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Results 1 to 13 of 13
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    90

    The Embarrassement....

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    This week has been one THOSE weeks.

    Last Sunday, my group of friends wanted to ride, but it was spotty in terms of weather. I was already at my friend's house where we take off and I told her that we could go have breakfast together and then see if the weather clears up. I dropped my bike inside her house because I didn't feel comfortable leaving the bike on my rack because it's not lockable.

    No problem. She took the bike, took the front tire off, we noted that it was a little hard to take off because the tire part of the wheel barely fit through the brakes, even though we had opened it. But, we got it off and that was that. We needed to take the tire off because she has dogs and she didn't want the dogs to brush against the bike and knock it over. She does this with her bike all the time if she's going to ride it again soon (otherwise she hangs it up, away from the dogs).

    We had breakfast, then decided that maybe later that afternoon we could ride. I went home to work and it turned out that our weather never cleared up, so by 5ish, I drove over to pick up the bike and take it home with me.

    She took the bike, put the tire back on it and I took the bike from her. She told me that she couldn't close the brake thingy and that I should probably take back to our LBS because they need to adjust it. The bike is new, that made sense.

    Two days later, I head over to the LBS and I take my bike and I explain my problem to them and the guy looks down and says, "But that's not the original tire."



    I call my friend, but she's at work and I can't get in her house. He was smiling and I kept saying I was an idiot that I didn't notice it had the wrong tire (her tire is thicker than mine original). He went to the floor and took the tire off the model and put it on my bike to verify the brakes work fine and can close. Of course, with the right tire on the bike, the brakes were perfect and could close.

    I am such an idiot.

    He said no, I wasn't an idiot, I was just a newbie. It happens.

    I don't know what happened. I don't know why my friend didn't notice it was her tire she was putting on, rather than mine, I don't know why we didn't notice the day it happened or even any other day since my bike sits in my living room and I walk by it every day a million times a day.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    perpetual traveler
    Posts
    1,267
    Funny story!

    I can easily see me doing the same thing. Two of our bikes have fat tires. I always have problems dealing with the brakes when taking the wheels on and off, so much so that I go way out of my way to avoid the chore.
    Trek Madone 4.7 WSD
    Cannondale Quick4
    1969 Schwinn Collegiate, original owner
    Terry Classic


    Richard Feynman: “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.”

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    Quote Originally Posted by goldfinch View Post
    Funny story!

    I can easily see me doing the same thing. Two of our bikes have fat tires. I always have problems dealing with the brakes when taking the wheels on and off, so much so that I go way out of my way to avoid the chore.
    It is understandable how this happened, and I've the same problem with my Gunnar. I actually have to let the air out of my tires to take the wheel off - but I LOVE those tires and just deal with it. There isn't much clearance between my brakes and rims though and it is especially difficult to get the rear brakes reattached. My brake levers are adjusted for my little short fingers which means there just isn't much room to work with.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Tucson, AZ
    Posts
    4,632
    Sounds like something I would do.
    I have to let air out of my tires to take the wheel off, and even then there's relatively little clearance.
    At least I don't leave slime trails.
    http://wholecog.wordpress.com/

    2009 Giant Avail 3 |Specialized Jett 143

    2013 Charge Filter Apex| Specialized Jett 143
    1996(?) Giant Iguana 630|Specialized Riva


    Saving for the next one...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Beautiful NW or Left Coast
    Posts
    5,619
    i have a friend who has been riding for years who didn't get to do a ride because she brought the wrong wheel. happens to the best of us. really. quit beating yourself up.
    I like Bikes - Mimi
    Watercolor Blog

    Davidson Custom Bike - Cavaletta
    Dahon 2009 Sport - Luna
    Old Raleigh Mixte - Mitzi

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Wilts, UK
    Posts
    903
    I think that your friend should have noticed that she was putting the wrong wheel back on.... it was hers, after all! No need for you to be embarassed. Sorry that you didn't get your ride.
    Dawes Cambridge Mixte, Specialized Hardrock, Specialized Vita.

    mixedbabygreens My blog, which really isn't all about the bike.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    3,176
    Funny story. I hope it gets funnier for you over time.

    Not cycling related, but years ago, my cousin and I bought a Christmas tree, tied it securely to the top of the car--and then realized that we'd tied ourselves and our two toddlers OUT of the car.
    Each day is a gift, that's why it is called the present.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    90
    Thanks.

    I was able to get three rides in this week because of Thanksgiving and I can't help but LOVE THIS SPORT.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Wilts, UK
    Posts
    903
    Quote Originally Posted by malkin View Post
    Funny story. I hope it gets funnier for you over time.

    Not cycling related, but years ago, my cousin and I bought a Christmas tree, tied it securely to the top of the car--and then realized that we'd tied ourselves and our two toddlers OUT of the car.
    I love this!
    Dawes Cambridge Mixte, Specialized Hardrock, Specialized Vita.

    mixedbabygreens My blog, which really isn't all about the bike.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    175
    Ever left the whole front wheel at HOME when you load your bike on the roof rack and discover this fact at the trailhead?...you not only don't get to ride, but if you are carpooling, you have to wait around for everyone else who gets to ride!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    329
    Quote Originally Posted by Gypsy View Post
    This week has been one THOSE weeks.

    Last Sunday, my group of friends wanted to ride, but it was spotty in terms of weather. I was already at my friend's house where we take off and I told her that we could go have breakfast together and then see if the weather clears up. I dropped my bike inside her house because I didn't feel comfortable leaving the bike on my rack because it's not lockable.

    No problem. She took the bike, took the front tire off, we noted that it was a little hard to take off because the tire part of the wheel barely fit through the brakes, even though we had opened it. But, we got it off and that was that. We needed to take the tire off because she has dogs and she didn't want the dogs to brush against the bike and knock it over. She does this with her bike all the time if she's going to ride it again soon (otherwise she hangs it up, away from the dogs).

    We had breakfast, then decided that maybe later that afternoon we could ride. I went home to work and it turned out that our weather never cleared up, so by 5ish, I drove over to pick up the bike and take it home with me.

    She took the bike, put the tire back on it and I took the bike from her. She told me that she couldn't close the brake thingy and that I should probably take back to our LBS because they need to adjust it. The bike is new, that made sense.

    Two days later, I head over to the LBS and I take my bike and I explain my problem to them and the guy looks down and says, "But that's not the original tire."



    I call my friend, but she's at work and I can't get in her house. He was smiling and I kept saying I was an idiot that I didn't notice it had the wrong tire (her tire is thicker than mine original). He went to the floor and took the tire off the model and put it on my bike to verify the brakes work fine and can close. Of course, with the right tire on the bike, the brakes were perfect and could close.

    I am such an idiot.

    He said no, I wasn't an idiot, I was just a newbie. It happens.

    I don't know what happened. I don't know why my friend didn't notice it was her tire she was putting on, rather than mine, I don't know why we didn't notice the day it happened or even any other day since my bike sits in my living room and I walk by it every day a million times a day.
    we have all done similar!!!! it will be good to look back and laugh years from now(:

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    329
    awesome story!!! (about the tre) will channel next time I lock us out of the house (:

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    270
    Haha, that reminds me of a way more stupid thing I did some months ago. I wanted to go to another town, visit my friends and ride together. I took the train and locked my bike in the corridor to some kind of handle. What was my surprise when I arrived at the station to find that I'd forgotten my keys I was lucky because it was the last station and I called my friends to take something to cut the lock with. They brought a tool and cut the chain. I AM blonde

 

 

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