The break in BreakAway

So this ongoing saga almost has come to an end.

I purchased (on the family plan) a 2004 Rictchey BreakAway Bike and immediately fell in love with it. First of all, it was my first “real” road bike. It was fast, light, smooth and delicious. Everything I wanted in a bike. I rode it to Nyack, I rode it to Ft. Tilden, I raced it on Sunday mornings in Prospect park. We weren’t monogamous (this in NYC after all and one must not ride this beautiful bike to the bar in Hell’s Kitchen and lock it up until 4am) but it was close.

In early 2006, I hatched a plan to take the BAB to England for a week+ trip through London and along the South Downs Way. Given that the BAB is supposedly airline friendly, it was the natural choice as a traveling companion. Aside from almost leaving Brooklyn without the bike, things were all well and good until we reached London’s Heathrow Airport.

Upon arrival at the baggage claim area, I immediately noticed that my square bike case was now fairly well rounded at the corners. Of course I panicked. Long story short, I found this.

It’s almost poetic, isn’t it?

Needless to say, I exploded, threw things, seethed, cursed, threatened to kill and plummeted into a deep depression all at the same time.

Things worked out. They always do. The trip was a complete success, eventually.

Once I returned to NY with my newly-sculpted BAB, I set about to try to get it fixed. My sister suggested I send it back to Ritchey and ask if Tom didn’t want to take on a little repair job just for fun. Miraculously, he was into it and he brazed a new top tube onto it and realigned the frame. It then went out for paint (to my specifications) and after several months of separation anxiety, the frame was back in my hands.

It is more beautiful than it was before. I’ve almost completed the build-up and am looking forward to my second inaugural ride. It only will have been seven goddamn months.

~ by backthetruckup on 31 October 2006.