This Ever Happen to You?

Yes, it did happen to me once. I was about 15 miles into a 50+ mile ride. The chain was stuck in there so tight, I could not pull it out.

I separated my chain - I always use a SRAM powerlink on my bike. Aids in cleaning etc.

I removed my wheel with the stuck chain, laid the wheel on its side - cog side up.

I took advantage of the fact that the cassette was jammed and not able to turn.

I took my screwdriver and a rock and tapped the lock ring until the lock ring unscrewed.

Removed the cassette and then took the chain out.

I took my chain tool and took out the bent links (90 degrees over). I used a spare powerlink (that I always carry with my tools) and put the chain together. I had enough chain left to at least run in my middle ring.

I have also once had my rear deraileur completely ripped off my frame. This time I turned the bike into a single speed using my chain tool. On my current bike, I carry a spare deraileur hanger with my tool kit.

I havn't had to carry my bike out in a long time, but I did have to ditch it and go back a week later to get it (trail was three hours away).

Here's a hastily scrawled PM to another forum member from last summer's adventure.

"I just rolled in the door getting back from Kernville. Last weekend I tried to arrange the shuttle with mntriver for Cannell and/or JO but there weren't enough people, so Monday, I rode from the Goldledge Campground up the highway to Sherman Pass and up on to the Rincon Trail I had 100oz in my MULE, a large water bottle of Gatorade and a MSR water purifier. I should mention that I have been mtbiking 25+ years, live at 6000 feet with my rides topping 8000 feet, am in racing shape and regularly ride 100+ degree weather. Anyway, I looked at Rincon on a map with almost no elevation profile. It looked like a straight line and safe enough. As I started up the trail, both riding and pushing, I couldn't help but notice that there was no breeze. At all. It was like a sauna, and my heart rate monitor showed 108 degrees. By the third saddle I was whipped and a bit concerned about the heat. This is when I discovered that my bottle had ejected from it's cage and I was down to 50 oz in my pack. I got to the primitive campgrounds under the oaks at what I belive is Packsaddle Creek. I rested in the shade and took my pack off to filter water, only to find that the filter was missing!!! I cooled of in the creek and wondered if I should continue. I got about halfway up the fourth saddle and turned around. I hadn't rode the trail before and wasn't sure if I had sufficient water. I started back up the third saddle and immediatly knew I wouldn't make it back. I rode back to the junction of the Packsaddle Cave trailhead and went down, only to find it was impassible. Fack! I figured I could stay the rest of the day and night under the oaks at the creek, only, no one knew I was here. The others I was camping with had left that morning. I decided to bushwack, wading through stinging nettle and poison oak. I had to throw my bike over the vegetation and use it like a bridge to get through some sections. Then the trail disapeared. I looked in vain(I later saw how the cave trail works out on Google Earth) expecting the trail to materialize. It never did. After a mile or so of bushwacking and downclimbing the dry waterfalls of Packsaddle Canyon in cycling shoes, I was dizzy and my thought process was deteriorating rapidly. I was now out of water so I picked a landmark and ditched the bike. I had a GPS and could've made a waypoint but my brain was fried and I forgot I had it with me. I staggered along, dodging poison oak the best I could, and emerged at the highway, where I collapsed. I got up and started walking down the highway where I was picked up by a local named Jeff in his mid 50's, who gave me water and a ride back to Goldledge. My Ventana sat out in the canyon for a week until this morning, when my girlfriend and I hiked up the canyon at 5:30 am to beat the heat. Once I got to the location, it took an hour to find the bike, and the temp had climbed to 95*'s by 7:30. Jeff who picked me up suggested I go see John at Mntriver. I told him what happened and he offered to go up to get it. I knew this is his busy time and might have trouble locating the bike so I just figured to come back up in a week. All in all, it was a humbling experience. At least you guys didn't have to read about me in the paper! Next time I'll get in touch with you guys."