Outback Ingenuity! A problem solved at Caiguna Roadhouse.

We've cycled over 1000kms already -  and now we have a small problem!

A couple of days ago, Del, with his bike and trailer, slipped down a bank while trying to retrieve a couple of bottles of water that a Good Samaritan had thrown our way.
Del scraped his legs in the process.
Soon afterwards we discovered a broken spoke in his rear wheel which can't be replaced (though we've tried) without the proper tools.
We are in the middle of the Nullarbor Plain - with no train or bus service passing by.
A bit of a dilemma 

Del's phoned the nearest bike shop (in Esperance- 575kms away). The mechanic is checking his stock. If he has a wheel, we'll have it couriered here. Could take a week or two!! 

If he hasn't got one, Del might hitch hike with the wheel to Esperance and get it repaired and balanced there.
Today is Thursday. The bike shop closes at 12.30pm on Saturday! Could Del get there in time?
Another dilemma!

The roadhouse cleaner stopped to chat. He's an avid cyclist. 
He could do the repair, he said. 
It wouldn't be pretty but it would allow us to 
continue with the trip. We agreed.
He returned with pliers, screwdriver, spanner
and a 'she'll be right' attitude. 

Nervously Del watched as the man bent the new spoke like a fish hook, forced it into the hub, dragged it through the hole with force (and swearing) pulled it through to the rim, then screwed the spoke cap on. The bends would straighten out when we tensioned the spokes, he said. 
To our surprise they did!
We're back in action again. Phew!!  
Hopefully the repair will last until we get to a bike mechanic in Ceduna.

Comments

  1. Simon HenleySeptember 1, 2022 at 2:05 AM

    Good on the cleaner guy, you must be so relieved! Hopefully that holds for the next couple of weeks. Enjoy your brandy and gingers and your last rest day tomorrow xx

    ReplyDelete

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