Potter's Hill Ate My Crank

Things have not been working too well this past week. In one week I've bounced on my head at 20mph in the middle of Asbury Rd., simulated a heart attack on a climb up Durango Rd., broken two cranks (one during the aforementioned Asbury Road Incident) and one vastly more expensive one on the main ramp up Potter's Hill.

In the search for some positive side to this week, I want to balance What is Not Working with What is Working, just to keep things in perspective. I'm sure I'll come back to this post again and again to fend off complete depression.

What is Not Working

My 25 year old Phil Wood bottom bracket, previously installed on my Centurion touring bike of the same vintage; now only partially installed on that bike. This component was my touring bike's raison d'etre; there really are no other components on the bike of redeemable value, except perhaps the Huret Duo-Par derailleur, but even that is the Eco model.

While finishing up a pretty nice 100 mile ride from Colesburg to Dubuque and into the hill country north of town, the bottom bracket axle sheared into two pieces. I was climbing with my club buddies as second wheel, just a small rise on Asbury Rd and really cooling down, when I pushed down on the crank and there was nothing there. As I type this, it doesn't sound so bad. I mean, we all mis-estimate the number of steps once in a while (some more than others), but pushing down on a crank arm with a lot of force and having it decide to fly into space at that moment, leaves the rider off balance and bouncing on their head.

What is (was) Working

My Specialized Decible helmet. Now cracked down the middle, but taking the force of that blow made all of the helmets I've worn in my life, all of the discomfort on hot sunny days, suddenly worth it. Moments before my head first helmet test, I chastised a young rider we passed on Radford Rd., "Put a helmet on; being able to eat solid food is a good thing."

What is Not Working

Campagnolo cranks are a wonder, especially for me, the Destroyer of Bottom Brackets. In a Campy Ultra Torque crankset, the axle is split into two halves, joined with a 10mm bolt and the cups/bearings are externally mounted. What this means is that the crank can be put on with one bolt in about 1 minute. And the bearings are spaced farther apart and seem to bear the load much better. It's been 8000 miles and I have not blown a bearing yet.

Unfortunately, the chainring bolts on the Campy crank can either: shear off, or vibrate loose. I should have checked their tightness to eliminate the latter, so I can't be sure. But I can be sure of this. When one chainring bolt comes out, and it's next to the crankarm, and you're climbing a 17% grade and you weight more than a brick shithouse, the hidden bolt behind the crankarm will tear out of the arm and the chainring will fold over on itself, disintegrating into several, very expenisive pieces. While it is doing this, the chain will continue to destroy the back of the carbon crank arm, rendering it the most expensive paperweight you will ever own.

What Also is Not Working

My heart. Wednesday's ride scared the poop out of me. My heart rate soared to 225, about 50 beats higher than it was supposed to be, on a climb that I usually stomp up fairly easily. It stayed there and a couple of guys drifted back to see if I was OK and they stayed with me up to Ridge Rd. Mike turned with me back towards town, coasting and soft-pedaling to rest.

I wanted to find out what the problem was, so I went to the internet. I know, I should go see my doc, but I don't think he'll know anything more than I do at this point. Searching for tachycardia led me to a site that listed 200+ reasons for a fast heart rate; everything from too much excitement (put away that Pamela Anderson picture) and too much caffeine to a brain tumor. If I was a hyperchondriac, this would be a great opportunity.