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Well, I didn't actually crash my 10-year reunion, but I did crash my bike and I did go to my reunion.
I got up early for a ride to beat the heat. I had decided the night before that I was going to head over to Saguaro Park East, which is a beautiful ride that I have done many times. Including to and from the park and the loop inside the park, the ride is about 47 miles long.
On my way out the park yesterday, I met a two guys who were visiting their family from Virginia. They asked me for directions and I figured out they were also heading to the park. I offered to ride with them and get them into the park because I have a pass; otherwise it is $5 per bike to get in. They were very nice and it was good to have some company on the way out there.
When we got to the park, I warned them about the steep first hill with a hard right turn. I said, "It'll get you if you are going too fast." And of course I went too fast. On the way down the hill I kept trying to slow myself, but the rear wheel kept locking up. It became clear that I was going to go down because I wasn't going to make the turn.
I happened pretty fast and I don't remember everything that happened, but I do know I was going pretty fast and then I came to abrupt stop. I couldn't get up fast enough to hide the crash from the people I had just warned about the hill.
They stopped and asked if I was OK and I said I was fine, mostly just embarrassed. As it turned out though, both the bike and I were a little beat up. I ended up with road rash from my shoulder to my wrist as well as a big lump and bruise on my hip.
The first thing I noticed about the bike was that the tire was leaking air. So I pulled it off and began changing it in the desert. Once I got it back on I started to ride away and I noticed the front wheel was bent. When I hit the breaks to slow down to look at it, I heard a grinding noise coming from the back brakes. I took a look at the back wheel and noticed it too was bent a little and the grinding noise was coming from a large gash in the wheel. I checked the spokes and none of them were broken and there wasn't much I could do, so I kept rode on with the intent to hit a bike shop on the way back. Then I noticed the chain was making a clunking noise in certain gears. So I started watching the chain and chain rings and realized the front chain ring was bent too. At this point I am about halfway though the one way loop, so I just have to keep going and try to limp to the bike shop with only 3 or 4 working gears, wobbly wheels and a bloody arm.
I was defeated and I was sure it was going to cost me a fortune.
Luckily though, I stopped into Pima Street Bicycles because they were on my way home and my friend Jay said the owner Phil was a great guy. I told Phil the story and he immediately put the bike up on a stand and got to work. He said, "You really did a number on this thing." He started working on the wheels trying to straighten them a little, which he called a "band-aid." Then the took a mallet to the chain ring and bent it back. He also sanded out the gouge to make the braking surface smooth again.
He suggested I try to find some new wheels on craiglist or something because these were not in the greatest shape, but when I told him I was going to convert it to my commuter bike he said I should just leave them be until they bend again. I was impressed he wasn't trying to sell me anything and when I asked how much I owed him for the work he said something to the effect of, You are having a bad day and maybe this will help make it a little better. I couldn't believe it. I went in expecting I was out several hundred dollars and it ended up costing me nothing. He has gained a new patron for his shop to be sure.
It was adventure, but mostly I am just annoyed with myself for not listening to my own advice and falling in the first place.
Later on in the day we headed up to my 10-year reunion, road rash and all. It was interesting to see everyone. Some had changed, some had not, which I suppose how all reunions are. I can say this though, I was really happy to be able to tell people healthy, happy, gainfully employed and thin. I think I was much more at ease because I wasn't self conscious about my weight. I could actually enjoy myself and relax. I am really glad I went.
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