The Wedged Chain and other randomness
 

I was out riding this morning and it seemed that more pot holes, ruts, debris and hazards in general have spawned on the streets of Chicago over the past few days. I can avoid most of them, or at least maneuver in such a way to avoid the worst parts, but one hole came out of nowhere and I went right over the deepest part (clunk, clang) my chain was off. No problem, this has happened before. So I get off ready to do a quick 5 second fix and realize the chain is wedged, literally, into the small space between the BB and crank (can you visualize this?). It took me, and a really nice guy who wanted to help, about 15 minutes of pulling, leveraging and swearing to get the damn thing out. Has this happened to anyone before? Is there some other, more elegant, way to unwedge such a severely wedged chain?

Anyway, it seems I'm a magnet for random events lately. A few days ago a pigeon flew its dumb ass into my front wheel. Really, I'm not exaggerating. And last week I was riding and saw $20 on the street. Other things have happened to the point that now I'm expecting something to happen when I go out.

I've had that happen, but not for a while. Since I switched to a track frame, the one time the chain came off, it wrapped around the rear cog. If I remember right, turning the cranks while you're pulling on the chain helps.

Watch your chain tension!!!!

The tension was not exactly ideal, but it was not that bad. That is one thing that I'm really anal about and never let get too loose or really loose at all. I think the fact it popped off was due to a number of factors; the tension I suppose, the actual ditch itself and where my weight was at the point I came into contact with the hole. I really think it was a bit of a freak thing that happened (how it got wedged that is). Sort of like my friend who's spindle snapped, on his track bike, a couple of months ago and sent him flying over his bars. Not the sort of thing that happens every day.

not to be a dink, but, Salome, if the chain tension isnt THAT BAD, then your chain will NOT fall off while hitting potholes.

be careful out there. Market Days on North Halsted makes for reckless northsider drivers.

I've had that happen to me on my road bike. I think it happens bc as you are pedaling and the chain comes off you force the chain into that little space there, it sucks. Actually I had it happen once in a cyclocross race. The trick is not to force it but to rock the cranks back and forth and find the spot that it just fits out of, I know it's a pain in the ass and forcing and pulling seems like the thing to do.

point (as to loose chain) well taken. :)

and yes, pulling did seem like the thing to do. Initially I had to pull a little because the crank would not budge. But then I tried to use a little more finess and not as much brutality.

Brutality + Bike Parts = Headache.

Try to be gentle. I don't always. I think that's why I break stuff. And there aint much to break on my bike.

I'm totally with you on that one. I felt really wrong pulling on the chain. I felt like my bike was wincing in pain and if it could speak it would say something like, 'we've gone through so much together. Why are you doing this to me? Why...??'.

I often think I'm more gentle with my bikes than my significant other who, despite my efforts, is still bikeless. Although he's beginning to see the light.

bleh.... possesions are there to be used. someone will always be making another and i will probably always be able to buy another [without meaning to sound like a spoilt member of the bourgeoisie]

you should see the way i 'use' my cameras.

fsnl
sparky

you couldnt have wrapped part of the chain around the chainring and used a good pedal stroke to free the chain??? Its worked for me in the past!

Well thats probably true in somecases but it sounds like it was really stuck, so I don't see anything bad about giving it a little more force... was the chain damaged?

It happened to me about an hour ago. It locked my rear wheel and burnt the last bit of life out of my Michelin Pro Race tire. I wanted to get rid of that old thing anyway. Also farked my chain but I can splice in a bit of the leftovers from when I bought it. Lasagna then off to the bike shop for Indestructo tires. WEEEEE!

That's happened to me, not when riding but once when I was cleaning the bike. It was tough to get out but a little back and forth worked. Patience is key.

I don't think the tension could have been that bad if you could ride - it would have slipped off the chainring much earlier - like you said, a combination of things. The truth is stranger than fiction, as they say.