury. Even though I seem to have temporarily lost the ability to run, I knew that I could still ride. And although I wondered how fast,or slow I may be, I also didn't really care today, I just knew I needed to get put there and do something. In support of that, the creator provided me with perfect conditions, 22 degrees and very little wind. So I headed out with a good attitude, determined just to enjoy two or three hours of relatively relaxed riding.
I was also interested to see how the recent changes I made to my position were gonna work out. It's something I've wanted to try for some time, and although it was a relatively radical change I was confident. I moved my handlebars a full 30 mms forward, and my seat about 12 mms. This puts my butt a bit more over the pedals, but more importantly it opens up the angle between my spine and my legs. Theoretically it puts me in a more powerful position, with the risk of adding some pressure in the groin area. It's because of that risk that it will only prove out over time. If the extra discomfort keeps me wanting to get out of the aero bars then the change could be negative instead of positive.
Anyway, it was with these two goals in mind that I headed out to my favourite road. I was riding comfortably, feeling good, about twenty minutes out.
......and then.....
I heard it snap!
For a second I thought it was just a rock hitting the frame, as the noise definitely had a carbon fibre kind of resonance to it. I shrugged it off for about 2 seconds. That's when I realized my handlebars were loose!
I pulled over and it didn't take me long to figure out that something was broke! Yup! Broke! Not loose. Broke!
One of the screws that hold the bars on, had pulled completely away from the frame, and knowing that these are usually metal inserts that are cast right into the carbon fibre fork I was pretty upset. Generally there is no way to fix it!
Talk about adding insult to injury! I could have sat down and cried. Instead I turned around and headed home, but quickly realized that it was gonna be too dangerous. I called Roo.
To make a long story short I decided that instead of feeling sorry for myself I would get right at the problem and face whatever it was gonna be. Once I got it apart I realized that the threaded metal insert had actually snapped right in two, and that half of it was still in the bike. After much playing around with the threads, and with longer screws from crappy tire, I actually got it back together and it seemed to hold. Only time will tell whether the remaining piece of insert is robust enough to handle the load.
And before you ask, yes this was one of the screws that I had removed and replaced to make my adjustments. And while I would normally accept some responsibility for the failure this time I ain't gonna! I checked the manufacturers specifications and used a very precise specialized torque wrench to tighten the screws exactly to specification. It is a clear design weakness, split between the fragility of the insert, and the length of the 6mm screw.
This all took me several hours, so by the time I was done the sun was nearing the horizon. I rushed back into the house, threw my gear back on, hopped on the machine and hammered my way around our 18 km block. It was a gratifying 33 minutes at 33 kms/hour, with an average power output of 185 watts! Dream on!
Tomorrow I'm gonna try running again, and if it doesn't work, I'm gonna figure out why. There is a whole myriad of things that may be wrong with my body, some of which I may have control over, and some of which I may not. Once I figure out what's what, I will develop a plan. And the one thing I already know I have control over is my attitude, and while the plan may have to change as I go forward, the goal remains the same. To meet my grandchildren at the finish line of an Ironman!
Dream on!!
ride 10 kms, ride 18 kms
"An injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult."---Philip Stanhope
....and here's one of those that I wish I had said first...
“He who takes offense when no offense is intended is a fool, and he who takes offense when offense is intended is a greater fool.” ---Brigham Young
Love
I was also interested to see how the recent changes I made to my position were gonna work out. It's something I've wanted to try for some time, and although it was a relatively radical change I was confident. I moved my handlebars a full 30 mms forward, and my seat about 12 mms. This puts my butt a bit more over the pedals, but more importantly it opens up the angle between my spine and my legs. Theoretically it puts me in a more powerful position, with the risk of adding some pressure in the groin area. It's because of that risk that it will only prove out over time. If the extra discomfort keeps me wanting to get out of the aero bars then the change could be negative instead of positive.
Anyway, it was with these two goals in mind that I headed out to my favourite road. I was riding comfortably, feeling good, about twenty minutes out.
......and then.....
I heard it snap!
For a second I thought it was just a rock hitting the frame, as the noise definitely had a carbon fibre kind of resonance to it. I shrugged it off for about 2 seconds. That's when I realized my handlebars were loose!
I pulled over and it didn't take me long to figure out that something was broke! Yup! Broke! Not loose. Broke!
One of the screws that hold the bars on, had pulled completely away from the frame, and knowing that these are usually metal inserts that are cast right into the carbon fibre fork I was pretty upset. Generally there is no way to fix it!
Talk about adding insult to injury! I could have sat down and cried. Instead I turned around and headed home, but quickly realized that it was gonna be too dangerous. I called Roo.
To make a long story short I decided that instead of feeling sorry for myself I would get right at the problem and face whatever it was gonna be. Once I got it apart I realized that the threaded metal insert had actually snapped right in two, and that half of it was still in the bike. After much playing around with the threads, and with longer screws from crappy tire, I actually got it back together and it seemed to hold. Only time will tell whether the remaining piece of insert is robust enough to handle the load.
And before you ask, yes this was one of the screws that I had removed and replaced to make my adjustments. And while I would normally accept some responsibility for the failure this time I ain't gonna! I checked the manufacturers specifications and used a very precise specialized torque wrench to tighten the screws exactly to specification. It is a clear design weakness, split between the fragility of the insert, and the length of the 6mm screw.
This all took me several hours, so by the time I was done the sun was nearing the horizon. I rushed back into the house, threw my gear back on, hopped on the machine and hammered my way around our 18 km block. It was a gratifying 33 minutes at 33 kms/hour, with an average power output of 185 watts! Dream on!
Tomorrow I'm gonna try running again, and if it doesn't work, I'm gonna figure out why. There is a whole myriad of things that may be wrong with my body, some of which I may have control over, and some of which I may not. Once I figure out what's what, I will develop a plan. And the one thing I already know I have control over is my attitude, and while the plan may have to change as I go forward, the goal remains the same. To meet my grandchildren at the finish line of an Ironman!
Dream on!!
ride 10 kms, ride 18 kms
"An injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult."---Philip Stanhope
....and here's one of those that I wish I had said first...
“He who takes offense when no offense is intended is a fool, and he who takes offense when offense is intended is a greater fool.” ---Brigham Young
Love
Peter
I don't suppose you have warranty? Love your quote too, but love you more!
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