Bliss turned chaotic! So, after taking a 26" mtb rear wheel home via car a few days before xmas it was time to take it back all fixed up to my co-worker. Why not lash it vertically onto my Blackburn and go I thought? Lashed it on Sunday, took it for a test ride and all was great. Had to combine all my stuff, laptop, clothes, office work, lunch into on panier. I bit scrunched but it all fit. Of and running about 5:55 this am. Dark! after about 5 miles I am greated by a bang, snap, whirr, burning rubber and total chaos in back. I pointed her to the curbe and hoped I could get it stopped before any worse sounds occured. I could smell the burned rubber which is never a good sign!

Well, seems my heel just tapped the panier causing it to somehow get caught from the rear by the spokes which than in a nano second sucked whole panier, laptop and all between spokes and a badly bent Blackburn! UGH! Nothing to do with my lashed wheel!! Pulled the mess out to find my baggie of chicken was now nicely ground with my Blackberry. YICK!

Not much to do but see if I could put the bag back on the outside and ride on being pitch black. Got to office to find my LCD display on my laptop is toast. Blackberry salvageable. Panier is very good condition! Nothing like old quality stuff made here in the USA! But the wheel, way out of true, rack bent to an ugly shape. SHOOT!

But, on the very last mile I see a Vetta wind trainer, an old one like I used to have until the wifey gave to goodwill. God know I can't pile much more on this thing! Got to office, called up stairs from my Chicken phone and said come get me. The darn thing is complete. Good news, the better half wants to train indoors and mentioned she wished she had not given it away!

Guess it will be 60 more days of uneventful after today! The co-worker liked my job on his wheel, now time to focus on mine.

Lesson, road bikes are not cargo machines as heels will hit over stuffed paniers! Guess I need to build a cargo commuter Anyone had luck bending Blackburns back to shape? I have had poor success in the past.