The holy bike that went coco..

My sweet old machine has served me well for at least a year. Now destiny's faith went another direction. The rear tire has been behaving a bit odd now and then for the last month. It's nothing new, so I guess I should have been more prepared. Anyways, today when I was doing the daily trip from work and home, the chain fell off. My hands got dirty, but it didn't care, I fixed it. Just as I had driven my course for a couple of hundred meters, it happened again. Once again I jumped off, fixed it on spot. This time it was a bit more tricky, the chain was stuck in the centre of the wheel, the way it usually happens with old bikes. Anyways, fixed it, back on track. On the next hill it happened again. I was frustrated and sick of fixing it, it must really be something else, I thought. I was probably a bit uncautious, stressed on getting home. Suddenly, the chain splitted. Damn, damn, double damn! I was angry as I "peddled" my way home. As soon as I hooked up with my beloved fiancé, I went on about how important it was to get it fixed. I had a plan, 500 SEK, and this was going to be alright. The first step was to clean the wheel, which like I said had been sounding strage. So I unattached the rear tire, and went up to my apartment with it. Weee, into the shower, where I stood and just let that hot water drain off myself and my tire. It was fabolous; something between disgusting and faschinating, really. Seeing all those [some of them perhaps 40 year old] layers of bike oil wear off. I added some washing-up liquid, aswell as So we hurried down to the local bicycle shop, asking for the price of a new chain plus the labour. First of all he seemed like he didn't know whether to laugh or cry about me, cleaning off bike-oil using H2O, 'cuz that is obviously not the way you're supposed to do it. Actually, "I could not possible have done anything more wrong", he replied, hrhrhr. When he had looked on the bike, he established that the "spike wheel" (<-- lame attempt to translate; without having a dictionary as I'm "blogging offline") was really worn, which had caused it to have sharp edges (actually, quite like little spikes), which would cut a new chain in pieces. "If I was really unlucky, it could brake apart just as I crossed the street" (after the fix). Hmm, I was feeling emptiness. My bicycle is a big part of my life, how would I manage this tragedy? He must have seen the sad look in my eyes, 'cuz he suddenly offered me a new chain lock, and said "If you fix this old chain, which probably has 'grew into' that spike wheel, making it hold on well", you could have just a few more good years with the machine. Well, actually, that time perspective (those "years") was hopefull-thinking, he didn't really say it ;) Anyways, I was glad to get a chain lock (free of charge, just like he wanted me off his store with my lame ol' machinery). So, me and my beloved one walked back home. Then what? Well, I took the broken chain up, first I cleaned it with "YES" washing-up liquid, then I added lots of fresh bike-oil. So, time for some mechanical engeneering ;) I went outside, and believe it or not, but everything went smooth as ice. I got the new chain-lock to snatch into place, without even reading a manual. Oboy, you must think I'm a total fool. Well, let me put it like this.. I'm better at building i386/AMD computers sets than working with the adjustable spanner. Anyways, I made this go well, all the way.. weeee! So, now the bike isn't just running again, it sounds smooth as ice. Oh my god, I really need to get some photos to show you this piece of sweet sherry machine. I just need to get it washed first, so It'll be ready for some model inc! :) Gosh, my English in this blog must really be a laughing matter.. Especially this time, since I'm typing it offline in a simple notepad session, I can't even use Google/online dictionaries, trying to avoid worst cases of gramar/spelling faults. Anyways, it's said that a great laugh extends life. So, now go have a pleasent weekend! Enjoy life! :-)