Yes, I know, very Cliché. But, some days, when you’re just having one of those days, you need to just push through the duff and keep smiling. Yesterday was the first day of camp here in Tucson. As I woke up to sunny skies and warm temperatures, I proceeded to down my favourite morning beverage – the ‘ambition enhancer’ known as coffee – and started pulling my bike apart to get out on the roads. As I put it on the stand, I noted what I thought was some goo on the front fork. As I went in for a closer inspection, I immediately had a rush of adrenaline push through my body.
“Oh Shit.”
Yeah, oh shit is right. Due to some incredible forces during loading/unloading of the bike during flight, the front fork was shattered through-and-through. After 8 years with this bike case, and what was going to be my last trip with it – a new Rüster Sports Armoured Hen House will be on it’s way to me, huge thanks to the lovely folks at RaceQuest Travel for setting it up – this is the first ever damage incurred. I’ve lent this bag to numerous people, and nobody has ever had damage to their bikes either. What a shame it had to go out on a bad note.
After the adrenaline started hit, and managing to avoid the “3 P’s of and Emergency” – Panic, Puke, & Pass Out – I immediately began to think of ways to repair the situation. The fork is toast, that’s for sure. I needed a new one. So I started conversation with United Airlines to attempt to remedy the cost part of the situation. That went far better than expected, and after a trip to the Tucson Airport, I had a damage report with instructions to replace the fork and bring the bill for reimbursement. I’m a little cautious with my applause, as I don’t have anything reimbursed yet, but I do have to give kudos to United for making it somewhat seamless, with very friendly and empathetic employees willing to help me the best they could.
The next conundrum? The bike isn’t rideable. So, I know Trisports.com is a Quintana Roo dealer, and figured a trip over to their Tucson Retail Store might bear some fruit. I had a plan A, Plan B, and Plan C in my mind as ways to remedy the situation. What I didn’t a for was the incredible generosity I would encounter, along with a Plan D that proved to be the best plan of all for the short term.
You see, Quintana Roo had a whole bunch of PRsix rental bikes at Ironman Arizona, whereafter they sent them to Trisports for storage and to be rented out by the anyone who needed a bike. Luckily for me, they had my exact bike sitting in the back, and generously offered to lend it to me for the duration of my camp, or until QR could send me a new fork. I mean, I was pretty much a stranger to these folks, but they’ve lent me an incredibly expensive über-bike, much to my elation.
I have to give a massive thanks to Susan and the folks at the Tucson Trisports store, they essentially saved my camp, and a few hours later I was back on the roads, dialling in the fit of the PRsix (which is incredibly easy thanks to a simple shim/spacer system for the integrated stem!) She rolls like a dream, stops on a dime, and even with some legit crosswinds, I wasn’t buffeted around too much on the carbon clincher Reynolds Strike aero wheels (standard on the PRsix models.)
This situation is an example that just staying calm and thinking your issue through can come out with a timely result to the problem. Next time the shit hits the fan, just stop and think for a second. It can do you wonders.
It’s time for me to fold the laptop up and get out there for some more miles. It’s a sunny day in Tucson, and after running across a fellow juggling bowling pins on a unicycle last night, I feel like things are going to be a-okay. Have a safe one everyone, happy miles!
Nathan