This is Eco1...
Not an easy day for the Econauts, Skipper.
We've set camp near a town called White City about 15 km east of Regina.
This morning started with rain, so we had wet tents to pack. It was cold, too. We reached the Moose Jaw info centre and the lady there said it wasn't safe to go on as it could start to snow and there was precious little shelter between Moose Jaw and Regina. I thanked the nice lady for her advice, but said we had to press on no matter what.
And the wind howled over our port side, then over the bow as the rain came on and didn't stop until we reached Regina. Along the way, we stopped in a small town with gravel streets. About the only thing open was a motel lounge. After a quick shot of whiskey and a handful of trail mix we were on our way.
Stopping at a gas station in Regina, the fella was nice enough to had us some water bottles. I'm a tap water drinker myself, but didn't want to insult the man by refusing. Also, a photographer from the local Regina Post-Leader (I believe) took some shots of us and asked me some questions that might appear in tomorrow's paper. These newspaper people are pretty quick to grab a story. Thank's for spreadding the word, dude!
OPERATIONAL REPORT: Both gear shifters are out of whack. The middle derailer's cable housing is spewing metal wire again and making low gear a difficult shift. The back derailer seems to skip every other gear and jumps around as if it had a mind of its own. Frustrating, but we can still ride. We don't want to lose time and hope to grab a handy bike shop along the way without too much fuss - if possible.
Not sure how far we'll make it tomorrow with is ka-razy weather we're having around here.
My good buddy, Derek, up in Saskatoon knows these roads better than anybody. He says the #1 TransCanada is our best bet. That's good enough for me. TransCanada is what we're gonna take to Winnipeg.
Guess that's about it. Hope everybody else is warm and dry tonight.
This is Eco1 Over and Out.
-- Major Dude
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
2 comments:
The index shifting on your rear derailier is off, probably because the cable has stretched. To reset the indexing, prop up the back of the vehicle far enough off the ground that you can look at the derailier from behind and somewhat below.
First, put the chain, using the shift lever on the second smallest gear on the rear clog cluster. Also double check that the shift lever in the cockpit is also on the second "click" gear position.
Then kneeling down behind the rear of the rocket, look closely at the top of the two chain wheels on the derailier arm.
The centre of the top derailier arm wheel should be directly in line with the second smallest gear on the cluster. If it is not in a direct vertical line, then your index shifting will jump around.
Althougth there are some variables to consider, your first action is to find the spot where the shifter cable that comes from the front, meets the derailier. Where the plastic cable housing meets the derailier, there is a collar on the cable that can be turned clockwise or counter clockwise with the thumb and forfinger.
While looking at how the chain rides over the second gear and the top deraillier arm pulley, turn the cable collar left or right to align them. Your index shifting should now work.
Cable stretching is common, sometimes you have to loosen the nut that holds the shifter cable to the derailier body, pull the cable with plyers to take out the slack from stretching, then retighten the nut, while holding the cable tight.
Chain stretch is also VERY common. If you find that the derailier arm has coiled up on it's self, it means that you need to take a link out of the chain. To many links will result in a hyper-extension of the arm. Find the balance.
Frayed cable need to be replaced. Frayed cable ends need end caps pinched on.
These routine adjustments are common to all bicycle maintainence programmes.
Aleks,
Wow. Thanks for the tech info!
We've had the cables adjusted a couple times due to stretch and chain links removed.
I will give your advice a try though.
Thank you very much for thinking of us and putting your experise out there.
Much appreciated!
-- Major Dude
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