Bikes do a pretty good job of telling us what they need. Often times I hear chains crying that they are thirsty for oil. Sometimes brake pads like to squeal that they aren’t quite toed in right. Bikes, just like cars, send signals telling us something is wrong. It’s just up to us to listen. A couple of weeks ago my shifting cable was arguing with me; being tight and resisting me. I took note, and thought I should go to the bike shop about that. But I was about to go on vacation and my mind (and my lunch breaks) were elsewhere. I’ll deal with the cable after I get back, I said. Well, here I am back from vacation and the cable didn’t make it one trip. Just as I started peeling down 5th avenue, she snapped. That was it, my bike told me, no more. While I wasn’t in the best gear for climbing up the hills of 5th avenue (there are hills out there, people! Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there!) I managed okay. Still gotta get to work. My brakes were not affected, and except for riding slower, I felt safe to finish my ride into work and to ride to the bike shop. Whew!

Fremont Bridge Bike Count: 149