My bike is doing something weird.

[Antaresia]

ARGH
guess I should have gotten that looked at. I hate to be a hypochondriac about my bike but I guess that was serious.

Today while biking to work I lost all ability to pedal backwards. If the pedals weren't being moved forward, the chain would go slack. Even coasting was problematic, so here I am peddling and breaking at the same time for most of the way to work, stopping every once in a while to put the chain back on ;_;

Everything looks okay to me so I have no idea what's wrong. I'm calling my LBS to see if my new bike is ready or if they can fix this really quick at the end of the day.

Drat.
I had other plans for tonight, too.

*edit
oh, and it is an older bike. Like, 30 years old. And no dork-disc.

[Eden]

Do get it looked into - it really sounds like the hub is going. If you break some of the prawls when riding it can cause you to crash (my husband went over the handlebars once because of this - it causes the pedals to slip suddenly - he was standing up a small incline and over he went)

[laura*]

oh, and it is an older bike. Like, 30 years old.

Then it almost certainly has a freewheel (not a cassette). At the bike co-op, we end up with lots of stiffly turning 30 year old freewheels. The grease dries out and turns to paste. However, this usually happens to components that haven't been ridden in years. They can be freed up by dribbling in some oil.

You could try oiling your freewheel (without even taking anything apart): Lay your bike down on its left side (so the gears are up). Dribble some oil onto the "side" of the freewheel just within the smallest cog (gear). One part of the freewheel turns with the gears, and another turns with the entire wheel. You want to apply oil at the tiny gap between those parts. For the oil, you can probably use chain lube (unless you use a wax type lube).

Because your problem developed on an actively ridden bike, I'm suspecting a different type of failure. Perhaps, as Eden wrote, the pawls are breaking. Maybe some sand got in there. Possibly the bearings have failed.

[Antaresia]

Then it almost certainly has a freewheel (not a cassette).

Ah, I thought they were the same thing.

Anyway, I think you have the right idea. Turns out my luck is so bizarre, nothing bad can happen to me without something good too.

So, I work in a print shop. Our main printer is having some problems, a tech is called. When he gets here, he asks "so, how are you today?" and my brain just breaks because this is a guy who works on printers that weigh more than most SUV's, with his bag of tools, and did I mention he's also a huge bike nerd and we always chat about bikes when he's here? I tell him how I'm doing and I don't have to ask, the first thing he says is "oh, let me take a look at it".

Basically he took of the tire and lubed up the free wheel; my bike now works. He told me it's just a band-aid, and I really need to get it taken apart and re-greased. Also my breaks need lubing. So, at least I can make it home. I called the bike shop and my bike will be ready either today or tomorrow.

Oh, and apparently, the technician's company charges $250 an hour for the work he does (on printers). Most expensive bike repair that 30 year old mixte will ever see, lol.