The Long Walk Home...

[- Baz -]

Had to happen some time...

Friday night. Looking forward to gettting home after a hectic week. Gone about half a mile and had to cross a ped crossing (dismounted). Went to set off and - no forward motion, just a horrible expensive noise from the rear. A large, thin plastic bag is lodged in the jockey wheels. Not a decent M & S plastic bag mind you, but one of those really thin transparent jobbies. Spent an age trying to get the bloody thing disentangled. Sadly, to no avail. The remains of this thing weren't going to move. At all. To make matters worse, the locking force applied to the derailleur had buckled the jockey wheel cage. B*ll*cks. A lot of cursing The Gods and swearing under the breath went on (busy area - bottom of Oldham Road in Manchester if anyone knows it).

So, go back to work, get changed and bus it (which would mean leaving the bike there too) or walk the seven miles? Yes, you guessed. Shanks's pony.

So, plenty of time for musing, among which I wondered what's the furthest anyone's walked home pushing an ailing bike?

PS New derailleur ordered and will be fitted soonest, but it's the bus on Monday for me (

 

[al78]

Had to happen some time...

Friday night. Looking forward to gettting home after a hectic week. Gone about half a mile and had to cross a ped crossing (dismounted). Went to set off and - no forward motion, just a horrible expensive noise from the rear. A large, thin plastic bag is lodged in the jockey wheels. Not a decent M & S plastic bag mind you, but one of those really thin transparent jobbies. Spent an age trying to get the bloody thing disentangled. Sadly, to no avail. The remains of this thing weren't going to move. At all. To make matters worse, the locking force applied to the derailleur had buckled the jockey wheel cage. B*ll*cks. A lot of cursing The Gods and swearing under the breath went on (busy area - bottom of Oldham Road in Manchester if anyone knows it).

So, go back to work, get changed and bus it (which would mean leaving the bike there too) or walk the seven miles? Yes, you guessed. Shanks's pony.

So, plenty of time for musing, among which I wondered what's the furthest anyone's walked home pushing an ailing bike?

PS New derailleur ordered and will be fitted soonest, but it's the bus on Monday for me (

Would it have been possible to remove the rear mech, shorten the chain and wrap it around the chainring and one of the sprockets and treat it as a single speed? Yes you will have issues with chain tension and you may be restricted in how hard you can pedal without the chain skipping, but between soft pedalling and freewheeling down any descents you ought to make much better progress than walking.

 

[Pauluk]

I carry a chain splitter and a piece of spare chain. I would have split the chain and moved the derailleur out of the way and remake the chain shorter. I'm no expert and I don't know if this would work. You would have no rear gears but may get you home in an emergency if it works.

Anyone else know if this would work, for future reference.

 

[numbnuts]

One allen key and undo the jockey wheels job done, if necessary straighten cage with pair of pliers, but I bet you don't carry a tool kit with you, I do for that reason I hate walking

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

One allen key and undo the jockey wheels job done, if necessary straighten cage with pair of pliers, but I bet you don't carry a tool kit with you, I do for that reason I hate walking

I carry the same essentials in my saddle bag, commuting or long rides.
Multi-tool, folding pliers etc as well as the usual emergency stuff

 

[mr_hippo]

So, go back to work, get changed and bus it (which would mean leaving the bike there too) or walk the seven miles? Yes, you guessed. Shanks's pony.
(

Seven miles? You were lucky. Picture a nice hot day back in 63, few cars on the road and a 14 tear old, shy boy. I used to travell the 20 odd miles to Southpost from my home in Prescot. Coming back fromSouthport just past the Morris Dancers pub (if you are familiar with the area) and my back wheel loosened. - no problem I have a spanner in my bag but it was not there! I found out later that Dad borrowed it and forgot to put it back. Tried doing the nuts finger tight but this did not last long and was too shy to knock on a door and ask for a spanner so it was a long walk home

 

[potsy]

Would it have been possible to remove the rear mech, shorten the chain and wrap it around the chainring and one of the sprockets and treat it as a single speed? Yes you will have issues with chain tension and you may be restricted in how hard you can pedal without the chain skipping, but between soft pedalling and freewheeling down any descents you ought to make much better progress than walking.

I carry a chain splitter and a piece of spare chain. I would have split the chain and moved the derailleur out of the way and remake the chain shorter. I'm no expert and I don't know if this would work. You would have no rear gears but may get you home in an emergency if it works.

Anyone else know if this would work, for future reference.

Had to do this after an off broke the mech and hanger on a recent ride, 22+ miles single speed

 

[gambatte]

Not as far, but took my 8 year old out on friday for a spin round the local bridleways and fieldsides. Nice ride, although the last 1.1/2 miles I did running cross country with the bike beside me. Visit to the front wheel by the fairy.

 

[Crankarm]

Would it have been possible to remove the rear mech, shorten the chain and wrap it around the chainring and one of the sprockets and treat it as a single speed? Yes you will have issues with chain tension and you may be restricted in how hard you can pedal without the chain skipping, but between soft pedalling and freewheeling down any descents you ought to make much better progress than walking.

I can't see how you allowed a placcy bag to get so entwined in your bike's rear mech? As has been suggested, a multitool to dismantle the cage and remove said bag would have taken 10 mins max. Also carry disposable gloves to stop you getting chain lube of all over your hands which would then end up all over the handle bar tape and brake levers as you ride home.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I can't see how you allowed a placcy bag to get so entwined in your bike's rear mech? As has been suggested, a multitool to dismantle the cage and remove said bag would have taken 10 mins max. Also carry disposable gloves to stop you getting chain lube of all over your hands which would then end up all over the handle bar tape and brake levers as you ride home.

I've had this happen to me, many years ago on the outskirts of Lichfield at speed on a windy day, strong gust of wind blew a black bag into the back of the bike, by the time I got it stopped the bag was well tangled in the gears, I had to dismantle most of the back of the bike to remove it.

 

[Red Light]

One allen key and undo the jockey wheels job done, if necessary straighten cage with pair of pliers, but I bet you don't carry a tool kit with you, I do for that reason I hate walking

+1

 

[HovR]

I've walked back 4 miles before, and carry a more comprehensive toolkit since then. Getting fed up of carrying a pump around, so I'm soon going to get some CO2 cartridges that'll fit in my saddle pack.

 

[400bhp]

Had to do this after an off broke the mech and hanger on a recent ride, 22+ miles single speed

I'm glad you didn't start that sentence with " I "

 

[I like Skol]

I used to regularly ride my MTB through the river at Daisy Nook between Failsworth and Ashton and after one crossing had to stop due to jumpy gears. Upon closer examination I found the culprit to be a condom (presumably used?) wrapped around the cassette

 

[potsy]

I'm glad you didn't start that sentence with " I "

Ha ha, I'd still be walking home now