Dan's Bike: In ICU

I lost my bike this week. A bunch of other negative things happened, including being told a contract was in the works that didn't pan out, but the thing that bothers me most is the bike.

It was a nice bike. I got it for Christmas along with my son Jack, and I thought we could ride together. In fact, that's the way it worked out: Jack learned to ride his bike while I rode mine and encouraged him along. Jack learned the hard way -- no training wheels. Just keep trying son until you get it right.

So me, Jack, and the bikes have become a lot closer over the last couple of months. Jack is getting really good on his bike, and I have been extending my rides longer and longer up the road we live on.

Well until Monday, that is.

First the chain broke. I managed to fix that and took the bike out on a trial run. It's a mountain bike, and I like to put it through it's paces. During the test run, I took it down an old road with large gravels and ruts on it. Everything was going along fine until BAM! The back wheel popped out of place, and the whole bike locked up.

So it's a mess. The front wheel rubs the brakes when you turn it. The back wheel rolls freely (I got it back on), but the rear deraileurs are a mess -- bent.

I told Melissa I was going to fix it today. She made a sound that sounded like the same response she would make if I announced I was going to perform brain surgery on myself. My mechanical skills (or lack thereof) are well-known in these parts. But hey, it's a bike, right? I mean, two wheels, a chain and some sprockets. How hard could it be? How hard could it be?