Ride: 44km
14 to 36 deg C
Got off the bus and went to fit my front wheel on the
bike only to see the spindle snap at the base of the thread on one side as I
tightened the quick release. After a quick check of the twenty or so bus
passengers who had bikes, I found no one carries a spare spindle, so I resigned
myself to the fact that I may be stuck in Mulhouse, until we could find a bike
shop that was open. However, one enterprising chap off the bus produced a pair
of multigrips and said "grip the stub of the broken end that is left and
just let the multigrips hang down". I thought “this bloke is bonkers, this
is going to kill me, it's not going to work, it'll get caught in my spokes.”
But sure enough, I clamped the multigrips on the broken end of the spindle and
tightened the quick release until it was firm. The bloke's a genius. We quickly
loaded our gear on the bike and off we went to Basel, Switzerland, 30 odd km
away. So, the next time you bust your spindle, just clamp on the multigrips and
away you go. Luckily it was dark, as I looked a right dork with these
multigrips hanging off my front wheel; not the image I wanted to project to the
locals. We ended up riding away at 3am.
A three-quarter moon assisted us in finding our way along the canal path and
into Switzerland.
A casual nod to the heavily armed guards at the Swiss
border (cars get checked bikes don’t even stop) and we were in Switzerland,
looking for a bike shop that may open on Sunday, “not a chance” we were told. Those
who have been to Basel, will attest to the fact that there are hundreds of
bikes just sitting around in the streets, obviously most city units don't have
room for bikes. Many of the bikes were obviously abandoned and missing parts.
So, the first local I saw getting his bike out I asked if he knew anywhere I
could get a spindle, "no problem" he said, "just help yourself
to one off one of the wrecks". So, we went to one of these bike graveyards
and "recycled" a spindle. I was petrified that I would get caught,
although the remains of the bike had obviously been discarded. I could just see the headlines on the front
page of The Australian "AUSTRALIAN CYCLIST ARRESTED IN SWITZERLAND -
LINKED TO BICYCLE PARTS GANG". I ended up clocking up many 1,000s of km on
that spindle, through many countries, so it served me well.
Apart
from worrying about the multigrips I was able to see some great countryside. We
were on a Canal first then joined the Rhine cycle route all the way to Basel. We
had a lovely lunch of bread and jam beside the river. Dinner was eaten at a pub
at the rear of the hotel, schnitzel with chips and salad. Unfortunately, the
place was full of cigarette smoke, those were the days! Stayed at a boutique hotel which was very
nice, clean quality brekky of eggs, bread, meat, cheese, coffee, cereal, etc.
1st Swiss coffee stop
Day cruise boat on the Rhine
Hotel room on first night
Rheinfelden
Swiss village fountain
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