Round and Round and Round it Goes and Then it Stops

Round and Round and Round it Goes and Then it Stops

Friday 14^th June, 2019

Day 35

Location: Crawfordville to Indianapolis, IN

Distance: 55 miles.

Temp: 46 - 77 F sunny

Dew point:  44 F

    Winds:  14 mph, crosswind to head wind

Cumulative climbing distance:  1,316 ft

Cumulative descending distance:  1,341 ft

 

Round and Round and Round it Goes and Then it Stops.  Today we had our first mechanical problem.  I broke a spoke on my rear wheel at mile 35 and, in the process of inspecting the wheel, we found 7 cracks in the aluminum alloy wheel.  Likely why the spoke broke due to excess stress. 

 

I then carefully biked the remaining 30 miles to our hotel where we developed a repair plan.  First and foremost, everyone agreed that I could not continue biking with that wheel and risk complete failure “in the middle of nowhere”. Together with our 2 bike mechanics, my local bike shop, Benidorm Bikes, in Canton, Ct, and a local bike shop in Indianapolis, we developed a multi-pronged solution.  Benidorm Bikes was able to replace the wheel under warranty with Specialized, the bike manufacturer, but they would have to furnish the replacement wheel rather than a Specialized dealer in Indianapolis.  While that is a long term solution, it does not solve the immediate problem that I need a new wheel today.  Rick, our senior bike mechanic, knew a CrossRoads rider from several years ago that currently works in a local bike shop.  They discussed my situation and with some searching their stockroom located a wheel with minor cosmetic damages, that we could immediately purchase at a depth discount.  Tonight the 2 mechanics are transferring the cluster gears and hydraulic brake components to the new wheel and completing the install so that I am ready to depart by 7:00 AM tomorrow morning.  Simultaneously Benidorm is having the replacement Specialized wheel shipped to a bike shop in Erie, PA, which is our next rest day.

 

 

Many thanks to our mechanics Rick and Peyton for all their quick thinking and effort to ensure that I will have a on-time start tomorrow morning.

And thanks to Pete at Benidorm Bikes to his assistance with the warranty replacement and offer to ship the wheel to one our future hotel, if I needed it during the bike trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is Flag Day and we have observed American flags on display in all central US small towns.

 

 

Typical morning SAG wagon stop.

 

 

 Another day of huge farm fields, most either yet to planted or just planted.  Corn the likely crop.  Again corps are weeks behind schedule.

 Today we biked to Indianapolis, a bike friendly city according to the city magazine.

 

 

 

We entered the city from the southwest on a urban bike trail along the White River.

 

 

 

Indianapolis, a city with a population of 2.1 million, is the largest city we have visited since departing LA and will visit until arriving in Boston.  It is the capital of Indiana and its largest city.

 

 

 Our hotel is on the Canal Walk, a downtown revitalization project completed in the 1990's, much of it was built on a former canal.  Canal view from our hotel room window.

 

 

 

 

 

\
 

 Dinner was on our own today and, guess what, we found an Italian restaurant for Judi and great carbs.

 

Tom, our logistics manager, does not rides bikes but loved this other 2-wheeled machine.  E-scooters are everywhere in Indianapolis.