Finally phat tired

Monday was Ariana’s first paying gig as a babysitter. She was going to babysit for the nuclear family, so they could go on a bike ride, and as lady luck demands, Carrie and I are going with them

A beautiful NM fall (is it autumn yet?) day. Blue skies, sunshine, temp in the 60s. Who could ask for more…

An early omen… The girls look on while Joe trues his new wheel to keep it from rubbing his frame….

Carrie climbs easily up the Dickless trail…

followed shortly by the nuclear family…

smiles all the way around, and flowers at the base of the Nail Trail…

Joe uses superior strength and willpower to force the Retrotec up the mountain..

but the trail has a cruel trick remaining… a rock kicks out from under his rear wheel, and as I watch, the guide pulley from his derailler rolls across the trail..

the aftermath includes a broken spoke, a wheel with a serious hop, a destroyed rear derailler, a twisted chain, and a sheared derailler hanger.

After inspecting the damage, we realize that we could convert his tec back into a ss (which is what it longs to be), but he’ll be stuck with a 34 (ish)x14, which is a damned tall gear for riding in Los Alamos. And his rear wheel is bumping so far that it is rubbing his frame. Joe’s day is over. So I, being such a good friend (and having very little snap in my legs), suggest that the girls finish their ride, while I bomb back down to the house to return with my truck and meet Joe at the trailhead. I know, I know, what a noble sacrifice on my behalf ….