As any reader of this blog knows, I am not a smart man. Intelligence is a rare commodity betweenst my ears and I did nothing this weekend to prove any different.
The squawk
My nice, nearly pain-free ride on Saturday was swell, but the good vibes were muddled by continued frustration with a noise that my new to me car is making. I was convinced that there was a front left shock or bearing issue. Every time I went over a bump at slow speed I would hear a squawking noise that sounded like crow being tortured with a styrofoam cooler in my left wheel well. Many hours were spent online watching videos for clues and fixes, many dollars were spent on a variety of car lubricants and I even stopped at the local mechanic to ask a few questions and try to sort it out. Just last week the car made the noise the whole way to and from my ride up at MMCC, but by the time I got home, put my stuff away and drove to the mechanic the car had stopped making the noise and refused to make it for the mechanic. They were starting to think I was a complete moron (I would prove them right eventually). They told me the next time the car makes the noise and I’m out and about, just stop in and they’d take a look.
On the way home from my ride on Saturday the car was making the squawking noise again, so instead of going home first, I pulled in to the mechanic’s and took the dude for a spin and he FINALLY heard it. After hearing it, I pulled the car into the lot and he had another mechanic come out to rock the car back and forth while he looked under the car for the possible problem. It took about 20 seconds for them to realized what it was… It wasn’t my car at all, it was my bike rack. Specifically my bike rack with a bike on the rack… on the left side of the car.
“But… but… But I SWEAR I’ve heard it without the bike on the car! I SWEAR!! I think… I’m pretty sure…” I embarrassingly mumbled. To be sure I took the bike down off the rack, we shook the car… nothing. Yep, it seems that when I use the thru-axel adapter on my Yakima rack, turns and bumps that cause any slight lateral sway from the bike emanates a squawking sound from the rack mount.
I drove home from the mechanics happy that there was no real issue with my new to me car, but feeling like a complete fucktard once again.
There’s more…
So as not to go TOO long without doing something stupid, Sunday I decided that even though my back was starting to feel better and I had spent several rides over the last week dialing in the fit of my Superfly 100 FS, I would take my hardtail back up to MMCC to “compare” my laps to the that of the full suspension.
Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with me??? What the hell am I comparing and WHY?? Idiot.
I was all over the trail, bouncing up and down, my fit felt WAY off and I had some knee discomfort. Normally I would have just kept going, I mean I rode this bike all last year on the trails with no issue and continue to ride it on the dirt roads, but with all the work I did last week in the attempt to help my back, I felt it was better to be safe than sorry. I rode less than 2 miles before I said “fuck it,” turned around and went back to the car.
It was waste of a ride day and a waste of gas, but another chance to prove what a moron I am. Aren’t you glad you read this blog, you must leave here feeling so much better about yourself. You’re welcome.
Later.