...and we'll make it home.

So I've been having some difficulty removing my seat from the Volae the last couple of days.

I commute with the Volae and am thrilled that I can just pop off the seat at work and bring it inside with me. Volae utilizes a pair of Quick Release skewers to accomodate this neat feature.

The nut on the upper skewer has been kinda stiff so I put a dab of grease on it yesterday and rode off to work. It didn't help much, the nut was very difficult to loosen after opening the skewer lever. Then, when I put the seat back onto the bike for my pre-dawn ride home this morning I heard a distinct snap when I tightened the skewer lever. The seat and stays seemed reletively secure even though the skewer was far from tight, so I proceded to very slowly and gently ride the five miles to my home all the while half expecting to be suddenly dropped down onto the frame with the stays poking my back.

I made it home just fine and long-story-short discovered that I had stripped either the skewer rod or skewer nut. I must have done something incorrectly, but I'm not sure what it was. I believe these are steel skewers. I've been commuting with this set-up for a couple of years so they've seen a lot of opening and closing action, plus I always back-off the skewer nut when removing the seat to provide ample space for dropping the seat back into place.

Anyway I have e-mailed my order for a couple of replacement 185mm skewers (one will be a spare) for the top seat anchor and a spare lower skewer. I measured the chain for wear and decided to replace that also since the bike is laid-up for a spell. This will be a good opportunity to clean, adjust and polish the whole bike. When I get it back on the road I don't want to stop!

The Hostel Shoppe has already filled my order and contacted Fedex, now I just have to wait. (I sure am glad I have more than one bike )