First ride of the season for us blokes in Southern Ontario.
It's been pissing rain and blowing snow for so long now we
were wondering when Spring would finally arrive. Today it
was 9 degrees and I planned to do an easy ride to see about
fitness and trail changes.
Got the bike, girl and car ready and headed off to the DVP
trail. Did the upper stretch with no problems. Lot's of
fallen trees and new single track that people made as a
detour around them. Everything was going fine, well except
for a major lack of fitness on my part, and I suspect a few
extra pounds. Too much surf and turf, sushi, and french
bread all Winter for sure.
I get to the end of the upper trail and meet my girl in the
parking lot at the bottom. Ya know...the usual how have you
been, anything new, kiss there, feel there. 20 minutes later
off to do the lower loop. We start out slow (she's not as
confident on the lower part) and get about halfway. She's in
front of me dabbing and I'm checking out her butt...(much
better than I remember it last season, god I'm a lucky
[censored]!) when I hear a loud crack. Thinking it was a
branch or twig, I keep riding until I notice the rear wheel
is doing a crab-walk.
I look down and I see this!
members.rogers.cominterest.htmOpen ↗
My swingarm is destroyed. Before anyone asks...no I don't do
jumps or downhill, strictly XC. I've got too many bills and
an 8 year old to keep in XBOX and Gamecube games to be
risking time off work. I've ridden it about 1
1/2 seasons without a hitch. The girl rides on ahead to
fetch the car, and a half hour later I'm heading home in
disbelief wondering what it could have been like if that
had happend on a fast descent.
Anyway, luckily I have a spare swingarm. Just need a crank
puller and I'm in business for a Saturday of singletrack
bliss on the Oak Ridges Morain. Wonder if Jamis is gonna
replace the part ??!! Well this will be a good test of the
warranty/customer service of the company.