This morning I finally decide to take a look at Fluffy and see if I can figure out what caused the sudden rubbing on my ride on Sunday. Yeah, I haven't felt like riding the last two days. I've been tired. November is already a banner month for me - most miles ever in a month. Thanks to my friends who kept me busy on weekends with rides. So I've been a slug and driving to work. But today I'm ready to get back on the bike. Even if all I do is commute. Parent teacher conferences start today. I need the time outside.

The location of the rubbing is certainly between the fender and the tire, right under the brakes. But I can't see anything that could be causing it. There's plenty of clearance on both sides. But there is a rubbing. I can hear it and feel it as I turn the pedals. It's then it hits me. The rubbing is only on a certain part of the tire. I check the spokes - no firmly attached. But what's this? MUD! A big wad of mud, totally stuck to the tire. It's the spot. My ride was cut short because of mud! So I clean the mud of. It smelled like mud, not something else. And the case of the mysterious rubbing is solved.



V.