Temporary postponement — also, the importance of mechanics!

We brought our two Jamises into Proteus Bikes last Tuesday for a tune-up and general check-over for “anything that might kill us” after we set off. Right off, Anthony, the bike mechanic that took them in, noticed wear on Brice’s chain and cassette that meant both of those needed to be replaced. He was nice as to squeeze in work on both bikes into his busy schedule so they’d be done on Saturday afternoon and we’d be able to embark as scheduled on Sunday. But just now he called and told us of another problem he noticed that potentially would fit into the second of the two categories above — i.e., things that might kill us. Turns out Brice’s front fork is bent — probably from when he crashed and launched over the handlebars last time we rode the C&O Canal trail, in 2010. “Normally, I’d say that wouldn’t need to be replaced right away,” Anthony told me, “but with the kind of load you’re going to be putting on the bike, it could compromise its structural integrity.”

Proteus doesn’t have any replacement forks in stock now but one will come in by Tuesday morning. The first campsite on the C&O isn’t far up the trail, so if Anthony is able to get it installed nice and quickly when it arrives, we might be able to head out on Tuesday afternoon.