Keeping Sam Happy

I got into Kalispell this morning and found a bike shop to give Sam the bike the once over since I won't see another shop until North Dakota. I bought a ridiculously expensive new rear tire; a German- made Schwalbe super duper Kevlar, ceramic, kryptonite, depleted uranium belted, lead-lined, pixie dust filled magic tire that will never get a flat. Or so they say... The thing rides a bit like a tank tread, or more precisely, a panzer tread, and could probably be used as body armor in a pinch. Take that, nasty re-tread wires!!!!!


Sam has been a bit crotchety during shifting and I was told that I needed a new rear dérailleur (the thing that shifts the chain over the rear gears) but would have to get one at a bike shop in Whitefish. So, off I went to Whitefish and got a new dérailleur.


My last dérailleur was one of the few original components on Sam and had over 30,000 miles on it. I hope this one lasts as long! It better, considering it cost $120!

So, maintaining a touring bike can be expensive but I've learned the hard way that I gotta treat Sam to top-of-the-line parts otherwise he gets upset and a testy Sam is never a good thing. Tomorrow, it's off to Glacier park.
-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Whitefish, Montana