Finally got off the “Castle Bleekenstein” slab after waiting for 15 hours on Monday, they fired up the plasmatron and did my plate first up Tuesday. Back to square one for recovery though with another four weeks in a sling. At least I had a good ride on Friday and Saturday in Melbourne, I nearly could have done the Bay in a Day, nearly…

…..going back to where this all began when I’ve finally regained interest and looked at my bike (after four weeks) it occurred to me that the initial buck off the horse could have been triggered by the cracked rim evident on my back wheel –see photos. No spokes are broken and the tyre is still fully inflated. Is this cause or effect though?

My theory now is that the rim has cracked under intense load from high powered sprint causing sudden rear movement and subsequent overbalance in out of the saddle down left side peddle stroke, foot disengagement and launch. I had originally thought that I had lost the chain or pulled my foot spontaneously and this troubled me greatly as it could happen any time and has never happened to date with this bike. I also had one week old peddles and cleats (drastic action to rid bike of squeak).

Only other damage beside rim crack is scuffing to the rear of the saddle and loss of left side bar end plug (scuffed with red scoria). A view from Dayn and Mal is next as they where the main witnesses…

Whaddyarekon can I ever sprint with confidence again or was the wheel damage caused after the fall in bike bounce and I then remain permanently physiologically scarred and avoid any future out of saddle sprinting due to phobia of spontaneous chain loss / foot pull.

I think I know the answer…..

Cheers
Doggi