Curse of the recumbent rider

by Chuck
(Dayton, Ohio)

I had always wanted a recumbent bike. So, since it was my birthday recently, I forked over $900.00 for A Sun Tomahawk that was on sale. Normally I think there around $1200.00. Any way, I rode it with no problems about 2 days a week for a few months.
I was careful to keep it on the road and bike trail as its obvious these bikes are somewhat fragile compared to the mountain bikes or hybrids Ive owned over the years. I found the bike to be every thing I expected, the seat is comfortable, it shifts well and is easy to control.
I ride mainly for enjoyment, theres a sense of freedom, and for me a sense of nostalgia. I Occasionally ride to the other side of town via bike trail through downtown to the old neighborhood where I grew up as a kid, its kinda like riding back in time or something.
I live in Dayton Ohio, which has some pretty decent trails, the river corridor is the one I ride to get to the old neighborhood, as The trail is A 5 min bike ride from where I live. The trail goes along the river and through parks for most of the way to downtown, I typically see lots of animals, big fat ground hogs,rabbits,storks, and of course the myriad geese who think they own the bike trail!! (Along with incredibly unaware people who hog both sides of the trail with baby strollers, dogs ect.
Anyway, once I get downtown I ride through the oregon district which is basically an old 1800's type area thats been restored. I ride by the bookstore I went to buy comics as a kid (I had the No 1 edition of Spiderman at one time)
then cross the narrow pedestrian bridge over I -35 into the old neighborhood.

Any how, recently on the way back from one of my little time travels, I had arrived within maybe 2 miles of home when I got the idea to take the bike down a bumpy steep hill in the grass, down to the road below. The top of the hill had a picnic building, so after pushing up the hill to the building I rode down at a fair clip in the grass intending to navigate between a section of gate and the road, which at that particular juncture was elevated about 6 inches.

Big mistake. The front tire hit the elevated road and was flat within 30 seconds.!! (Dang pinch flat)Any way, my immediate concern was getting out of sight behind some trees as I had momentarilly just flashed the finger at a group of punks in the park who had commented on how they wanted to ride my bike as I gleefully strolled past.

Normally I'm a nice fellow but was in a somewhat grumpy mood that day! Any way after I changed the flat, I hurriedly put the air pump I carry back in the bracket behind the seat. I forgot to secure it with the velcro strap however, and to my horror, the pump fell off and fell down into the rear derailer, then proceeded to happily bond with the sprockets in a most unorthodox manner!!
I.E. The derailer was bent all to heck, but It functioned enough for me to ride it. Then the tire went flat again, so im pumping up the tire every 150 feet or so, hoping my good friends I flashed the finger to arent aware of my woes.
I made it home and took the bike in the shop the next day. 1 week later I picked it up with a fixed tire and brand new derailer attached and rode towards home from the bike shop a happy fellow (Aside from the $95.00 it cost for the parts and labor.) (Thats about what a new bike cost at wall mart) After riding for 30 min I discovered a great truth about the Sun tomahawk, NEVER shift to second gear if the chain is on the large sprocket in the front, as this action proceeded to literally RIP THE REAR DERAILER IN HALF.

Any way, 2 hours later my wife arrives with the station wagon to rescue me, and back to the bike shop we go. I have the bike back now and have learned numerous lessons. 1. Don't flash the finger at punks, you never know when you may break down. 2. Keep a Sun Tomahawk on the road or bike trail only, (Maybe a sidewalk crack wont give you a flat, MAYBE,according to bike shop no puncture resistant tires are made for this bike :) 3. If you're in the large sprocket in the front, NEVER shift below 5th gear in the back-heck I don't even use the large sprocket any more!! Happy riding!!!