I took off on the F5 this morning and rode out to Martins Mill, and just a bit past. I wanted to ride 70 miles. I’d only managed one 30 mile ride this week, and didn’t want to end up with less than 100 miles for the week. I’d ridden 120 miles each of the first two weeks of October, all short rides. I need a good mileage week next week, if I intend to end up with as many miles for October as I wanted.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been hearing a little click as I pedal on the F5. It would be once per revolution of the pedal, and would come and go. It got a lot worse on today’s ride, with a series of clicks now and then, and a louder clunk thrown in here and there.

I stopped at mile 33 and found the problem. My right pedal had what felt like a bit of looseness in the bearings. I took off, hoping I could finish the ride. At mile 56, in Purtis Creek State Park, when I made a stop, the right pedal came off. The pedal spindle was still on the bike, but the pedal itself was still locked into the cleat of my shoe. I figured my ride was over, but when I slipped the pedal over the spindle, it turned easily enough, so I decided to try and finish the last 14 miles of the ride.

I made it home ok, and finished with 70.1 miles. I had just posted last week about how Bebop pedals last forever. I guess that was bad karma.

What is wrong with this picture?

Notice the pedal stuck in the cleat on my shoe.

Today’s route.