Fixed a shifter cable on the side of the road in Portland last week

I was riding through the Pearl District and my rear derailleur just stopped shifting. I had a spare cable and a mini tool in my bag so I pulled over by a coffee shop and replaced it on the curb. Took about 20 minutes and my hands were filthy but it worked perfect after that. Has anyone else had to MacGyver a fix mid ride like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor_flores19d ago

Honestly, I used to be the kind of rider who would just call for a ride or walk the bike home if something went wrong. Like, I figured roadside repairs were for hardcore touring people or mechanics, not casual me. But a few months back I snapped a chain on a gravel path and a stranger handed me a quick link and a mini chain tool. I did the fix right there on the dirt, it took maybe 10 minutes, and I was shocked at how easy it was. Your Portland shifter cable story is way more impressive though. Changing a cable on the curb with coffee shop vibes sounds oddly satisfying, even with the greasy hands. That little sense of accomplishment really changed my view on what I can handle mid ride.

elizabeth43819d ago

A stranger just handed you a quick link on a gravel path and you fixed your own chain in ten minutes? I can't get past the idea of a random person carrying spare chain parts and a tool for someone else, that is next level Portland trail magic right there. You went from calling for a ride to roadside repairs off one random act of kindness, that is wild.

torres.jason18d ago

Man my buddy had something similar happen but way worse. He was riding through a bike lane in downtown Seattle when his rear derailleur got sucked into his spokes and totally shredded the hanger. He didn't have a spare hanger or anything so he just took the whole derailleur off and shortened his chain to make it a singlespeed. Rode the last 8 miles home like that, shifting with his legs basically. He said cars were honking at him because he was pedaling like a maniac trying to keep up with traffic. Dude showed up to my place covered in chain grease and sweat but grinning like he just won a race. I still give him crap about it but honestly that was pretty resourceful.

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