Derailleurs bending left and right

[Goldstar78i]

The first one: Just riding along on my Kona Cowan, stick gets tossed up into the back wheel. LX bent. Wheel gets wobbled.

Second one, next day >:(. My new 2001 Kona Stinky with lots of cool stuff on 'er, XT derail. Little midget stick of about 5 inches long jumps up and jams into the derailleur. Bent XT!

Is this an act of god? I haven't bent a derailleur since I got the Cowan ( 1 year ago) and now I'm bending derailleurs every single day.

Anything to do other than go singlespeed, at least with the Cowan?

[off piste]

I had a season like that a few years ago. 3 rear derailleurs in the space of 2 months, and two totally trashed rear wheels, all due to sticks being kicked up into the works. I almost gave up mountain biking. Matter of fact, one of the times I was about 7 miles out on the rail trail from Depot Road in Auburn. I threw my Voodoo hardtail into the woods and walked back to the truck. I was gonna leave it there and quit the sport, but cooled off from the walk back. My helmet is still there somewhere, I never could find that.

[Goldstar78i]

Oh yeah, not to change the subject or nothing, but I made it to Bachelor street on Wednesday. Some real nice riding there. If you wanna ride there again some time Tele_Mark I would gladly.

It was my first ride on the Stinky there and it was not easy going up. I'm used to standing up all the time on a hardtail, but the Stinky is 41 pounds and plush as heck. Half of my power went to bobbing the shock.

[off piste]

I'd be glad to ride with you there, but a caveat -- Batchelor was for me personally the most simultaneously technical and strenuous riding I've done so far. I could barely keep up with a guy my age that's been riding there for 5 years. If I try to follow a 17 year old, you might get pretty miffed at the 20 minute waits at the junctions, let alone having to back track to find me and re-start my heart.

To put it back on subject -- during my ride, I got wacked by one of the rocky switchbacks there and broke a rear spoke.

[Goldstar78i]

On my new Stinky I got a 24" in back and a 26" in front. The rear wheel had a NASTY encounter with the edge of a rock but it didn't even come out of true.

For me that ride wasn't quite pushing me to my limit physically, if it hadn't have been I was on a new bike that weighs 41 pounds I wouldn't really have noticed it. I was dripping sweat like crazy cause it was 92 degrees.

Technically its not too hard there, basically about the technicality I am used to. The Metacomet in Penwood and Tariffville, now there is some cruel riding.

[off piste]

Note to self -- If you ride with Goldstar, make sure to include the portable defibrilator in the "Epic" Camelbak HAWG, bringing its total weight to 30+ pounds, and insuring said jump starter's use.

[Wheeldog]

Not to worry, Tele_Mark. Riding with goldstar78i is not hazardous to your health, just to your pride. ;D Being 38 years old I have to use my aged wisdom to come up with ways to slow him down, like tossing the well-placed twig into his drivetrain. (Just kidding, I was actually ahead of him on the trail yesterday when his second incident took place).

Seriously though, you should check out the M&M ride sometime. Goldstar is a good ride leader and it is a fun ride. (That initial loooong climb is a real character-builder ;))

[CsharpDev]

Note to self -- If you ride with Goldstar, make sure to include the portable defibrilator in the "Epic" Camelbak HAWG, bringing its total weight to 30+ pounds, and insuring said jump starter's use.


Well I've been pondering the idea of getting CPR w/ O2 and AED certification... if I ever get around to it I'll ride sweep if you carry the O2 tank and AED...

[hammerhead]

Note to self -- If you ride with Goldstar, make sure to include the portable defibrilator in the "Epic" Camelbak HAWG, bringing its total weight to 30+ pounds, and insuring said jump starter's use.


Well I've been pondering the idea of getting CPR w/ O2 and AED certification... if I ever get around to it I'll ride sweep if you carry the O2 tank and AED...


Always wondered how much alteration it would take to pressurize a frame (Top Tube & Down Tube) for a rolling O2 tank, and also how much pressure you could get in, before you burst it.

Goldstar, you still doing your weekly weekend M&M rides? Sometime my 16yr old kid and I would like to check out that stretch since we're only about a half hr up 91 from there...
H.

[Goldstar78i]

Yeah I'm still doing the M&M ride, depending on if people want to ;D Some weeks I don't because no one lets me know that they want to go.

If you decide to come, this ride has a lot of intense climbing right at the start. I dunno about this weekend as my Cowan is in the shop getting a new derailleur, and my Stinky is awaiting a new hanger and derailleur!

[slapheadmofo]

What part of the deraillers is getting bent? I'm surprised you can't just beat one of them back into workable shape, along with the hanger, enough to get you rolling until your shop finally comes thru with a new one. Kinda surprising they don't have any in stock.

[off piste]

Not to worry, Tele_Mark. Riding with goldstar78i is not hazardous to your health, just to your pride. ;D Being 38 years old I have to use my aged wisdom to come up with ways to slow him down, like tossing the well-placed twig into his drivetrain. (Just kidding, I was actually ahead of him on the trail yesterday when his second incident took place).

Seriously though, you should check out the M&M ride sometime. Goldstar is a good ride leader and it is a fun ride. (That initial loooong climb is a real character-builder ;))




No, the pride wouldn't be hurt -- I expect to be gasping for breath trying to keep up with a 17 year old. However, I get a reality check whenever I ride with the Slaphead crew, who are close to my age and I still can't keep up on the XC stuff, let alone the freeride stuff! Of course, now I'm gonna find out Dennis is older than I am! :-\

Yeah, I'd like to do that ride this season, perhaps the July 4th week, which I have off?

Mark

[slapheadmofo]

Creeping on on 38 last I checked; still get crushed by guys older and younger both up the hills and down 'em on a regular basis :)

[Goldstar78i]

I'll do a Batch ride whenever my parents will drive, the license is pending ;). M&M ride whenever, I can just hike a bike up the mountain and start from there, AKA the ride I do every day.

(shop promotion) Gravity Warehouse had no hangers, the LBS I'm talkin about. The owner of the shop looked through his basement for one and got one just for me. Free (/shop promotion)



My drivetrain is still out of wack even with a new hanger, parts of derailleur bent.

Worse problem: my SuperT is leaking, rebuild time. Sure, I can blow hundreds out the window every week.