Luggage problem and the joy of the biker community
Discussion
Had an interesting incident on Friday. Went for a long ride to test my new bike and Luggage. Unbeknownst to me, the throw over luggage was rubbing on the back wheel now and again (no racking to keep it away)
it eventually wore a hole in the bag, and my baselayer I had in there then came/fell out of the hole, and wrapped around the wheel, causing it to lock up - luckily ( very luckily) only at about 40mph. The baselayer was some Rukka 'technical underwear' - which caused lots of jokes during what happened next about 'technical underwear failure'
At this point, I was on the side of the road wondering what to do, back wheel totally seized up due to being gummed up with technical underwear. As the bike is new to me, I'd forgotten to check if it came with tools (it didn't) so I had nothing. Trapped on the side of the road, somewhere near Loomies, I continued to try to untangle my technical underwear from the wheel without much success. We noticed a 'sons of anarchy' flag in a garage near a house I had happened to have stopped by. Figuring they were bikers, I knocked on the door to see if they had any tools - the lady said her husband was out, but said help myself to tools to get what I needed, and If I couldn't sort the problem I could store the bike in their drive until I could get it recovered. The tools were all quite old (no torx), so all I managed to find was a bluntish stanley knife, but I thought I could use to cut away the trapped clothing and free the wheel.
As a plan B, my mate I was with said he would ride to Loomies and see if anyone there had a BMW and therefore the required torx tools so that we could take the wheel off and remove the trapped technical underwear. Meanwhile, I sat there and tried to do what I could with the blunt knife.
Two blokes came by on dirt bikes and stopped to help; actually most of the bikes flying past did a 'thumbs up/down' to see if I was ok - up to that point I'd waved them past, but by now I was getting a bit desperate. The two chaps that stopped had a small toolkit with the needed torx bits. We removed the brake caliper and this allowed me to untangle the mess just enough and free the wheel.
Massivley grateful, I asked the two chaps if there was anything I could do to return the kindness. They said they were about to stop for lunch, which perhaps I could shout them. That was an easy 'yes' - and I said I'd be along as soon as my mate returned from the Cafe. About 5 mins later, he did and some chap at Loomies with an RnineT had donated two torx wrenches to me to help - he didn't leave an address and said he didn't want them back.
Me and my mate then went to the pub and sat and had lunch with the two chaps on the dirt bikes, having a long chat about all sorts of bike related randomness, it was great.
If you happen to be the lady, the husband of the lady, either of the two chaps on the dirt bikes, or the chap from Loomies who gave me his wrenches, then I am beyond grateful!
The point of this thread was mostly to celebrate to the joy of the biker community - the random togetherness of the group of people that own bikes is super humbling when you see it up close and is what I love about riding bikes.
... I have since bought better luggage, and a toolkit for the bike
it eventually wore a hole in the bag, and my baselayer I had in there then came/fell out of the hole, and wrapped around the wheel, causing it to lock up - luckily ( very luckily) only at about 40mph. The baselayer was some Rukka 'technical underwear' - which caused lots of jokes during what happened next about 'technical underwear failure'
At this point, I was on the side of the road wondering what to do, back wheel totally seized up due to being gummed up with technical underwear. As the bike is new to me, I'd forgotten to check if it came with tools (it didn't) so I had nothing. Trapped on the side of the road, somewhere near Loomies, I continued to try to untangle my technical underwear from the wheel without much success. We noticed a 'sons of anarchy' flag in a garage near a house I had happened to have stopped by. Figuring they were bikers, I knocked on the door to see if they had any tools - the lady said her husband was out, but said help myself to tools to get what I needed, and If I couldn't sort the problem I could store the bike in their drive until I could get it recovered. The tools were all quite old (no torx), so all I managed to find was a bluntish stanley knife, but I thought I could use to cut away the trapped clothing and free the wheel.
As a plan B, my mate I was with said he would ride to Loomies and see if anyone there had a BMW and therefore the required torx tools so that we could take the wheel off and remove the trapped technical underwear. Meanwhile, I sat there and tried to do what I could with the blunt knife.
Two blokes came by on dirt bikes and stopped to help; actually most of the bikes flying past did a 'thumbs up/down' to see if I was ok - up to that point I'd waved them past, but by now I was getting a bit desperate. The two chaps that stopped had a small toolkit with the needed torx bits. We removed the brake caliper and this allowed me to untangle the mess just enough and free the wheel.
Massivley grateful, I asked the two chaps if there was anything I could do to return the kindness. They said they were about to stop for lunch, which perhaps I could shout them. That was an easy 'yes' - and I said I'd be along as soon as my mate returned from the Cafe. About 5 mins later, he did and some chap at Loomies with an RnineT had donated two torx wrenches to me to help - he didn't leave an address and said he didn't want them back.
Me and my mate then went to the pub and sat and had lunch with the two chaps on the dirt bikes, having a long chat about all sorts of bike related randomness, it was great.
If you happen to be the lady, the husband of the lady, either of the two chaps on the dirt bikes, or the chap from Loomies who gave me his wrenches, then I am beyond grateful!
The point of this thread was mostly to celebrate to the joy of the biker community - the random togetherness of the group of people that own bikes is super humbling when you see it up close and is what I love about riding bikes.
... I have since bought better luggage, and a toolkit for the bike
Great story, and yeah there's an awesome camaraderie.
I've rescued two bikers near home now - the first was a newbie lady on a 125 cruiser thing, her chain had come off as it was completely slack "oh I'd no idea what to do with it"
Second, I'd passed a young lad going the opposite way really slowly on a moped when I was off out shopping. By the time I'd finished the shop he was pushing it down the main road, still at least a mile from a fuel station. Nipped home and brought him a can of fuel, he thought I was trying to groom him or something when I said I didn't want any money.
I've rescued two bikers near home now - the first was a newbie lady on a 125 cruiser thing, her chain had come off as it was completely slack "oh I'd no idea what to do with it"
Second, I'd passed a young lad going the opposite way really slowly on a moped when I was off out shopping. By the time I'd finished the shop he was pushing it down the main road, still at least a mile from a fuel station. Nipped home and brought him a can of fuel, he thought I was trying to groom him or something when I said I didn't want any money.
I stopped to put my waterproofs on over my leathers on the way to Silverstone last summer. Within minutes a biker stopped to check I hadn't broke down. He was from Lightning Motorcycle Training who I did my DAS with incidentally.
There's a similar comradeship amongst Lotus Elise owners. 2 out of the 3 times I broke down another owner was on the scene within minutes offering help. Must be something to do with unreliable and impractical transport
There's a similar comradeship amongst Lotus Elise owners. 2 out of the 3 times I broke down another owner was on the scene within minutes offering help. Must be something to do with unreliable and impractical transport
Dirt bikers/Offroaders usually have every tool you will ever need! (I know I do )
Lucky on the wheel. I knew a chap that was killed when his pannier bag got pulled in and jammed the rear wheel - on a bend and put him into the barrier killing him. Since then I've been completely paranoid about luggage.
)Lucky on the wheel. I knew a chap that was killed when his pannier bag got pulled in and jammed the rear wheel - on a bend and put him into the barrier killing him. Since then I've been completely paranoid about luggage.
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