Chaines (chaînés, to give the correct spelling) seems to be more than a ballet term. As I\’ve said before, sometimes I feel chained to that bicycle! Hence, chaines.

This morning I went out on the road bike. Once on the way back home, I was trying to shift to the big ring; and the chain didn\’t want to shift. It clattered and rattled, and finally dropped.

I\’ve read of a way to catch a dropping chain while pedaling, and get it back onto the small ring. It seems to me that it involved pedaling in reverse for one or two revolutions; but I don\’t remember those things when the chain is resisting the big ring.

Of course I had to stop; dismount; lay down the bicycle; wiggle my hands out of my gloves; and put the chain back on the small ring. I would have to get my hands greasy the day I first wear my brand-new gloves!

And then, while I was holding the rear wheel up and turning the pedals by hand, so that I could get shifted back onto the biggest cog, that **** chain dropped again!

A small group of riders came by, and stopped to be sure I was OK; a standard proceeding among cyclists. One of them suggested that my cassette might be worn.

I had my road bike\’s cassette replaced about 10,000 miles ago, at about 14,000 miles. Is it time to replace it again? Already?? Do the rings need replacing?

All that trouble for that little chain!

05/23/2020 update: my bicycle need new pulleys!