A ride ago, a club mate told me- you and your bike are a partnership. “It’s a marriage- If you look after each other it’ll be a long and happy life together”
Like any relationship, you must make sure that the other is okay, Each day. Not just ask when something goes wrong. This morning my friend’s relationship with their bike ended in tears. No marriage therapy will put it back together. They never put any effort into the relationship. He never oiled the chain enough. The bike would randomly fail in unexpected ways. Stems cracking, seat posts exploding. Cassettes were replaced only when they were toothless. Brake pads were reinforced only when they squealed surrender. Love is wax and love is grease and love is the tapping of a credit card at the local bike shop. Love works.
Today, was a rocky sudden Divorce after leaving the bike on the ground, on the gear side at the coffee stop. On the first Hill, a dry chain and rear mech went into the spokes and a complete shit show of metal and wires and wages sparked it to a stop. That marriage is over finally. There will not be a divorce settlement. I hope they can both move on quickly.
