Tried to adjust my derailleur in the dark behind a 7-Eleven in Tucson last night

Snapped the cable because I was too stubborn to use my phone flashlight and kept guessing by feel. Anyone else ruin a simple fix by refusing to go inside and get a proper light source?

2 comments

2 Comments

ivan4020d ago

Oh man, that is the most relatable thing I've read in a while. Did you also feel that weird rush of confidence like "nah, I got this, I don't need to see anything at all"? I did the exact same thing once trying to fix a broken spoke on my wheel at like 2am in my driveway. I kept thinking I could feel the tension perfectly but I just made it worse, stripped the nipple and had to buy a whole new rim. It's like your brain knows you should just grab a flashlight or head inside but your ego just says "we're finishing this right now". And then you're left standing there in the dark holding a snapped cable like a complete idiot. I swear that stubbornness has cost me more money than any actual bike repair ever has.

ruby49413d ago

3 times I've done that with a stuck brake caliper on my truck. @ivan40 it's like once you cross that invisible line of "I should really stop" your hands just keep moving. I had a 30mm socket in my hand and I was using a pipe for leverage and I knew that bolt was going to snap and it did. Just stood there in the dark with the pieces staring at me. Cost me 200 bucks for a new caliper bracket and a tow because I couldn't drive it the next morning. The worst part is even after it snapped I still tried to get the broken bolt out for another 20 minutes before I finally gave up and went inside.