Aug. 23, 2016

Mechanics

So, I have a newspaper route, which is a job I like. Currently I ride my bike to deliver, and somehow my bike chain seems to magically come off the lowest gear and the gear changer was altered so that the lowest gear rattled against the changer unless I put it into the second chain ring. Now, this only happens when I'm going uphill and have to change down a gear. This could not have happened unless someone tampered with it. I keep my bike inside my home at all times. I never once knocked it off the chain ring riding nor would I have left it off it that were to have happened.

I reported this to the police, but the policeman didn't believe me and thought I was just some stupid girl who doesn't even know the basics of bike mechanics. I know at least that much of what I've explained and have been riding my bike long enough to know something was different. Maybe that person will have a conscience and come forth in due time. Until then, peace be unto them. I took it into JoyRide Bikes and they put it on the stand and fixed it.

Why is the gear changer simply altered by loosening or tightening two screws. To me, that seems too risky. I really thought that part of the bike would have been made differently. I say this only because screws can come loose, and to me that's a danger. I'll have to take a look at my road bike and determine if it's built the same way.

I'm going to start recording my athletic training once again like I did back in 2011. I told a lady today that I wanted to become a professional athlete, and she asked if I had a blog. I shyly told her that I did, knowing that none of it yet has been at all about my goal. For some reason, people don't really take me seriously when I tell them my goal, so I've let them decide for me whether or not to be 100% devoted.

This time is different. I will continue training to become a more healthy individual, but record my efforts here. I know that when I did this, I was able to accomplish my first mountain biking triathlon in 2011. I watched a YouTube video of the Rio mountain biking lap, which was pretty scary in a few spots. There's a lot to work towards mastering this goal. First comes first, making sure my bike stays out of the hands of people who think they can mess with it. :)