No wonder that felt like hard work!

[tantrumbean]

Cycled into work, it's about 3.5 miles, very slightly uphill and with lots of peds, dogs, gates and glass - still, I usually manage an average of about 12mph. Today, it felt like terribly hard work, but I couldn't work out what the problem was, tyres fully pumped up, bike not making any weird noises, nothing...so I just put it down to one of those days where it just feels like effort. Get to work, worn out,sweating like hell and with an average of 10.6mph only to realise that that little metal stick thing on my v-brakes that clips behind the brake arm and keeps the brakes in position had somehow come loose at the rear (think I caught it when wriggling bike out of front door). So I ended up cycling the whole way with the back brake on!!!! Can't believe I didn't even realise!!!!!

Must be excellent fitness training tho...maybe I should do a video of it and sell it...

[sundial]

Lol! I raced once with the rear brake clinging to the rim.

[jobob]

Ow!! Was it way easier riding home, I hope?

[tantrumbean]

Lol, yes, considerably!

[SJCzar]

My first commute of the year I did the same thing. I was so disappointed with myself on the ride in to work thinking that I had gotten so out of shape over the winter. As soon as I wheeled my bike into the office I realized the problem. Felt like quite an idiot at that point as I had just finished a 6 week bike mechanic's class.

[Biciclista]

happened to me once too. Brand new bike, thrilled to ride it, working as hard as I could. When we got to the first potty stop (10miles) i was so utterly exhausted that I threw myself onto the grass. My husband was really disgusted because he thought the new bike would speed me up and it was having the opposite effect AND i was already complaining about being tired!
dumb brake pads!