Back to the bike!!

So it's been almost a month since I rode my bike...such a sad story!! Tonight we were finally able to get out to Beverly and RIDE!! Kids were just as happy!! Keith took off with a couple fast guys out there and the kids and I went off. Same thing we do each time, then we meet up later and Keith and us go off. I did not have a good time though. My bike was seeming off and at the top of the climb I noticed my front brake was rubbing...that would explain why the lower gears did not seem to help my climbing. And then the kids decided they had to go to the bathroom, so we headed back down to the car and potty. Ends up the spring had sprung on my brakes, easy fix! Back off we went! Kids have fun taking mommy out on the trails. Kaden leads and decided where to lose us in the woods, I'm second and Salem is in the back yelling at how slow we go and how I'm always on the brakes! We're way in the back when my gears start not working right. I can't keep it in the middle ring, keeps dropping down to the lowest gear, ugh! And then I get chain suck (the only time I let the kids say that word), not fun, the chain gets basically sucked back and it won't move. So I stop to try and fix it. Works for a short time then we have to stop again and fix my chain, ugh! Kids are quite patient though wanting to ride. So I decide just to keep it in 1 in the front and go at it the rest of the way. I can change a couple gears in the back without getting chain suck (found out the hard way). Kids want to go hit a couple more trails, specifically the new one they helped cut out. So I give them my phone so I can head to the car and they hit the other trail. I know they know they're way back so no concern there. Back at the car I wait for the bike fairy (Keith) to get back from his hammer fest. Kids make it back just fine too and go hit some more trails. There are a few they can hit on their own, and a few they can't hit without me or Keith with them. So Keith gets back and checks out my bike, seems I managed to bend my middle chain ring! Only way to do that is with pure power!! My 1st and 3rd are fine, so I didn't hit anything to bend it. Go me!!! We borrow a big wrench (not to big) from a friend of ours who was there (he had a HUGE wrench) and smacked it back flat a bit so I was able to ride it some more. Then all 4 of us took off to hit some trails.

It was a really great night! Kids and I had fun, then all of us had fun, hit some great trails. Lovely weather, no bugs! Not too many people there tonight though. Boys were hoping to see another friend of ours there and their kids. Maybe next time. Had a blast though and wore everyone out!