Jeremiah Watt

Day 4, JW rides, well barely today.

I woke up early, after having slept on the campground picnic table since the ANT population was so high in the campground. Got off to a good start to finish off Walker pass, which was quite easy to face first thing in the morning.

Photo by Jeremiah Watt
Title Walker Pass
But as luck would have it, things went down hill quickly from that point. I took a pic at the top, and mounted my bike to descend the offside of Walker. My bike developed a serious whine coming from the back wheel, soon that developed into slinging the chain off and giving me serious stopping trouble. So, I went to looking around and it seemed the problem was my rear cassette. I commenced down the hill, and had to ride the brakes the whole way and pedal into it to keep the chain tightened up so it would not be flung off. Boy howdy, did my hands get tired sqeezing those brakes for a a full 12 mile downhill run. I stopped at one point and a small whisp of smoke came off my front wheel, not sure if it was the brakes, the rim or the rider???
Okay Pastor Mike, here is one for you. I had pulled over to the side of the road and met up with Colleen, and we were both talking and Praying about the situation at hand. The problem is the the closest town was Ridgecrest, and we both thought that it was no chance to to get it fixed there. I am on Hwy14 before it joins into 395 north. As Iam standing there debating the best options, I see 4 bike riders coming up the hill that I had just climbed. So I asked as the rode beside us where the best place might be to get abike worked on………..to which one of the riders said” why heck Bob here owns the best bike shop around, don’tcha Bob!!!” Now is that a Prayer answered?????????
And just like that Bob stepped off and I told him what the bike had been doing, and almost that quick he told me what the problem was. The bigger problem, is that the wheel set is a rather high dollar outfit, and the likelihood of parts to do the fix are slim. We ended up having to buy a whole new wheel set, so that we could head out and get back to riding. I rode during the hottest time, and seated like a fool in my long sleeve jersey. I am trying to keep the sunburn in check.

Photo by Jeremiah Watt
Title Lonesome Roads in Nevada
All totaled today I got in 54 miles, and once again was in dire straits if not for my wife and kids.The scenery isn’t that great right along this stretch so I didn’t stop for a lot of pics, just enough to give you a flavour of the countryside. I am at a really beautiful campground in Lone Pine, I just swam and spent some time in the hot tub. I have been fed well again and ready for some sleep, just 20oz. of Endurox to drink and I am ready.