2014-0202 - Ride to Luckie Park on Single Speed

Miles: 7.2
Start Time 11:19
Moving Time: 0:45:17
Elevation(Ft): 87
Avg Speed(MPH): 9.5
Max Speed(MPH): 21.9
Avg Cadence:
Avg HR:
Max HR:
Temp Out: 50
Temp In: 50

87 feet is a pretty good elevation gain in about 1.5 miles on a one speed bike at least for my old legs. It is probably good training for me. Doug is right, I am spoiled by the triple cranks on 3 of my other 4 bikes. The day was brisk but sunny with an E breeze. I burned enough calories, according to my calorie counter app to justify totally pigging out at the Super Bowl party in the afternoon, and I did. The chocolate cake was delicious! Poor Peyton got steamrollered but that is another story.

The chain has downshifted at least once on previous rides and today it came off completely. This is not unexpected as the chain is loose (see picture) and there is no way to adjust it because of the vertical dropouts and going around a corner and hitting a bump is enough to do it. After this ride I thought it might be OK to have the bike as a 5 speed. I tried to straighten out the hanger and dropout and put the shifter, cable and derailleur back on but could not get the thing to shift at all. I don't get it, the derailleur and everything looks bent beyond recognition. I do not understand what changed so much but I have given up on the thing after looking around outside to see if any parts had come off the derailleur the other day when the bike blew over and started this mess. I had already ordered a chain guide/tensioner and will wait for it to arrive later this week. I can buy a suitable modern derailleur and shifer on Amazon for about $20 and I may do that later if I decide the single speed it too much work. I also ordered a cheap flat mountain bike handlebar which will look cooler but I have to admit the strange looking thing on the bike now is quite comfortable.

The derailleur I took off the bike is a Shimano "Positron" which is a very early model. It originated in the 70s and made it through the 80's. It is hard to tell what vintage the bike is but it is a Murray 10 "Phoenix". I see a few for sale on the Internet including one on E-Bay for $299. The derailleur does not look exactly like the "Positrons" I see on the web. I would not be surprised if the bike is an early 70's model or else one of the increasingly cheaper bikes they made in the late 80's on their way into oblivion as bike manufacturer. Over all I am satisfied with it and think it is worth the $100 I put into it.