L E S S O N S F R O M T H E R OA D Because every cyclist should plan for a safe and fun ride, a few stories from our veteran riders are included in this Guide for the benefit of new riders. Things can happen anytime and anywhere, but when we know better, we do better. Experience is the best teacher. As with any sport, proper inspection and maintenance of your equipment is crucial to your safety! This year, I learned this lesson the hard way. My bike had been experiencing problems with “chain drops”, which refers to the chain coming off the gears while the bike is in use. Although any bike can experience an occasional chain drop under certain conditions while shifting, a well-maintained bike should never drop the chain while simply pedaling along on a smooth road. My bike had started exhibiting this problem. The chain would pop off once or twice a week, even when I was not shifting. Instead of fixing it, I put up with the problem for a considerable time. My busy schedule made it inconvenient to take the bike to the equipment mal function 14 Aeron Barhorst