I had some issues during yesterdays bike ride.
strange sounds started eminating from the rear end. I stopped to check it out. Since it sounded a bit like the twanging of spokes and just last week I experienced a broken spoke, I decided to tighten the spokes on one side half a turn.
after the noise continued, I made a decision to continue the full ride, at a slow pace, instead of cutting it short.
a few miles later the noise increased and I got off the bike to check it out. turns out the bearings in the rear hub where completely shot
I did have a phone with me, but since it was 7:00 AM and the rest of the household are late risers, I decided to walk home
The bearings were so bad that the wheel would not track within the frame even when walking. Intermittant tire rub on chain stays, for the full walk home
about 1/3 the way home I slightly twisted my ankle. Started regretting deciding to walk home in cycling shoes
another mile and I twisted my ankle again – much worse this time
a little ways further on, I decided to remove the cleats from from my cycling shoes to make walking easier
cycling shoes slipping going up a steep hill
got home around 10, making it a 15 mile “ride” at an average speed of under 4 miles an hour
took the rear hub apart and found only a single broken ball in the right side races. The rest of the balls on that side must have disintegrated and fell out
the race in the right side cone is bad and an internet search reveals that cones are no longer available. Guess I’ll find a replacement hub. Meanhwile I’ll use my spare set of wheels
