Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Trapped on my bike

I do believe that if I were a superstitious person I would call the whole thing off. 
Today was the perfect riding day. Great temperature. Got an early start around 8:00 A.M. Felt really good. Went up Strawberry Hill with less difficulty than usual. Went around Sunset Point and than on into Cohasset via Jerusalem Road off of 228. Got really into using the up and down cycling motion of the clip pedals. As I am approaching Forest Ave from Jerusalem Road I attempt to unclip my right leg. I have unclipped my right leg now about 100 times in the past week. It has always unclipped. Every once in awhile my left leg has been tough to unclip, but never my right leg. It will not unclip. Now I try my left leg - that will not unclip either. Luckily there is a turn off before Forest Ave which I take and go as slow as possible. Dear god, I am trapped on my bicycle.  I again try the right leg. It will not budge. Okay, maybe I can release the left leg. A couple more tries and finally the left leg releases. At least I can stop without falling. I release my right leg by taking off my shoe. I decide my only option is to bike home. I do not want to bike without knowing if I can safely get off my bike. I bike home with my right leg clipped in, but loose enough for me to remove my foot from the shoe and my left leg not clipped in. I am not happy. It was a perfect day for a long ride and now I am home, waiting to call REI at 10:00, when they open. 
I call at 10:00 to confirm that the bike repair manager is in. I drive my bike to the REI in Hingham, about 1/2 drive. My right shoe is still attached to the right pedal. I explain the problem. I also tell him that I could have easily been killed. He seems to take this rather causally. He removes the shoe using a good amount of effort. He has no idea why it didn't release. He offers no explanation or any sympathy. He suggests other clips for my shoes which will make it easier to release. I say fine. I spend my time looking at the energy bars. I think I should write a letter to REI. I would have thought they would have been more concerned. By the time I get home it is 2:00 P.M. I do not feel like getting on my bike for a ride. I go to the apartments and do some much needed yard work. I hope tomorrow is a better day.  

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