Bikers, Cranks And Derailleurs, Oh My

Clearly, it’s high training season - over 70 people showed up for the Malaga Cove training ride on Sunday! The ride turned into a masterpiece of improvisation: a footrace in Santa Monica meant a route change from the start; we had to make our way through the parade of several thousand motorbikes in support of a Pediatric brain cancer foundation in Redondo Beach; and dealt with several flats and mechanical failures. Happily, everybody made it back to Helens safe and sound, and at a good pace: all that training is clearly paying off!

Two of the mechanical failures were quite spectacular, but both riders were fine - Brendan’s crank fell off, and Bud’ derailleur snapped so forcefully that it bent back into his wheel and cut clean through his frame, severing the seat stay. Thank goodness we were going up a hill at a time, so Bud wasn’t injured and we hope he will be able to get a replacement frame soon.

All the pictures from the ride are here: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/4868540_3NsD6#290155839_uUFev