Bicycle Mechanics - Worst day of my bike life!

I have this road bike that had some rear derailleur issues, so yesterday I thought I should fix it after work. But when I sat down, and put my hands on it, everything went wrong. So wrong the derrailleur got stuck in a very strange position with the chain all over it. Don't ask me how. Not having a chain extractor I was trying to fix it as it was.

I was hungry, tired, dripping sweat (greek weather), mosquitors landing on my back and neck (I was in my backyard) and I was lightheaded from hunger and frustration with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Worst day of my bike life, I wanted to throw the bike in the trashbin. Why you didn't stop and start the next day you're thinking. I don't know, propably because I didn't want to quit, or having to go through this nightmare one more time. :P

I am the only one having this experience?

Sometimes nothing goes right.

When I'm having one of those days, I try to recognise it quick enough to stop myself going too far backwards, and turn my mind to beer.

Happened to me yesterday too. Must be something with the planets aligning or some silly stuff. I rode from one end of the (small) city to the other 3 times looking for a seat post. "Why not measure it first?" I did. Looked like a 27 would make it. It didn't. Looked like a 26 should definitely make it. Nope. Third time I went 25.6 with a reeeeally thin shim just in case. Didn't need the shim but the post only goes in about 4 inches before it gets caught. I had to stand on the chainstay and then pull and twist to get it out. It's either time for sand paper or a bullet.

could be worse, at least it didnt lockup on you while riding and you fell off a cliff... now that would be a bad bike day :p

"It's either time for sand paper or a bullet." Or a cheap digital caliper. Or find a bike shop with a seat post sizing rod.

Caliper would have served no purpose. I got the right measurement at the top of the tube without it. The trouble was several inches below the clamp. And the bike is not in riding condition yet so getting it to the shop isn't terribly easy. Oh well. This too shall pass.

My chain derailed from my freewheel and locked up my rear wheel. Ruined a perfectly good $55 tire, that my girl friend bought me as a gift. :(

If that's the worst day of your life, you lead a charmed life, my friend.

If that's the worst day of your life, you lead a charmed life, my friend.

+1
If it's just your bike and not your body why are you concerned? Worst bike day I've had so far was when I woke up in an ambulance on the way to the ER. I surely wasn't worried about my bike then.

If that's the worst day of your life, you lead a charmed life, my friend.
another +1

Sounds like an average evening of tinkering with the bike ;) Usually happens to me the evening before a scheduled riding event.

+ one more. Again yesterday I went for a 20 mi road/dirt ride with on a road bike with cross tires. About 1/3 of the way back (down a dirt section called the incline) I flatted. No big deal I thought, I just install my spare tube; whoops I forgot to switch out the 26" tube I took for my last ride. That's okay I can patch it. I took out the tube which apparently was pinched under the tire as it had a 3" slice in it. I know I'll cut the slit part of the tube out and tie the ends together. The tires are a ***** to R&R but I did it, but it wouldn't inflate (turns out I pinched the tube with a tire lever). So I gave up and took a walk. A mile later I ran into a trail rebuilding team that drove me to the road where I finally got some bars on my cell phone and for only the second time I can remember was driven home by the wife.

Hungry + tired = very bad mojo

Better to first eat a nice lamb gyro and a cold beer and then proceed to work on the derailleur.

I now try to stop myself from working on something when I am tired too. I found out this summer I don't work on a bike when it is too hot, and I am sweating
into my eyes either.

could be worse, at least it didnt lockup on you while riding and you fell off a cliff... now that would be a bad bike day :p

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Cyclist-rescued-after-falling-off-cliff-3880886.php

+1 on food and beer. My 3 mo old son screams bloody murder if he doesn't get food right when he wants it. I'm only marginally more patient. Things go better when you're not hungry.

(1) buy a good chain breaker
(2) move your work stand inside
(3) think before you wrench - do things in a sensible sequence
(4) take a break once in a while
(5) go ride and forget about it - tomorrow will bring problems of its own

sip a little ouzo,it makes life better.

sip a little ouzo,it makes life better.

I prefer this beer (http://www.craft.gr/) :roflmao2: